CEPS Exam Season Study Tips

Most students can probably name a few things they would rather be doing than studying for exams. There are several things you can do to make your study time more successful (doing the correct things) and efficient (spending less time studying). 

We asked College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and U of G students how they best prepare for tests and exams. Here are some of their recommendations, as well as some of our own, which we hope you will find useful as you embark on your studying journey.  

Remember, try not to let the stress get to you and make use of the many mental wellbeing resources that U of G offers (like Student Wellness!). 

1. Take regular breaks. 

While a lot of students hold the belief that long, extended study sessions are the key to success, studying for too long without taking breaks can be counterproductive. Studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks really helps.  

Alyssia Sanchez, a Biomedical Engineering fifth year student, has a valuable tip:  

“It’s so easy to get caught up in studying and forget to take breaks, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Taking breaks makes studying a lot more enjoyable and can even help you retain more information.” 

2. Try and establish a sense of routine. 

Establishing a sense of routine is one of the best ways to make the most of your study sessions. Reem Saleh, a Biological and Pharmaceutical Chemistry Student, submitted this tip about a sense of routine: 

“My number one tip would be to start early in establishing a sense of balance for your routine as a student. This entails, scheduling and making notes of important dates and reminders, making time for pursuing your hobbies and connecting with loved ones, forming meaningful connections with fellow peers and staff, as well as maintaining a pragmatic mindset and actively enjoying the journey while learning.” 

3. Make use of your support system! 

@aggarwal_daksh, U of G student on Instagram, reminds us how important it is to make use of your support system with this submitted tip: 

“You are never alone, you can reach out to your peers, upper years, TAs and profs for help!” 

Making use of your support system means using all of the resources that are available to you if you need them. These could be as simple as things like studying alongside your friends, asking your professor for advice on your upcoming exam, or making use of the resources available at the McLaughlin Library. 

4. Use Study Aids to your advantage.

 Studies have shown that proper use of visual aids while studying helps to retain more concepts permanently, meaning that content studied using visual aids has a higher chance of sticking around in your brain. Visual aids are any devices which can be used to make the learning experience more real, more accurate and more active (think flash cards, post-it notes, colourful highlighters). Check out these helpful study aid suggestions from U of G students: 

“Make mind maps and use them to do practice problems!” @logan_arnold0018 on Instagram 

“Use flash cards for active memorization of rules and terms.” @torie_93 on Instagram 

5. Limit distractions.

Staying focused while studying becomes a lot easier when your distractions are limited. This in turn results in better, more effective studying. Remove temptation by doing things like turning your phone off, moving away from any adorable pets or entertainment activities, and even studying alone if you need to. Allocate some time to just study. Your future self will thank you. 

6. Set self-imposed deadlines.

While we normally associate stress with negativity, a little self-imposed stress can actually be beneficial in terms of increasing focus and assisting us in achieving our goals. Try setting a deadline for yourself while studying (I.e., “I will finish Chapter 6 by tonight!”) and really sticking to it. You might be pleased to learn how focused and productive you can be! 

7. Break large tasks down into smaller ones.

Make sure you take the time to step back, reflect, and understand that even seemingly tedious tasks are all part of the bigger picture. Looking at all of what you need to study can easily overwhelm you when it seems impossible to get it all done in time. Examine the tasks you need to complete and think about the logical order of completing the pieces (what should you do first? What should come second?). Create a timeline for completing your tasks and remember that overworking and expecting too much of yourself can have harmful effects on your mental health.  

8. Keep your space organized. 

Check that you have adequate room to spread out your textbooks and notes. Do you have enough light? Is your chair a good fit for you? Are there any distractions in view? 

Ensure that you are as comfortable and able to concentrate as possible when you are studying by keeping your study space clear and organized. For some, this may mean near-complete quiet; for others, background music or white noise may be helpful. To concentrate, some of us need everything to be perfectly clean and orderly, while others thrive in a messier atmosphere. Consider what works best for you and take the time to perfect it. 

9. Get enough sleep, even if you feel like you need to cram. 

Recent studies have shown that adequate sleep is essential to feeling awake and alert, maintaining good health, and working at peak performance. Young adults need about seven to eight hours of sleep each night to function optimally during the day.  

Pulling an all-nighter to get your studying in last minute may seem like a good idea at first glance, but in reality, making sure you have enough sleep is much more important. Getting to your exam with a well-rested mind makes it much easier to write than it would be if you had been awake for the previous 18 hours.  

10. Stay hydrated! 

Finally, keep in mind that being fully hydrated is critical to making sure your brain is functioning at 100% efficiency. Make sure you drink enough water during all your revision, as well as on the day of the exam.