Study Tips & FAQs from The Learning Centre

Week 11: Studying for exams

The Learning Centre UNSW — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:51:26 GMT

Begin studying early. Ideally you should begin about four weeks before your exams.

Make a revision timetable and plan how you will use the study time leading up to your exam.

Study for set lengths of time. Don't study for longer than 50 minutes without taking a break. Concentration will slip.

Work out when you study most effectively and schedule study times that suit your personal rhythms.

Organise your material. Make sure you have a complete set of lecture and tutorial notes for each course. If you've missed lectures, borrow copies of the notes from another student. Once you have organised all your material, you can study by topic.

Spend more time studying the subjects you find most difficult. Schedule these first.

Make a study area

Choose a quiet place where you won't be easily distracted.
Make yourself comfortable
Make sure you have good lighting to read by.

Set yourself a goal for each study session. Deciding what to complete in a session will help you keep track of what you are studying.

Review past exam papers. Work through them and look at how they fit into the course. Practice doing the papers under exam conditions and carefully review your answers.

Look at the wording of the questions and familiarise yourself with the clue words (pick up a copy of Exam Skills - Clue Words from The Learning Centre).

Form a study group with other students. Swap practice exams and give feedback. Drill each other on study topics.

Week 9: Yikes, I'm Behind - How to get back on track

The Learning Centre UNSW — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:16:45 GMT

Each semester at uni can feel like running a race, Week one looms and the clock is ticking; before you know it, assignments are due. Planning your workload over a session and having a schedule is critical to success. However, even the most efficient students will fall behind at some time. Unforseen events occur, life happens. What is important is to a) recognise that you are behind schedule and b) have a plan to catch up.

Try the following:

1. Don’t Panic. OK, you’ve fallen behind, but now look ahead and determine what needs to be done.

Do you have any late work? If you haven’t handed an assignment in, speak to your tutor about it asap and find out what your options are.
Do you have an assignment due in the next few days? Identify what is urgent - If you have an assignment due within the week, it is your number one priority.
What assignments do you have between now and the end of the semester? Time for some longer-term planning.
Do you need to do any group work? Is anyone relying on your contribution to a collaborative project/ assignment?

2. Make a Solid Plan. After completing all urgencies create a solid plan that will get you back on schedule ‘til the end of semester. Make a list of the assignments you have to complete and the due dates. Re-draw your Semester plan. Draw up a new weekly planner to accommodate extra work.

3. Just Do It. Now is not the time for procrastination and anxieties about excellence, it’s the time for completing the work that is due NOW. Stay focused - it’s better to produce something (whatever the quality) than nothing at all.

Tips to get you through

Tell people – Support is important, so let the relevant people know that you’re behind and are working your way through it. Tell those you live with that you’ll need some quiet for study; tell your friends you’ll be MIA for a while. By keeping everyone informed, they can understand where you are at.
Maintain your current workload - No matter how far behind you are, don’t skip one class/ assignment to work on another – you’re only increasing the amount of catching up you’ll have to do. You still need to keep up with your assigned reading.
Maintain your sanity. Sleep and eat well. Avoid too much sugar and caffeine and avoid too many late nights. Don’t work so hard that you forget to take short breaks about every hour. Breaks also include evening relaxation. Make sure you leave at least an hour between studying/working and sleep to unwind.
You still need some form of relaxation. Don’t be too much of a hermit. You can still go out, just take it easy - spend a few hours with friends, but don’t stay out till 2 a.m.
Be realistic about your workload and make some short-term adjustments. Can you (at least temporarily) work fewer hours and reduce or suspend your commitments to sporting activities, clubs etc?
Sacrifice a few time-wasters: Facebook, television, Blogs, newsfeeds. Turn off your mobile and hang a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door.
Learn from your mistakes. Once you get caught up, make sure that you have a plan to continue to stay on track. Try to identify why you fell behind. Although some obstacles are unavoidable, if you fell behind through poor planning or procrastination, be counscious of your behaviours and try to change your habits.

Week 7: How should I present my assignments?

The Learning Centre UNSW — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:04:40 GMT

Handing in your first essays before semester break? Good presentation makes your work look professional and indicates to your marker that you take your work seriously.

Assignments should:

be printed on A4 paper (single-sided)
have 1.5 or double line spacing
have wide margins (so your marker can write feedback)
use a clear, easy to read font (Times, Arial, Helvetica, at least 12 point)
have numbered pages
be firmly stapled in the top left hand corner
be within the word limit
be thoroughly edited and proof-read
be correctly referenced

Most assignments require an assignment cover sheet. Check with your tutor about where to find them.

A final tip – make sure you know when, where or to whom your assignment should be handed in. Most schools have a box for students to submit their essays, so double-check to make sure. You don’t want a late penalty simply because you weren’t sure where to go.

For more study tips and resources, visit The Learning Centre website

Week 6: 30 minute study tips

The Learning Centre UNSW — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:03:40 GMT

Think you don’t have time to study? Make optimum use of your time and try these quick activities.

