Q: “Hi, I’m a first year studying History of Art at York and wondered if you had any useful advice for the course. I’ve got an exam for Encounters with the Material Object in January – how did you prepare for this and manage your time in the first year and what would you do differently if you could go back? Thanks!” Q: “Hi there! I’ve just started studying HoA at York and wondered whether you could give me any advice about the first year, how to do well in exams and any techniques to improve my reading and note taking? Thanks” (These questions are very similar so I’ll answer them in one go!) My advice would be – try to be as open-minded as you can to all the different things you explore, whether that be particular theories (which I remember studying in first year), or particular time periods. By being open-minded, this allows you not only to appreciate different things that you might have somewhat ignored or not given much enthusiasm to; and also …