Cartmel College - Lancaster University - Official Website

Its that time again, exams around the corner, stress building and the sun rubbing salt in your academic wounds. So we at The Griffin have compiled a number of helpful tips you may not have heard before to help you succeed.

· Get out of your room - These rooms are where you relax, eat, sleep, socialise and so it can be difficult to switch from those to a working state of mind. Find a place that forces you to work, the library being top spot on my list, all those eyes ready to judge you for going on facebook instead of studying. Other options are the study room in Barker House Farm, JCR or on a nice day a sunny spot outside.

· Summarise – Take one topic and put down important words or phrases, advantages disadvantages etc. then when it comes to actually revising them it is as if you are memorising the page structurally, with each word sparking off a veritable galaxy of information.

· Set content targets – Its no good saying ‘I will revise from 2 until 4’ because that will inevitably include multiple tea breaks, maybe Neighbours, some doodling, and you will soon find only forty five minutes of work has been done. Instead say ‘I will revise these topics today’ and make sure you do.

· Write like you talk – Well, not exactly, but when attempting an essay question think of it as if you were explaining your answer to a layman, a friend sat at your kitchen table who has just posed the question to you. Keep reminding yourself of this and you will find you’ll answer the question and not ramble off topic.

By Matt Connor