We asked students and learning specialists to share their best tips, tricks and tools for university students. Browse through the articles for new strategies and perspective. Use the filters to find content that works for you.
Are you finding academic readings challenging? Do you feel like you’re not getting the most out of them? There’s a strategy you can try to help with this. The acronym is SQ3R — it stands for survey, question, read, recite and review. Let’s take a deep dive into each step.
Problem-based questions don’t have to be something you dread on your next exam. The key to working through them is to follow a framework to break them down. The EPIC approach does this and can be used for a variety of problem-based questions. Here’s how it works:
Study questions are a great way to help you prepare for an exam or test. They help you review the course material and practice applying it to questions — just like you’ll do during the test.
The key to doing this effectively is to create study questions that force you to use the same skills you’ll use during the exam.
Let’s start by admitting that reading the feedback on an assignment — especially one you don’t think was your best — can be uncomfortable. Maybe you even avoid checking the comments because you find constructive feedback difficult to hear. That’s completely normal.
So... let’s remember this feedback isn’t a critique of you, but simply a piece of your work. And you can use the feedback to improve next time. Here’s how:
Have you ever underestimated the time it takes to complete an assignment or study for an exam? Do you find that no matter how early you start, you don’t have enough time? Backwards planning can help with this.
Does preparing for a test feel as scary as writing it? Read on. Feeling anxious about tests is common in university, but here are lots of strategies you can try to help manage those feelings.
Do you feel unmotivated to attend in-person lectures? Maybe you feel disengaged because you can review the slides on your own or watch the recorded lecture. Or maybe you’re not interested in engaging in class discussions or activities.
If you’re having these feelings, here’s a reminder of some benefits of attending and participating during in-person classes:
Have you ever submitted an essay or project that you were so sure would meet your professor’s expectations, only to get it back with lots of notes and a lower grade than you were hoping for?
We’ve all been there. Receiving and reviewing feedback from your teaching assistants (TAs) and instructors is a regular part of the university experience.
Not sure where to start when you’re studying for exams? Review notes are the answer. They help you synthesize what you’ve learned and organize the course information for studying.
There’s no doubt exams can be stressful, but using a process can help you stay calm. Try this five-step process for your next exam:
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