It starts with a whisper: “Exam timetable is out.” Suddenly, campus transforms. Reading rooms overflow, group chats buzz with last-minute plans, and the hunt for past questions begins. In Nigerian universities, exam season is a full-blown culture, marked by sleepless nights, overconsumption of caffeine, and the unspoken competition of who can endure the most. Here, we’ll unpack the typical stages of this cycle, spotlight the lighting fiascos that derail your midnight readings, and share practical ways to survive (and maybe even thrive) amid the madness.
1. The Whisper: “Exam Timetable Is Out”
The moment you open the document your course rep sent, only to discover three papers squeezed into five days, you suddenly regret all your TikTok doomscrolls and movie binges. Campus transforms almost overnight: textbooks and materials, library seats become gold dust, and group chats explode with frantic requests for “past questions, abeg!” Everyone suddenly wants to compare class notes, even though nobody has truly finished their reading list. From one side of campus to the other, the whisper of “exam timetable is out” is all it takes to change the mood from laid-back to panic.
2. Securing a Study Spot
Reading halls swiftly turn into some of the most contested real estate on campus. The library, open classes, and that one blessed corner spot in the faculty become coveted space. You either scout out days ahead, with friends to “keep space”, or resign yourself to the uncomfortable stairwell where you’ll battle neck cramps and random passersby elbowing you for space. Even if you manage to snag a decent spot, the knowledge that time is ticking keeps you on edge.
3. Power Outages and the Lighting Fiasco
Study sessions are one thing—studying through a blackout is something else entirely. As exam week approaches, many campuses deliberately ration power, and frequent generator failures(or no alternate power at all) mean you can find yourself stranded in pitch darkness. Trying to read microbiology notes under the faint glow of a lamp or phone flashlight is both a physical and mental tug-of-war. One night, you might be safe in a faculty class with reliable power; the next, you’re back to squinting at tiny formulas on your phone screen, desperately trying to keep the battery alive. Street and corridor lights are often just enough to cast more shadows than clarity, and studying under a single flickering bulb is really just a recipe for a migraine. If you try to migrate to a location with some sort of light, you face a different battle: crowded tables, noise, and the constant dread that your study oasis will turn into pure chaos.
4. The All-Nighter Marathon
Once the lights go out, it’s time to summon every ounce of caffeine-fueled willpower. Indomie, coffee, and energy drinks become some students’ survival tools. Study techniques range from ingenious to downright desperate: some swear by memorizing entire tables of formulas in 30 minutes, then sleeping two hours to “let it soak in,” while others rely on “Past Question Roulette,” flipping open a random past question page and hoping it appears on the exam. By 3 a.m., brain fog sets in so heavy that pages look like gibberish. You might have started the night convinced you’d conquer every chapter, only to find at dawn that you’ve read half a paragraph. Exhaustion feels constant; your eyelids might be heavy, but sleep is a distant dream when the pressure to finish “just one more” never ends.
5. Physical and Mental Signals of Burnout
Burnout isn’t just a cliché– it’s tangible. You’ll know it when your eyes burn from reading under a dim, flickering light until you can’t even differentiate a “C” from a “G.” Chronic fatigue settles in, no matter how many bottles of Predator you down. Headaches throb from slumped-shoulder posture, and your mind drifts into a haze where every sentence you read feels like ancient text. Irritability spikes, and you snap at well-meaning friends who ask if you’ve seen a strange question before. Above all, an existential dread kicks in: you begin to question every decision that led you here. “Why did I choose Accounting again?” echoes in your head as you stare at balance sheets under poor lighting, wondering if the sacrifice is worth it.
6. Group Study: Blessing or Curse?
Group study sessions initially seem like a beacon of hope in the chaos, but they often spiral into their own brand of madness. Early on, everyone meets in class at 9 p.m., determined to quiz each other and share notes. By midnight, half the group is asleep, heads on tables, while a few stragglers argue over why the lecturer changed that formula on the last slide. And then there’s the silent majority—students who sit quietly, only speaking up when they don’t understand even the simplest concept, demanding explanations and losing everyone’s focus. The one friend who tries to keep things on track tires: their phone battery dies, or they get pulled away, and the session dissolves.
Coping Strategies: Surviving (and Maybe Even Learning)
To survive the exam prep chaos, first identify “light-safe” study spots—places with reliable power– and invest in portable lighting; a rechargeable headlamp or a full phone and power bank can be a lifesaver. .
Next, borrow the Pomodoro Technique: study for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and after four cycles, enjoy a longer rest. This approach preserves your mental stamina and prevents that inevitable 3 a.m. meltdown. It’s counterintuitive when the clock is ticking, but shorter, focused bursts beat marathon, half-baked sessions.
Finally, plan around daylight. Use mornings and afternoons for deep-focus tasks—like tackling dense chapters or solving complex problems—and save lighter reviews or group quizzes for nighttime, when low-light conditions make reading tough. If possible, rotate mini-presentations in your study circle: one person explains a concept while others listen in and follow along. When the lights fail, the group still benefits from collective knowledge rather than shuttered study.
Reframing the Exam Prep Mindset
The key to escaping the burnout trap is remembering that exam prep is a marathon, not a sprint. Break your material into manageable goals—finish one chapter, then rest, then move on. Swap the all-nighter glory for “smart-nighter” efficiency: it’s not about how many hours you pull, but how effectively you use those hours. Accept what you can’t control, but you can control how you adapt. A small pivot can save you from staring at blank pages in frustration.
Conclusion: Beyond Burnout
Burnout during exam prep in Nigerian universities is almost a rite of passage, but it doesn’t have to define your experience. By acknowledging systemic issues and adopting adaptive strategies, you reclaim a sense of control. The goal isn’t just to pass exams but to learn efficiently and safeguard your well-being. So form a “support and study” squad and lean into opportunities to study smarter, not harder.
