Study Tips

  • Make a study schedule that shows what tasks you need to accomplish and when you plan to accomplish each task. This will provide you with the structure you need for effective studying.
  • If you do too much studying at one time, you will tire easily. Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of time. Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy.
  • Follow daily routines such as studying at the same time each day in the same place, with no distractions. Try to simulate exam conditions as much as possible in your study area, as we remember best under conditions that resemble those in which the original learning took place.
  • When studying for a prolonged period, reward yourself with a short break when a particular task is finished. Tea and Chocolate is always the best treat.
  • Begin with something fairly difficult, even a topic you don’t like. Achievement boosts confidence and energy for the rest of the study session.
  • Take care of yourself both during your study and the exam period. Get a good night’s sleep, eat properly: plenty of carbohydrates and protein. Drink water to keep you entirely hydrated. Avoid over dependence on caffeine and stimulant drinks. Call down to the Students’ Union for your free Red bull J
  • Study sample questions set by lectures as well as previous exam questions to ensure that the material you are learning can be applied to the types of questions that come up in exams. Check Moodle and the s-drive to see if your lecturer has uploaded some sample questions.
  • No matter what led you to a late night cram session the night before the final, don’t stay up all night. Take small naps or call it a night and go to bed for a few hours before the test. Some students will stay up all night and study until the hour of the test. You risk falling asleep at the test and your memory will be unclear. Studying on no sleep means you risk not being able to absorb all the information and facts you are memorizing and taking a test on no sleep means there is a risk you’ll forget key information or struggle to recall what you studied.
  • Don’t Party too hard! Find the right balance. Remember, if you love the college lifestyle you need to pass your classes or both your education and the great lifestyle are lost when you fail out.
  • Have fun- Yes, I know I mentioned the importance of not getting distracted and not partying all the time as studying is a main part of getting a college education. But your college years are some of the best years of your life. If at all possible, live at your college and take full part in the life of living at college.

Education