8 Study Tips for Exam Season

Studying for exams can be overwhelming, especially if you’re not sure what kind of study style suits you best. To help get you started with studying, we’ve gathered some tips and strategies that you can use to ace your exams!

1. Listen to music

Everything is more fun when you set it to music you love. Research suggests that it can help you work more effectively, reduce stress and even boost your task endurance. If you find listening to music with lyrics distracting you could try listening to scores from your favourite movie or game!

1. Turn studying into a game

Study aids like quizzes and flashcards tap into the fact that we learn better with games, and this can help motivate you more. You can find some of our quizzes here or you can check out Wordwall for quizzes other people have made here wordwall.net/community.

1. Study with a friend

Studying with a friend can make it more fun just as long as you don't get distracted. Study's show that group studies are more effective as you can play off each other’s strengths, as well as listen to and elaborate on each other’s ideas.

1. Teach someone

One way to get your head around a topic and have a proper understanding is to teach it to someone else. This can be a family member, friends or even your pet.

1. Set goals

It's sensible to pace yourself and not take on too much. Setting smaller, more realistic goals makes studying achievable and you get a sense of accomplishment when you reach your goal. Setting unrealistic goals can often de-motivate you, especially if you are struggling to reach the goal or don't see much progression.

1. Create a study plan

When you have a lot to study it can seem quite daunting. By creating a study plan you can manage your time effectively and make sure you give enough time to each subject. This will also break your study load into more manageable blocks.

1. Take breaks

The brain can only absorb so much information at a time. Resting makes sure your brain is refreshed and helps it to retain what you’ve just learnt. Being burnt out and tired helps no one.

1. Try study apps

If you need some extra assistance there are lots of apps available to help. You can find apps to minimise the distractions, plan and keep track of your studying and even create study aids like flashcards. Some good apps to try are Forest (stops you being distracted by your phone while building a virtual forest), Anki (create flashcards with lots of customisable options) and MyStudyLife (schedule and organise your classes, homework and exams).

Learning your style of studying and how to do it effectively will ensure you’re getting the most out of your classes and benefit you for the rest of your time in education.

Happy studying and good luck!