how to revise at uni

At GCSE and A level i was quite academically strong. However at uni I haveno idea how to go about the content. People are like oh make flashcards, go over lectures etc etc. But there's so much content its rlly difficult to condense it all into flashcards and to not become overwhelmed by the amount of info on each slide, let alone each powerpoint. It has rlly felt like a massive jump from a level to me. I failed my written exam, and I have 6 weeks to prepare for my resit so would appreciate any advice esp from ppl who have been thru this. Does anyone have any good practical advice or methods to help me find an effective way to learn and revise university content? Btw I study pharmacy so its a lot of bio and chem.

I tried to use my usual revision methods of making notes from every slide and using past papers to get a hang of questions but the past papers r all repeated and making notes on everything takes so long I just dont think its efficient and dk how i would go over allll the notes after too. Even if i had more time.

I really find I'm struggling to motivate myself to revise too due to being overwhelmed w the amount I haven't gone over, anyone have tips for dealing w this?

Thank you!! :smile:

Reply 1

Kingston Zhi En

Official Rep

Original post

by mia66688

At GCSE and A level i was quite academically strong. However at uni I haveno idea how to go about the content. People are like oh make flashcards, go over lectures etc etc. But there's so much content its rlly difficult to condense it all into flashcards and to not become overwhelmed by the amount of info on each slide, let alone each powerpoint. It has rlly felt like a massive jump from a level to me. I failed my written exam, and I have 6 weeks to prepare for my resit so would appreciate any advice esp from ppl who have been thru this. Does anyone have any good practical advice or methods to help me find an effective way to learn and revise university content? Btw I study pharmacy so its a lot of bio and chem.
I tried to use my usual revision methods of making notes from every slide and using past papers to get a hang of questions but the past papers r all repeated and making notes on everything takes so long I just dont think its efficient and dk how i would go over allll the notes after too. Even if i had more time.
I really find I'm struggling to motivate myself to revise too due to being overwhelmed w the amount I haven't gone over, anyone have tips for dealing w this?
Thank you!! :smile:

Hi there @mia66688 ,
I am so sorry to hear about your struggles with revision. I assure you it is perfectly normal and takes time adjust to the fast pace and independent study nature at uni 🤧 Given the short revision time you have, it might be best to pick out key topics or those in particular you are weak at to revise over. I personally like to break down my study plan and give myself small goals and short breaks to motivate myself to work. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of things you have to read and revise all at once, so it might be best to break down your revision plan into weekly and daily blocks. If you have a friend around, it sometimes helps to get them to quiz you on certain topics too 🤗 I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck in your resit!

Zhi En
(Kingston Student Rep.)

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post

by mia66688

At GCSE and A level i was quite academically strong. However at uni I haveno idea how to go about the content. People are like oh make flashcards, go over lectures etc etc. But there's so much content its rlly difficult to condense it all into flashcards and to not become overwhelmed by the amount of info on each slide, let alone each powerpoint. It has rlly felt like a massive jump from a level to me. I failed my written exam, and I have 6 weeks to prepare for my resit so would appreciate any advice esp from ppl who have been thru this. Does anyone have any good practical advice or methods to help me find an effective way to learn and revise university content? Btw I study pharmacy so its a lot of bio and chem.
I tried to use my usual revision methods of making notes from every slide and using past papers to get a hang of questions but the past papers r all repeated and making notes on everything takes so long I just dont think its efficient and dk how i would go over allll the notes after too. Even if i had more time.
I really find I'm struggling to motivate myself to revise too due to being overwhelmed w the amount I haven't gone over, anyone have tips for dealing w this?
Thank you!! :smile:

Speak to your supervisor and ask them for guidance. It's part of their role to support you but you need to reach out you them.

The people on this forum are really helpful but this is a specific need (you, your course at your university) and you need specific support, e.g. there may be study and intervention groups of which you are unaware.

Also, you might want to let your parents know you are having to resit so they can support you emotionally and you don't have to deal with the stress alone.

