Study tips
Some students do too much, some do too little, most find a happy medium. In the whirlwind of activities and socialising at college or university, it’s often easy to forget that the reason you are there is to study and come out with a qualification. But that’s enough preaching, here’s some practical tips on surviving your studies.
Books
Have you got everything you need? While it may be tempting to spend the money you should spend on books elsewhere, in the long run it could lead to difficulties. College/university libraries only tend to keep a few copies of set texts, meaning that once the reading lists are out, there won’t be any left.
Borrowing books off friends is one way to economise but can also lead to problems when essay/exam time comes around. No, best to invest in your own set. If you can buy them second-hand off an older student, even better as it’ll save you a lot of money.
Taking notes
It’s tempting to write down every word uttered by your lecturers, but that can present problems when trying to put together an essay or revising for exams, when you’re left with a copious wad of notes and no idea what’s important and what’s not. Be selective in your note taking and use highlighter pens to mark important points and you won’t find yourself wading through 100 pages of A4 come study time.
Writing essays
The best tip about writing an essay is: don’t leave it to the last minute! Kind of obvious, but putting it off every day is very tempting when there’s better things to do, like going down the pub with your friends. But if you tackle a little bit every day well in advance, not only will you soon find yourself making good progress, but it will also allow to revise your writing as you go along.
Revising
The thought of spending three hours in a cold hall at a single desk with only an exam paper for company is a daunting prospect. Again, though, preparation is key. Start your revision early, devise a study timetable marking out what areas you are going to revise when and STICK TO IT! Create a personal space where you feel comfortable studying and preferably away from distractions such as the TV.
There are all sorts of methods people use to aid their revision, including index cards, putting notes on the toilet door and making acronyms. Do whatever works best for you. During your revision period, don’t spend endless hours staring at your notes. Take regular breaks and try not to end up couped up inside all day. Eating properly is also a key part of keeping your brain working. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before an exam.
On the day of the exam, don’t try to frantically cram in some last-minute knowledge as it will probably end up confusing you. When you’re in the exam hall, take your time and study the questions before you begin answering them. If you have to answer a set number of questions, allocate enough time so you can give a good answer to each. Most importantly, DON’T PANIC! Stay calm and do your best. Not doing as well as you hoped in an exam is not the end of the world.