Finals Season in Amsterdam

The first round of finals season was a couple of weeks ago for IES Amsterdam students, and it was definitely different from back home. The academic schedule here is formatted into periods. Spring students are here for periods 4 and 5, during which you take a number of classes from February to March and then new classes from April to May. IES and language classes run throughout the entire semester, so balancing different class schedules can be tricky. Grading is also very different from back home, so here is how I managed to get through finals season relatively unscathed.

The first major stressor for students when they arrive is the grading system. The Dutch system is from 1-10 rather than out of 100%. Passing is usually a 5.5 or 6, and the conversion rate is hard to wrap your mind around as a Type A student from the US. Anywhere from 7.5-10 is an A, 7.0-7.4 is a B+, 6.5-6.9 is a B, and so forth. The Dutch even have a saying for grades: “An 8 is for the best student, a 9 for the professor, and 10 is for God.” So basically, getting an A will be very hard, but the culture in the Netherlands is just to pass. It is widely less competitive for grades, which can be less stressful for students, but definitely takes some getting used to. You have to reframe your mindset to focus on passing rather than getting the best grade. While this is hard, it allows you to spend more time exploring Amsterdam and doing other things. My workload is less than it would be back home, and a part of me is like, isn’t there more work do to, but the structure and culture around academics are just different here. If you have free time, remember that’s normal.

Additionally, your grade is made up of usually one test and another small project. My grade in my psychology elective at the local university is 70% for an exam and 30% for a group presentation. Having one assignment take up that much of your grade is overwhelming, but another way to think about it is that you only have two assignments for the whole class. Again, reframing the situation is the best advice I could give. 

You’ll probably have two lectures a week and a workgroup for each class. My suggestion is to attend as many of the lectures as you can and the workgroups because more often than not, workgroups are scheduled time to work on any group projects you may have. Also, do all of the readings because they have information that the professor might not go over in class but could be on the exam. Of course, if you really are struggling with your classes, the IES Abroad Academic Team is a great resource. 

When preparing for exams, it's helpful to use every resource you have. My professor gave us example exam questions that I reviewed constantly. I made a study guide and meticulously read my notes over and over again. Writing diligent notes for both the readings and the lectures is very important and helpful when it comes time to take the exam. Study groups can also be great to help keep you accountable, and you will be able to help each other out. However, everyone has different study strategies, so know what works best for you. 

Adjusting to the academic culture and structure takes some time, but remember that studying abroad is not just about academics. It’s about the experience of being in a different country and immersing yourself. Since the workload is more manageable, you will have time to walk around a park, go to a museum, and walk around the city. I love biking to a park, finding a nice place to sit down and read a book or listen to a podcast. My friends and I will meet up at a cafe or bar without having to worry about an upcoming assignment. Personally, I have been so much less overwhelmed with school that I am able to enjoy my time in Amsterdam so much more. The academic structure can be stressful, but it is also a blessing in disguise.