Are you struggling to find the right approach on how to study for university exams? Whether you’re aiming to boost your grades or reduce exam stress, these best study tips will help you stay organized, retain information effectively, and perform your best.
Statistics show that over 31% of U.S. college students feel stressed about their finals and midterm examinations. Among these students, 61% of students admitted to feeling pressurized to get good grades. Are you also one of these students, struggling to discover how to study for university examinations? Or do you also cram for long hours but end up learning nothing? If yes, you are not alone! This guide covers the 13 best study techniques for university students that will help you ace your university examinations. These techniques have been scientifically proven to maximize study time, increase efficiency, and improve focus. Follow these proven effective study techniques to turn your study sessions into productive and focused learning experiences.
13 Best Study Tips for University Exams —
1. Know Your Syllabus and Course Material
Before even getting started with your studies, you must ensure that you are well aware of your syllabus and course material to avoid any last-minute surprises. Getting your study material handy also gives you an idea of how to effectively manage your time to make the most of your work. Once you are ready with your study material, you can proceed to the other steps.
2. Allocate Time for Each Course
Once you know your enemy, the battle gets easier. The next step should be to realistically allocate time to each course or subject. You can also try to micromanage and allocate time theme-wise. But while doing this, you must ensure to keep practicality in mind. Setting unrealistic goals for even a day may end up worrying you even more. Strategic time allocation will also help you figure out your study techniques.
3. Understand the Exam Format
Another preparatory step is to understand the kind of exam you are attempting. Knowing your exam pattern is very important because the kind and technique of preparation required for a subjective exam will differ from that of an objective exam. Once you know your exam pattern, you will be in a position to recognize what portions of your study material would be more relevant than the others.
- For example, if you are appearing for an MCQ-based exam, then your focus must be more on key terms, while if you are appearing for a subjective examination, then you should focus more on understanding the concept and developing your style of explanation.
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4. Use Active Recall Techniques
Active recall techniques have been proven to be very effective for learning by several researchers. Some of these active recall techniques include the Feynman Technique. This technique involves reading about a concept and then trying to explain it to a child. You need not grab a child to explain your university-level concepts; what this technique focuses on is learning a concept in a simplified manner, so much so that even a child can understand it.
- Another effective technique is Active Recall, where after reading about a concept, you must try to recall all that you can memorize from your preliminary reading. For an effective use of this technique, you first pick a chapter, read or skim through it, and then try to recall everything you remember without taking aid from the books.
- You can also try to make mind maps, such as graphs, pyramids, etc., to understand concepts if you are more of a visual learner.
5. Prioritize Difficult Subjects or Complex Concepts First
When preparing for university exams, always start with the most challenging subjects or complex concepts first. Tackling difficult topics early ensures that you have enough time to fully understand and retain the information before moving on to easier subjects. This approach also helps reduce exam stress by preventing last-minute cramming of tough subjects.
A great strategy is to:
- Identify your weakest subjects and allocate more time to them.
- Break down difficult concepts into smaller, manageable sections.
- Use visual learning techniques like mind maps and flowcharts to simplify understanding.
- Leverage active recall and spaced repetition to reinforce learning.
By addressing the hardest topics first, you’ll build confidence, improve retention, and maximize your chances of scoring higher on your university exams.
6. Revise Regularly
Learning and forgetting a concept is the plight of every student. The main challenge then is to retain what you learn, and the only solution here is to revise. Revision makes up almost 40% of your preparations. For revision, you can use the Spaced repetition technique.
- For this, you simply have to revise whatever you read at increasing intervals. For example, after reading concept A, first revise it in 5 days, then 7, and then after 1 week, and so on until you feel satisfied. You can try teaching a concept to a friend—for real this time—to see how much of it you remember.
- Watching explanatory videos, Anki cards, practicing through questions and quizzes, etc., can also be very effective for revision.
Now, once you are done with a preliminary reading of everything, it’s time to revise and practice.
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7. Analyze Past Year Question Papers
All the above-mentioned techniques, if done properly, would give you good results. But what if you don’t have the time for any of this? Do not worry. You may have little time to study for exams. But there are ways to best utilize your time and study effectively within little time as well.
