Skip to Main Content

Study Skills

Having trouble staying on top of your assignments? The library's Study Skills guide will help you learn techniques for more effective study sessions and managing your time.

Tips for Studying

Where do I start?

  • Start summarizing content at the end of each class from the beginning of the semester.
  • Take notes in class to help you remember information. These notes will be the basis for your revision.
  • Review class notes at the end of every day or week.

What should you study?

  • Your instructor may give you an idea of important topics to study for the exam.
  • Use your time wisely. Only study relevant topics.
  • If there is a topic you are confident with, quickly review it and then move on to a topic you are unsure about.
  • Skim through the entire chapter of a text or article to find the relevant sections. Then read these relevant sections in detail.

Get organized

  • Plan to study when you are naturally most alert.
  • Set goals for how long or how many topics you will study during your study session.
  • Take breaks often to prevent fatigue.
  • Make sure you get enough sleep, especially before an exam.
  • Don't wait until the night before an exam to start studying.

Form a study group

  • Study groups can be as small as two people or they can be much larger.
  • You can start a study group or join an existing one.
  • Revising with someone else helps your understanding.
  • Share knowledge with the group, their strengths might be your weaknesses.
  • Quiz each other and keep each other motivated.

Reading your exam

Before you start answering questions on your test, it can be valuable to take a few minutes to read through your exam.  This is valuable time in which to:

  • get an overview of the entire exam;
  • plan how much time to spend on each part of the exam (if timed);
  • pay particular attention to the instructions.  They will tell you: what you have to do, how long you have. etc.
  • note the sections of the exam and decide on the order in which you will complete them;
  • consider doing multiple choices questions first as they often remind you of ideas;
  • starting with an easier essay question can be a good way to “get into the exam” and to increase your confidence.

Study Resources