Read a few pages from one of your readings.
Work a few problems/ equations.
Review and fill in your lecture notes from one of your courses.
Develop a plan or an outline for an essay or assignment.
Review some of the readings you’ve recently completed.
Organise a mini study session with a few classmates after lectures/ tutes or just prior to them.
Chat about the subject content Listen to a lecture that you have recorded.

For more about reading at uni, visit The Learning Centre website

Week 5: 15-minute quickstudy tips

The Learning Centre UNSW — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:35:39 GMT

Think you don’t have time to study? Make the most of your time and try these quick activities.

Skim-read a chapter.
Organise one of your notebooks. Rule up some pages for notetaking, make sure that your lecture notes are clearly labelled with names, dates etc., organise any handouts neatly and in order.
Review and fill in your lecture notes from one of your courses.
Make study note cards.
Work a problem or equation.
Study a diagram.
Using your notes, quiz yourself over one of your lectures or textbook chapters.
Update your planner by recording any upcoming assignments or exams.

For more about reading at uni, visit The Learning Centre website

Week 4: 5-minute study

The Learning Centre UNSW — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:56:06 GMT

Quick Study-activities that take 5 minutes or less

Think you don’t have time to study? Make optimum use of your time and try these quick activities.

Check your study planner and remind yourself about what you need to get done this week.
Write a “To Do” list for the day or week.
Skim a section / look over the subtitles of a book chapter or journal article.
If you use ‘flash cards’, review them (flash cards are good for learning: terminology, foreign language vocabulary, math formulas, pharmaceutical/medical terminology, etc…).
Check your course outlines and see what the lecture topics for the week are.
Check your course outlines and confirm assignment due dates.
If you’re feeling stressed, pause and do some deep breathing exercises.

For more about reading at uni, visit The Learning Centre website

Week 3: Setting up a study area

The Learning Centre UNSW — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:06:22 GMT

In order to study effectively, you need a good study space. You should be able to answer YES to all of the following questions:

Is my study area free from interruptions and distractions?
You’ll study best in a quiet environment that is free from interruptions. Turn off the phone and turn the music down. Don’t try to study in front of the television.

Can I access my study area whenever I need it?
The best study space is one that you can access whenever you need to. However, if the only space available to you is shared with others, work out a schedule so that you know when you can use it.

Does my study area contain all the materials I need to work?
Set up your space so that you have the following in easy reach:

reference sources (dictionary, thesaurus, style guide)
supplies such as pens and pencils, paper, ruler
equipment (calculator, USB drive etc.)
whatever else you might need.

Does my study area accomodate my computer?
Make sure there is enough room for your computer and that there is a power outlet within easy reach.

Does my study area have a large enough desk or table?
Use a desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need. It should have room for books, papers and notes to be arranged and stored in an organised fashion. You should be able to spread out If your computer is on your desk, make sure you also have enough room for writing notes.

Does my study area have the right chair?
While an uncomfortable chair can make it hard to concentrate, a chair that is too comfortable can make you drowsy. Select a chair in which you can sit in comfort for long periods. Make sure your chair and desk are the right height, especially if you are working on a computer.

Does my space have enough light?
Avoid eyestrain and headaches and make sure you have enough light to read with. Does my study area have a comfortable temperature? If the room is too warm, you can become sleepy. If it is too cold, you can tense up and lose concentration. Select a temperature at which your mind and body function best.

For more about reading at uni, visit The Learning Centre website

Week 2: Surviving your reading load

The Learning Centre UNSW — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:25:56 GMT

The first rule of surviving a heavy reading load: remember academic material is not meant to be read; It is meant to be ransacked and pillaged for essential content.

Try these tips:

Set a realistic time frame for reading tasks. Don't try to do it all in 10 minutes if you know you need an hour.
Be selective and read with a purpose. Know why you are reading (tutorial preparation? assignment research?) and what you are looking for.
Make sure your reading is relevant. Read with specific questions you want the text to answer.
Never start reading a text at page one. Preview it first and look for the summary, introduction, conclusion, subheadings, etc.
Read only as much as you need to get the information you are after.
If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of reading you need to do, break it up into small chunks. Aim to do one chunk at a time and reward yourself when you’ve done it!

For more about reading at uni, visit The Learning Centre website

Week 1: Start the semester on the right note

The Learning Centre UNSW — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:14:27 GMT

You should have a completed timetable by week one. If you don't, organise it now.

Make sure you attend all your first lectures. The first week is often when course outlines are distributed and important information is delivered.

This week you'll be finding out about upcoming assignment deadlines. Now is the time to plan your workload for the semester.

Don’t get into the habit of skipping lectures. You’ll regret it at assignment and exam time. If you must miss a lecture, arrange to get the notes from another student or talk to your lecturer about what you’ve missed.

Know where you should be. You need lecture hall/ room information.

Arrive at your classes on time.

Come equipped. Make sure you have the stationary and equipment you need.

For more study tips and online resources, visit The Learning Centre website