How to study 10 hours a day! 
Wake up at 4am and study with me! 
Romanticise studying! 

Reels like these make me think, “why can’t I be like them?” But in reality, life isn’t always picture-perfect like those motivational study grams on social media. University life can be scary and overwhelming. 

It’s easy to focus on one thing and miss out on others. You hang out with friends today and find yourself three lectures behind tomorrow. You study today and miss your high school best friend’s birthday party. As a student myself, I find it really difficult to balance everything. 

Sometimes, we can’t study every day, especially if we’re working or caring for a loved one. I’ve struggled to study after a bad day at work (and sometimes I’m just lazy). That’s okay as long as you make the most of your study sessions when you can.  If you don’t know how, let me share some effective and realistic study tips. I use these to do well in exams with only 3-5 hours of studying a day. 

What to do when you first start learning a concept 

Mind Mapping 

Mind mapping helps you organise information in a diagram, allowing you to see the big picture and the relationships between concepts. 

To create a mind map, start with a central idea in the centre of the page. Then, branch out by adding subtopics connected to the main idea. You can use colour coding and images to enhance the mind map. Creating a mind map on your own will enhance your understanding and memory retention. 

Mind maps are great for days when your productivity and energy levels are low. They help you study effortlessly. For me, mind maps are like artwork, so when I don’t feel like studying, I create mind maps. I like to stick my mind map notes on the wall so I can see them every time I walk by and revise. 

Blurting 

This technique involves reviewing a topic, closing your notes, and writing down everything you remember from memory. It enhances active recall by forcing your brain to retrieve information and helps identify gaps in your knowledge. 

Start by thoroughly reading your material, then put your notes aside. Write down everything you can recall and compare it with your notes to identify what you missed or got wrong. 

I usually implement blurting when I first study new material. As someone who likes to cover everything early on, blurting is perfect for identifying weak areas to focus on before the exam. 

How to revise throughout the semester  

Space Repetition  

Spaced Repetition 

Mentioned in many books about memory, spaced repetition is seen as an optimal revision method that involves increasing the intervals between review sessions. This technique suggests reviewing information just before you forget it, making your brain work harder to retrieve it.  

Like a muscle, the brain strengthens with this effort, enhancing long-term retention. The advantages of spaced repetition include improved retention, as it reinforces knowledge over time, and efficiency by focusing on weaker areas. 

To implement this, you can create flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other. Review these cards regularly, starting daily and gradually increasing the intervals between review sessions. Later, focus more on the challenging cards and less on those you know well. 

I use Anki for this, as it comes with adjustable settings for when I want to review a card, I found easy or hard. (red box in the picture below) 

Active Recall 

Active recall involves stimulating your memory by testing yourself on the material. The benefits of active recall include enhanced long-term retention and the ability to identify areas needing more review. 

You can self-quiz or take practice exams under test conditions. As a medical student, I revise by generating practice MCQs. 

Pomodoro Technique 

This method breaks study time into 25-minute focused intervals (Pomodoro’s) followed by a 5-minute break. It enhances focus by minimising distractions and preventing burnout through regular breaks. It’s also beneficial for students with short attention spans. 

To implement this, set a timer for 25 minutes of focused work, then take a 5-minute break. After four Pomodoro’s, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. 

I tend to avoid the Pomodoro Technique when first learning new material, as it can interrupt my study flow and momentum. I use it primarily for flashcards (spaced repetition) and revising material I already know. I use Flocus as my Pomodoro timer because I find its built-in background music soothing. 

How to revise before the Exam 

Study sessions with friends 

Teaching peers or discussing topics with friends can reinforce your understanding and highlight areas needing improvement, as explaining concepts helps solidify your knowledge. 

You can form a study group with friends, where each person takes turns teaching a topic to the group and encourages questions to ensure everyone understands. 

I usually feel stressed around exam time, but studying with friends has made it more enjoyable and less isolating. These study sessions have helped me perform well in exams. 

How to avoid resubmission of assignments 

Writing an assignment can be daunting, especially when you have to rewrite it. 

Here’s how I typically approach an assignment: 

2. Read the Rubric: I thoroughly review the rubric to understand the assignment’s objectives, formatting guidelines, and grading criteria. 

3. Organise Ideas: I structure my assignment by organizing my ideas. 

4. Write the Assignment: I write the article, adhering to the reference style specified by my lecturer to avoid plagiarism and meet academic standards. 

5. Proofread: I proofread the assignment myself or ask friends to review it.

While these steps are crucial, you can also turn to a service like SWIFT before you submit your assignment.  SWIFT gives students fast, structured feedback on written assessments before submission. It is designed to help you reflect on your writing, understand how your work aligns with the assessment criteria, and identify areas you may want to improve.

SWIFT does not rewrite your assignment or make changes for you. Instead, it provides feedback to support your own learning, helping you make informed decisions about your writing while keeping you in control of your final submission.

You can use SWIFT to receive feedback on areas such as:

• how well your work responds to the assessment criteria
• structure and organisation
• clarity of writing
• academic tone
• use of evidence and argument
• areas that may need further development.

You can upload the rubric along with your assignment which means the feedback can be aligned with the expectations of the task.

Here’s how you can access SWIFT:

Log into Canvas and choose the “Need Help?” section. You will see the SWIFT service there.

Get the support you need

If you haven’t used study tips before, I encourage you to try some of these techniques. They will enhance your learning experience and improve your academic performance. 

Additionally, consider using SWIFT for extra support when needed. Studiosity is a valuable resource that can help you refine your assignments and resolve issues before submission. You can also work with a Learning Advisor on campus or by Zoom to get advice on structure, staying on topic and making sure you’re addressing all aspects of the rubric.

Don’t forget that you can get help with searching for sources and referencing through the Book a Librarian service on campus or by Zoom.