A quick guide to staying on top of studying

The Pomodoro Technique:

If you tend to procrastinate with your studies, this technique is sure to help! Set a timer for 25 minutes of focused study, then reward yourself with a 5 minute break. You can repeat this until you have achieved enough work for the day. 

Active recall:

This technique is one of the best ways to learn information- It makes you think about your answers! Try writing out ideas from your course in your own words, or draw diagrams to represent key themes or ideas. Explaining your content to a friend or family member is a great way to solidify your knowledge and understanding. 

Past Exam Papers:

If available to you, past papers are a wonderful resource for getting familiar with the structure of specific exams. Most modules have different assessments, so it is good to know what to expect. You can find all past exam papers using the link below!

Change up the scenery:

Don't stay stuck in the same workspace for days at a time, switch it up. There are plenty of places on campus and in halls where you can study... as well as cafes in town!

Join a ResLife study group:

Come to a ResLife study group to have a break from your usual environments and chat to new people! Check out the MySouthampton app or Halls Life events page for dates and locations of the sessions.

Make time to relax and leave the studying behind:

Don't forget to take care of yourself during exam periods. Your wellbeing is just as important for good grades as long hours studying! Take walks by yourself or with friends. Maybe even practice some mindfulness. Getting outside is a great way to destress!

Set small goals:

This may sound silly but the smaller goals you set on your To Do list, the more motivated you feel after ticking things off! Even small things like 'work for 20 minutes' or 'finish this topic' will help you to feel motivated when there feels like so much to do. 

Food:

Make sure you are eating well. try to eat nutritious food that will fuel you rather than just snacks. One hearty meal does a lot more than lots of small snacks. Eat lots of high vitamin foods to boost the immune system too- stress weakens the immune system so it is important to eat well to avoid getting unwell during exam/deadline season.

Work out a routine that suits you:

Routines are important to help you stay on track. Incorporating studying into your day will make it easier around exam times when the workload increases. Create revision timetables and work towards goals that are most urgent first. 

Check out the Exams and Assessments website:

The website is designed to have all the important information with regards to both the exam period, but also links to services that can provide you help should you need it. Click the link below to find out more.

With all these tips, you should be ready to take on the summer exam period, Good luck!!