What's your Study Tips for Exam Season?
Poll
What's Your Favourite Study Tips? (Let us know below if it's something different!)
Hey! I’m Aura from the Uni of Staffs and currently in my final year of a Computer Science degree. With exams coming up for upcoming students, I know how stressful this time can feel. I remember being in your position in Year 13, struggling through revision and just wanting to get the exams over with. Looking back now, I thought I’d share some study tips based on what actually helped me back then... and what didn’t.
What didn’t work for me (but might work for you!):
First was the Pomodoro method. I know a lot of people swear by it but I personally struggled with the timers. I found it annoying when I was finally getting into the flow of studying and then a timer would go off telling me to stop or stretch. I prefer longer study periods because sometimes it takes a while to properly get into a topic and once I’m focused I’d rather keep going.
Next was reading textbooks and study guides. Just reading the material didn’t really stick for me. I often found myself rereading the same pages or phrases without actually absorbing the information. It also sometimes didn’t go deep enough for what I needed to understand for exams. Alone, this method did not work!
Another one was using study playlists or “study songs.” I spent way too long choosing the perfect playlist, skipping tracks or changing songs, which just ended up distracting me more than helping and ending up with me watching entire YouTube videos at times (oops.)
What did work for me:
The biggest thing that helped was combining flashcards with exam question practice. My routine was usually something like: learn the topic, write notes (important step as writing activates a different part of memory than typing), then type up clearer notes, do exam questions, then add anything I missed back into my notes. From there I’d turn key points into flashcards and keep repeating them regularly. It can take longer as it's a very step-heavy process but the result spoke wonders.
Studying with friends also helped a lot. Explaining topics out loud really shows whether you actually understand something. Your friends can ask questions that highlight gaps in your knowledge. It’s even better if they don’t know the topic very well because they’ll often ask unexpected questions. If you can explain a topic clearly to someone who knows nothing about it, you’re probably in a good place for the exams!
Another thing that helped me was giving my devices to someone else for safekeeping while studying. It sounds simple but it really did stop me from constantly checking my phone or scrolling when I should’ve been revising.
Those were the things that worked (and didn’t work) for me when I was preparing for my exams. Everyone studies differently though, so it’s really about finding the methods that work best for you. I’d love to hear your tips below, it could help some students out!
What didn’t work for me (but might work for you!):
First was the Pomodoro method. I know a lot of people swear by it but I personally struggled with the timers. I found it annoying when I was finally getting into the flow of studying and then a timer would go off telling me to stop or stretch. I prefer longer study periods because sometimes it takes a while to properly get into a topic and once I’m focused I’d rather keep going.
Next was reading textbooks and study guides. Just reading the material didn’t really stick for me. I often found myself rereading the same pages or phrases without actually absorbing the information. It also sometimes didn’t go deep enough for what I needed to understand for exams. Alone, this method did not work!
Another one was using study playlists or “study songs.” I spent way too long choosing the perfect playlist, skipping tracks or changing songs, which just ended up distracting me more than helping and ending up with me watching entire YouTube videos at times (oops.)
What did work for me:
The biggest thing that helped was combining flashcards with exam question practice. My routine was usually something like: learn the topic, write notes (important step as writing activates a different part of memory than typing), then type up clearer notes, do exam questions, then add anything I missed back into my notes. From there I’d turn key points into flashcards and keep repeating them regularly. It can take longer as it's a very step-heavy process but the result spoke wonders.
Studying with friends also helped a lot. Explaining topics out loud really shows whether you actually understand something. Your friends can ask questions that highlight gaps in your knowledge. It’s even better if they don’t know the topic very well because they’ll often ask unexpected questions. If you can explain a topic clearly to someone who knows nothing about it, you’re probably in a good place for the exams!
Another thing that helped me was giving my devices to someone else for safekeeping while studying. It sounds simple but it really did stop me from constantly checking my phone or scrolling when I should’ve been revising.
Those were the things that worked (and didn’t work) for me when I was preparing for my exams. Everyone studies differently though, so it’s really about finding the methods that work best for you. I’d love to hear your tips below, it could help some students out!
Reply 1
These are all Amazing tips aura!
Everyone has their own unique ways of studying and seeing so many options makes it so much easier to find the right one.
Everyone has their own unique ways of studying and seeing so many options makes it so much easier to find the right one.
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Uni Exam University
- Alevel
- Deferred uni exams
- 🎯 Exam Revision Tips & Advice for A-level Students – From Someone Who's Been There
- Tips for revising essay based exams
- revision tips from a university of reading student
- My Go-To Uni Study Tips
- University grading
- A-Level Revision Tips from a 2:1 uni grad
- Deadline coming soon, how should you prepare?
- How to balance work and study
- How to survive exam season?
- 9 Grade 9s, 2 Grade 8s at GCSE, ask me anything!
- GCSE Stationery and Organisation
- Hints & Tips this Exam Season!
- Academic
- How to stay motivated in university?
- Things I Wish I Know During Exam Season
- A-Level Revision tips: from a uni student
- GCSE German Study Group 2024-25
Latest
Trending
Last reply 8 months ago
Staffordshire University Accomodation- Spode HallsLast reply 9 months ago
Clearing 101: 8 things parents and carers need to knowLast reply 9 months ago
Student Finance – when to apply? what about Clearing?Last reply 9 months ago
Official University of Staffordshire Clearing Thread 2025Posted 9 months ago
Tee’s Clearing Story, advice from a student who’s been thereLast reply 9 months ago
What is the Staffordshire area like outside of the Uni of Staffs?Posted 9 months ago
A day in the life of a Computer Science student in LondonPosted 10 months ago
5 tips if you’re thinking about becoming a counsellor 💬Posted 10 months ago
Welcome to the first Fortnite University: StaffsVersePosted 10 months ago
What if I don’t get the apprenticeship I applied for?Posted 11 months ago
Thinking of applying for nursing? Here are our top tips! 🩺✨Posted 11 months ago
What’s student life like at University of Staffordshire London?Posted 11 months ago
What support is available for autistic students at University of Staffordshire?Last reply 1 year ago
Why it's important to be a part of a society at University :)Articles for you
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
