State exams

By Nicolas Navas, June 2024

Dealing with the state exams can be a stressful experience at the end of our studies. But it doesn’t have to be like that if you follow specific tips that I learned from other students and professors who advised me during this process. In Sociology and Cultural Sociology, the state exam is an oral examination between the students and the commission members at the end of the semester and after handling the final thesis. As a student, you will answer the questions orally after finishing your thesis defense, and it's a test that lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.

The state exam focuses on the theories and methodologies you used in your thesis and the literature presented by the commission, which comprises around 10 texts we studied in the previous semesters. It is more academic discussion than a monologue, so don’t worry about making a whole presentation. It is better to prepare for a discussion where the professors will ask theoretical questions you must answer concisely. As soon as the state exam finishes, the professors will privately discuss the grade you will get, and at the end of the day, they will share the results with all the tested students.

So, what has to be considered before, during, and after the state exams? First of all, organizing the course material you will need for the state exams is necessary. You will receive from your professors an email with the literature you will have to study. Take your lecture notes, which I highly recommend taking during your studies, and see what you have written about the given literature. This might help you to simply understand complex theories and usually, the professors give you the main bullet points of each author during their classes. Re-read the key texts and try to understand the main argument more than memorizing it. When the professors ask you questions, they ask you to describe a particular theory or to use a methodology or theory under the scope of your thesis. In my case, I was asked to use an author I didn’t use in my thesis and apply it to the Colombian context. The author theorizes about modernism, and I had to use my previous knowledge about Colombia to connect what I knew from my thesis research with a new theoretical approach. It sounds harsh, but in reality is a matter of being creative. The professors are not there to make you fail but to examine your capacities to take theory and use it for explaining social phenomena.

It is essential to have a schedule during the last semester; you will have to take care of many responsibilities simultaneously, and some things cannot be forgotten. So, having a calendar and taking care of your duties will help you cope with the stress. You will need time to study and understand what you are reading, and having a schedule releases some space in your mind to use for studying. Most important, and even as important as studying, is taking breaks. No one should study 14 hours straight, our brains are not capable of holding all that information in one shot. So eating well, drinking water, and having breaks every 60 to 90 minutes is crucial. Some of our fundamental ideas and knowledge come during the break after reading something, our mind needs to rest to digest the information it is gaining.

The day before the exam, you must review your notes, eat properly, and relax. What you know is already in your head, and studying until late will only take the important energy you need during your exams. There’s a lot of tension and stress before such an important day. Right before the exam, eat something sweet that will give you some extra energy for your brain and also help a bit with the anxiety. When getting inside the classroom, breathe deeply, be polite to the professors, and take a few seconds before you answer. If you are there, it is because you have already passed all semesters and have knowledge in your mind. Be confident of your skills and build them during your first semesters. We are here to learn, and the results of that process are simply tested during that final day. I almost freaked out the day before my state exams. I cried and thought I would not be able to make it, but talking to your family, friends, or whoever makes you feel safe will give you the strength you need for this process. In the end, it was not bad at all, the process was so smooth that I was surprised when it was over. The professors were so kind and patient that I will always be grateful to them.

I wish you the best of luck during your state exams, and if you are starting your career, my best tip is to take hand notes during class. Every class is an opportunity to get simplified versions of really complex material, so at the end of your studies, your notes will be the source of knowledge you will use in your professional career.