- Analyzing past year questions can be the most effective way to study on a time crunch. Past year question papers give you an idea as to what concepts are important and what kind of questions you may expect in exams. You can then choose a few topics to be studied in detail, while the rest can be skimmed through. You can then seal up your preparation by solving practice questions and case studies.
8. Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health
While studying for exams, it is important to understand that health cannot be compromised for anything. Though you are determined to get the best grades, it need not come at the cost of your health.
- Throughout your preparation, strive to have a proper sleep schedule, drink enough water, eat healthily, and spend some time off work. You may choose to take a walk, talk to your friends or family, watch a show, or do anything else that can make you feel relaxed.
9. Avoid Distractions
It is difficult to remain committed to your study schedule during exams, but it is crucial to constantly remind yourself that you must work on your exam preparation. To keep away any potential distractions, you can turn off your phone notifications, choose a quiet study environment, and use apps such as Forest App or Stay Focused to further avoid distractions.
10. Take Breaks
As per scientific research, the Pomodoro technique, which involves taking short breaks between study sessions, can be very effective for learning. For example, after studying for 25 minutes, you can take a small 5-10-minute break to organize your space, grab a snack, or take a small walk, etc. This will keep you productive and fresh to study further.
11. Reward Yourself
Another way to make sure that you remain consistent is to reward yourself. You can try setting small goals for a day and reward yourself on the completion of such goals. Studies have proven that reward system is a great way to maintain your focus. By setting achievable goals and rewarding yourself upon completion, you create a cycle of motivation and accomplishment.
- For example, if your goal is to finish two modules of a subject, and you complete it by the end of the day, you may reward yourself by watching an episode of your favorite series, or practicing any of your hobbies, etc.
- Also, by tracking your progress by using a study journal or any productivity app like Evernote, Notion, or Todoist, one can feel motivated. It also makes you self-accountable and pushes you towards achieving your goals.
12. Use Your Time Wisely
Another tip that will help you prepare well for exams is to use your time wisely. University students often feel overwhelmed by how little time they have for preparation. To avoid this, you can start slow but early. Moreover, paying attention in your classes, reviewing what you learn in classes daily, watching explanatory videos or informative videos in your free time, etc., can help prepare you for exams.
13. Prepare for the Day Before University Exams
The day before exams can be very stressful and can be testing for you. But keeping calm on this day can improve your final performance. Try not to learn or read anything new right before exams. This will create unnecessary pressure of having skipped through something. Keep every important material handy so that you do not have to rush for it in the morning. You can choose to meditate, listen to music, or do whatever works to calm your mind.
Studying for university exams can be stressful, tiring, and very demanding. But you can make the process of learning much easier by implementing these 13 effective study methods for college students. From active recall to Pomodoro, these techniques have been devised by some of the greatest minds and have been scientifically proven to work. But you must choose and do whatever works best for you. With proper planning, approach, and consistency, you can surely ace your exams!
FAQs: How to Study for University Exams Effectively
1. How Early Should I Start Studying for My University Exams?
It is always recommended to start early and make studying a part of your daily routine to avoid last-minute fuss. But you can choose to religiously study for exams at least 4-6 weeks in advance. This will leave you with enough time to read, memorize, revise, and practice.
2. What Are the Best Study Techniques for Retaining Information?
Active recall, spaced repetition, the Pomodoro technique, the Feynman technique, learning through visuals, etc., are some of the best study techniques that you may use to best retain whatever you read.
3. How Can I Stay Focused and Avoid Distractions While Studying?
You may begin by choosing a clean, quiet space. You can choose multiple spots and alternate between them for a change of scene. Try to keep away your phone while studying; you may also turn off your notifications, turn off the TV, and use apps such as Forest App, StayFocused, etc., to remain productive.
4. What Should I Do the Night Before Exams?
Try to avoid last-minute cramming and get proper sleep. You must try to remain as energetic as possible for better focus. Keep all your essentials, such as IDs, stationery items, water bottles, etc., packed. To maintain your calm, you can meditate, listen to music, talk to your friends or family, or take a walk.