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TSR Wiki > Study Help > Exam and Study Tips > University Study Tips
General
- Check your uni email account regularly as departments and tutors may send email to you.
- Make sure you meet your tutor as soon as possible and keep in regular contact. If you have a problem try and talk to them because it's probably easily solvable, even if you think it's not. Don't try to handle things by yourself, make sure someone knows about it.
- Even if you discuss your work with someone else, make sure you write up by yourself (unless it's group work, obviously). They will notice if your work is similar and you'll probably be penalized for it.
Lectures
- Find out if you need to take a set book to the lectures or just read it in your own time. No point lugging something in if you don't have to.
- It really does help if you go to lectures; this is especially true if you're taking a science-related subject where material covered in lectures provides a basis for later lectures and practical work. If you do end up missing lectures (and everyone does, you'd scare me if you didn't) then try and get the notes off someone else or do a bit of the reading.
- If your uni offers hand-outs online then print them off before the lecture - some lecturers don't give out copies of their slides and this way you have something to annotate
- If you find it hard to make notes quickly then stick to key points and go over examples and other extra information with a friend afterwards.
- Read through your notes at the weekend after the lecture to make sure they're still legible and make sense - better to realise now than come exam-time!
Classes
- Always attempt any exercises set or even mentioned. Hand them in even if nobody else does - the worst thing that can happen is they won't give you feedback. Don't leave things like problem sheets until the morning of the lecture/seminar/whatever, and always try to do all the questions.
- Don't be afraid for asking someone else in your class if you can work together or compare answers. They may have a different take on it - or explaining it to them may help you to nail it! It's better to go there understanding what's going on, even if it's a bit of a joint effort!
Notes & Filing
- When making notes in lectures put the date, module title and page number on each piece of paper. When you get back from your lecture put them into a folder straight away.
- Typing up your notes after a lecture might help you get them into your head. Also, you’ll be able to print off neatly typed copies for revision later in the year.
- Arrange your notes how you wish, it needs to work for you.
Try to remember to get notes from lectures you missed.
Coursework
- Do not leave coursework until the last moment. Prioritise it by how big the coursework is and how far away the deadline is.
- Do as much research as you can into your coursework as early as you possibly can.
- If you are confused by any part of your coursework, ask your tutor.
- Fulfil all the parts of the coursework requested. Marks cannot be given if you do not write about something the coursework sheet requests you to do
- Check the referencing system you are supposed to use. Ensure you use it. Plagiarism is now taken seriously by universities.
- To help with referencing, use 'Document It – helping you to quickly and accurately record and manage citations and references – to find out more click here.'
Stamina
- Staying up till 4am when you have a 9am lecture is not a good way to learn.
- If you do stay up that late you will end up sleeping in the lecture – you may as well stay in bed and not make your morning painful.
- Drink Jolt cola. Works a treat on those all nighters, and tastes like those long cola icepops.
Exams
See 'Avoiding exam stress'.
