{"id":1714,"date":"2025-11-03T11:50:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T11:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=1714"},"modified":"2025-11-03T11:50:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T11:50:14","slug":"study-smarter-not-harder-my-favourite-study-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/11\/03\/study-smarter-not-harder-my-favourite-study-hacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Study smarter, not harder: My favourite study hacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a final-year student on the MSci Natural Sciences degree, I\u2019ve learned a lot about what works (and what really doesn\u2019t) when it comes to studying. I\u2019ve spent countless hours revising, planning, and occasionally panicking, and along the way, I\u2019ve picked up some genuinely useful habits that have made a big difference.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We all spend so much time studying but rarely stop to think about how we\u2019re doing it. This post is a collection of the study strategies that have helped me work more effectively, stay focused, and feel more in control. They won\u2019t all apply to every degree, but I hope there\u2019s something here you can take away and make your own.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Smarter, not harder \u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the biggest things I\u2019ve learned is that it\u2019s not about how many hours you study, it\u2019s about how effective those hours are. It\u2019s easy to feel proud after a long day of revision, but if those hours don\u2019t lead to better understanding, confidence or results, it can feel like wasted effort.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, I always try to study smarter, not harder. That means starting with the topics I find most difficult, not the ones I enjoy most. I focus on study techniques that give the best return for my time, and I make a real effort to concentrate when I sit down to work. No half-hearted scrolling through notes while watching Netflix, I want to make the time count.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Where do I even start? \u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

When it\u2019s time to start revising, it can be tempting to spend hours making the perfect colour-coded plan. I\u2019ve definitely been guilty of that. But I\u2019ve found that having a simple, flexible structure works better for me and helps me actually get started.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how I usually plan my revision:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I work out how many days I have until my exams and give myself one full day off each week. That day either becomes a proper break or a catch-up day if I\u2019ve fallen behind.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. I split the remaining days between my modules, based on how many credits each exam is worth and how difficult I find the content. More weight or more struggle means more time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. I space the module days across the calendar so I\u2019m not doing the same subject back-to-back. I prefer to focus on one module per day, but some people like to mix subjects, so go with what suits you!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Once that\u2019s done, I\u2019ve got a clear plan. I know when I\u2019m studying each module, and I can swap things around if needed. That day off each week is flexible too, I take it when I need it most.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Time to study: What do I do?<\/h2>\n

    Set specific goals \u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    When I sit down to study, I always set a clear goal for the session. I try to avoid vague goals like \u201cRevise organic chemistry\u201d, as it can often lead to me doing a bit of everything and not really finishing anything. Instead, I focus on specific goals which are measurable, so instead of \u201cRevise organic chemistry\u201d, it is \u201cComplete the 2021 past paper\u201d. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Active revision over passive<\/h3>\n

    I\u2019ve always preferred active revision. Reading notes and highlighting things might feel productive, but it doesn\u2019t always help me remember or understand the material and ends up with me feeling like I've wasted time I could have spent relaxing. Active revision - like writing things out from memory, teaching the topic to someone else, or answering questions - is far more effective.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    I try to turn passive tasks into active ones. For example, instead of just reading a textbook, I\u2019ll make a mind map from memory, then check what I missed. It takes more effort, but it sticks better.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Exam questions<\/h3>\n

    Doing past papers and practice questions is probably the most useful thing you can do. It helps me get used to the format, spot patterns in what gets asked, and figure out where my gaps are.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    There have been times I\u2019ve done a past paper and done really badly. I\u2019ve panicked, felt overwhelmed, and questioned whether I was ready at all. But once I got past that initial reaction, I realised how helpful it was. Seeing all those gaps laid out clearly showed me exactly what I did and didn\u2019t know. It gave me a clear focus for my revision, and I went back to those topics with a plan. That exam ended up being one of my best results, because I knew where to put my energy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Keeping balance<\/h2>\n

    Studying is important, but so is looking after yourself. I try to make sure I have a bit of time off every day - even if it\u2019s just half an hour to go for a walk, watch something, or see friends. That break helps me reset and stops me from burning out.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s easy to feel like you should be working all the time, especially during exam season. But rest is part of the process. You\u2019ll study better if you\u2019re looking after your wellbeing too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Want more support? \u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    If you\u2019re looking for more advice on how to prepare for assessments, check out the Steps to Success Calendar which is coming soon. It\u2019s packed with tips, tools and resources to help you plan your revision, manage your time and feel more confident going into exams.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    As a final-year student on the MSci Natural Sciences degree, I\u2019ve learned a lot about what works (and what really doesn\u2019t) when it comes to studying. I\u2019ve spent countless hours revising, planning, and occasionally panicking, and along the way, I\u2019ve...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2025,"featured_media":1717,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[91,9,103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-skills","category-exams","category-student-skills-ambassador"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/10\/Study-Hacks-Blog.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":858,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2022\/09\/05\/studying-in-the-uk-my-experience-as-an-international-student\/","url_meta":{"origin":1714,"position":0},"title":"Studying in the UK: my experience as an international student","author":"Erifyli Vologianni","date":"September 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"My name is Erifyli, I'm from Greece, and I\u2019ve recently graduated from the University of Bath with a degree in International Management. In this blog, I\u2019ll share the experiences and skills I gained as an international student, the challenges I faced, how I dealt with them, and tips for settling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Academic skills"","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Erifyli Vologianni","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/09\/erifyli.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1012,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/08\/23\/zero-to-hero-returning-to-mathematics\/","url_meta":{"origin":1714,"position":1},"title":"Zero to Hero \u2013 returning to mathematics","author":"Ed Southwood","date":"August 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Returning to study mathematics after a break can be intimidating. 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