Essential Study Tips

Today I’ll be sharing my essential tips when studying for exams and coursework. I’m currently at university, but these tips are extremely useful for any level and any age. One thing you need to know for every exam is: don’t stress yourself out! You have probably heard your teachers say this to you constantly, however it really is stress and worry that causes the biggest interference with your studies. Some of us can’t help worrying about these things, others are completely confident. Personally, I have been both and I have found that studying itself requires practise, so you should use the vast range of resources to your advantage.

Here are some of the most common tips that definitely work:

1. Write a list of what your objectives are and what you could also do once you finish them. If you make a list of the main things that you need to start or complete (depending on what stage you are at), then you can tick them off or cross them out once they are finished. This seems like a really obvious way to get your work done, however, it can be incredibly satisfying when you actually get around to ticking something off your list. It can also be rewarding when you complete every task on this list, but don’t overwork yourself! You don’t need to do everything in one study session. The next tip relates to this:
2. Set targets and deadlines.  This can be in your phone, in a diary or planner, or even on a post-it note on your wall. You could set yourself 30 minutes of study a day or even an hour if you feel like it! The most important thing is to know your limits. A lot of people tell students to study for a certain amount of time a day, but you know yourself what you can and can’t do. My way of studying changes all the time: I can look over notes for 10 minutes and stop, then spend an hour doing this later. Sometimes I designate a specific time, and sometimes I take breaks in between.
3. Try to study in different locations, such as: your room, living room, library, or a café. Establishing where you work best is a good way for you to plan how much work you want to do or if you want it to be a more relaxed study session. I preferred to study in my room, but I get more work done when I visit the library. Perhaps it’s because I make the trip there and know I have to make it worth the walk (It is only a five-minute journey from my flat, but I still have an end goal). At university libraries, there are usually silent sections and group discussion sections too if you prefer that kind of environment.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you find it hard to organise your studies and set yourself specific objectives, then you can always ask the people around you for help. This can be a teacher/lecturer, a guidance counsellor, family or friends. In high school, we sometimes received guides or helpful leaflets from our teachers or sample study schedules. If you haven’t received anything like this you could always ask for one, or you could look online. There are so many ways that the internet can help you, but you should use it wisely.
5. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and make sure you eat well. Studying when you are tired makes the experience so much worse! You do not want to be dehydrated or hungry either, or at least I believe that I can’t work while I’m hungry. There are certain foods that people believe help your brain to function better, it may be worthwhile doing some research on this (I know it sounds slightly silly), but even eating healthier and getting your vitamins and nutrients can have a great effect.

Here are some things that I personally find extremely useful:

Having a USB as backup

This is another thing that seems obvious, however, I have known some people in the past that haven’t used a USB to make copies of their essays and notes. If you have a problem with your computer and you lose your files, then this can be a very stressful time as you may have to start from scratch if those files can’t be recovered. This is one way to avoid stress and potentially giving yourself more work to do.

Mind-maps

You may call these a different name, some people refer to them as spider-diagrams. They are one of the most effective ways to plan out your work or even to write down facts under several headings for you to revise. You can do this on paper, use an online template, or on a programme such as Microsoft Publisher. Personally, I like to write things down on paper and pin it on the wall above my desk, so I am reminded of the contents of the mind map even when I am not exactly studying.

Writing notes out several times or typing them up after a lecture

I found this very helpful in high school, however I have found that at university, it can be quite time-consuming due to the massive amounts of material we get. If you struggle to revise properly or memorise material, then even just writing out facts or information several times may help you. I still try to do this, specifically when I need to memorise a presentation or a speaking assessment for my Spanish course.

Preparing for a presentation or speech? Record yourself!

Use ‘voice memos’ or your video camera on your phone to record your speech, and then you can listen back to it to help you memorise it. Additionally, if you are concerned about standing in front of a crowd or about your body language, then you can take a video of yourself and watch it back, assessing your techniques and how you could make yourself look less nervous (if this is the issue) or how you can grasp the audience’s attention (if it is a boring topic). This is also great for learning languages too.

I hope that some of these tips will encourage you to try different methods of studying and to manage your time well. I realise that you may have already tried most of them, however it may be encouraging for someone who is new to studying for exams. If you have any advice that you’d like to share, then comment down below!