Although it may be tempting to pull an all-nighter before the big exam, studies have shown that sleep deprivation lowers our ability to focus and sustain attention for long periods of time.
Form healthy habits early in the semester by ensuring you get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Better still, reinforce the Circadian Rhythm and wake-up at the same time every morning.
Remember all those New Year’s resolutions you never kept? Yep, we’re guilty of it too. A common mistake when it comes to goal setting is being overly ambitious and general.
Instead of setting general goals such as “lift academic performance”, use the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal method to create clear and achievable goals you’ll actually stick to.
Cramming for an exam may seem effective, but studies have shown it isn’t a sustainable study technique. Basically, as quickly as you learnt that information, you’ll also forget it.
The “spacing effect” – revising for shorter periods of time over days, weeks and months – gives your brain the opportunity to create and strengthen neural pathways. In effect, you’ll be able to retain information for longer periods of time.
The Learning Centre provides a range of academic support programs for students at any stage of their university journey.
Offering over 60 free workshops throughout the year, the Learning Centre is your one stop shop for developing your academic communication, research and study skills.