Finally, if you cannot turn things around you might want to consider your options: retaking, doing a different course etc. Having your supervisor and parents on side will help you talk through your options.

Reply 3

Coventry University Student Ambassadors

Official Rep

Hello there!

What you are experiencing is completely valid.

At school, learning was highly structured, with regular assessments. At university, however, you are often left to manage vast amounts of information independently, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
It's also understandable that your usual methods are no longer feel effective.
There’s simply too much content now, and making notes on everything takes too long and doesn’t leave time to actually revise them.

Start with your learning outcomes or module guide. These are designed to tell you exactly what you are expected to understand. Then go through your lectures and identify the key content that links directly to those outcomes. That way, your revision becomes purposeful rather than overwhelming.

When it comes to condensing material, flashcards can help, but they are only effective when kept simple. If your cards are overloaded, you. right burn out. Try using the question–answer–explain method: write a question based on the topic, attempt to answer it from memory, and then explain the reasoning behind your answer, ideally out loud.

Don’t underestimate how helpful visual learning can be. Instead of long paragraphs, use diagrams and flowcharts to simplify complex topics.
When it comes to past papers, try analysing them rather than just doing them. Look for patterns in the types of questions asked and turn those themes into your own practice questions.

As for motivation, feeling overwhelmed is usually the main cause of procrastination. Try to zoom in and break things down into small, daily goals. Ticking off small tasks helps you feel in control and creates momentum.

Also, be kind to yourself.
You don’t need to study perfectly, you just need to show up consistently.

You've got this!

I hope this helps!

Kind regards,
Reka - Coventry University Student Ambassador

Reply 4

ErasistratusV

Use Anki.

What course are you studying?

Reply 5

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

Original post

by mia66688

At GCSE and A level i was quite academically strong. However at uni I haveno idea how to go about the content. People are like oh make flashcards, go over lectures etc etc. But there's so much content its rlly difficult to condense it all into flashcards and to not become overwhelmed by the amount of info on each slide, let alone each powerpoint. It has rlly felt like a massive jump from a level to me. I failed my written exam, and I have 6 weeks to prepare for my resit so would appreciate any advice esp from ppl who have been thru this. Does anyone have any good practical advice or methods to help me find an effective way to learn and revise university content? Btw I study pharmacy so its a lot of bio and chem.
I tried to use my usual revision methods of making notes from every slide and using past papers to get a hang of questions but the past papers r all repeated and making notes on everything takes so long I just dont think its efficient and dk how i would go over allll the notes after too. Even if i had more time.
I really find I'm struggling to motivate myself to revise too due to being overwhelmed w the amount I haven't gone over, anyone have tips for dealing w this?
Thank you!! :smile:

Hey Mia, I completely understand how you’re feeling. I study pharmacy too and content on lecture slides can be really intense.

One thing that really helped me was not trying to make notes on every single slide. Instead, I focus on the key learning outcomes, which helps me prioritise what’s most important.

Also, making summaries for clinical topics is really useful. I break each one down into what the condition is, the pathophysiology, symptoms, red flags, diagnosis, and treatment including key drugs, their mechanisms of action, and side effects. Having everything structured like this makes it easier to understand and revise later on.

I like using flashcards too, but mainly to test myself rather than just writing them and never looking again. Keeping them in a Q&A format works best for me because it forces me to actively recall the information. You can also find loads of premade flashcards on Quizlet for pharmacy topics, which saves time.

Instead of just reading notes, try blurting out everything you remember about a topic, then check what you missed or explain it out loud to yourself. This really helps the information stick.

It’s also important to make a structured revision plan focusing on your weaker areas. Break the next six weeks into manageable chunks and decide which topics you’ll cover each week. Also, think about the types of questions that might come up in the exam and practise answering those. That way you’re preparing yourself as effectively as possible.

You’ve got plenty of time to improve and find what works best for you. Good luck with your resit!

Tayba
Student Rep