Do you ever wonder why you study for a long time, only to find that at the end of the day, your friend who claims not to study (and you honestly haven't ever seen this person study) gets a higher score than you?

Undergraduate life is a full-time job (lectures, assignments, classes you didn’t understand, social distractions, sleep deprivation, and the panic that comes when exam dates are suddenly announced).

University exams are a different kind of beast. Unlike secondary school, there's less structure, more content, and way more distractions. If you're reading this, you're probably tired of burning midnight candles that don’t seem to work, or you're determined to avoid last-minute panic this semester.

This post is also for you if you are tired of reading all day and still getting average grades. If you’re looking for a more efficient way to prepare for exams, welcome.

Let’s jump right into it!

1. Understand the Game: Know What You're Up Against

University exams are not about reading everything. They're about reading right.

Before you dive into textbooks, *understand what is expected of you*:

• What type of questions are usually asked? (Essays? MCQs? Diagrams?)
• Is the exam theory-heavy or application-based? Theory-heavy means you’ll spend a lot of time memorizing and understanding theories, models, or historical data. Courses such as Law, History, Philosophy, and Political Science are typically theory-heavy courses. Application-based courses are calculation-based and demand applications and practical exercises. Engineering is an example of a practical course.

Someone studying Anatomy and someone studying Political Science can't use the same study techniques. One needs diagrams and labeling; the other needs arguments and essay practice.

• How does the lecturer usually set questions? Some lecturers copy and paste old questions, and others twist those questions to ascertain your thinking prowess.

Pro Tip: Ask senior students for past questions. This isn't cheating; it's strategy.

2. Start Before the Storm

If you're reading this a few weeks before exams, great! If not, the best time to start is now.

Early preparation gives you:

• Time to understand deeply, not cram
• Flexibility to revise again and again
• Less anxiety when others start rushing

Don’t wait for an exam timetable before you start. Smart students prepare before the pressure comes.

3. Break Your Study into Bits  

If the Pomodoro Technique (study for 25 minutes, rest for 5 minutes) doesn’t work for you because the 5-minute rest ends up turning into 3 hours or more of distraction, discipline yourself to study for 2 hours and rest for 30 minutes(this rest should be to take a walk or drink water, or do anything else aside from phone-scrolling or studying.

Break big topics into manageable sections.

Refer to our previous blog post and check out “Smarter Strategies That Work” for time-saving techniques.

4. Create a Personal Study Timetable That Works

Don’t copy someone else’s study timetable. You're not them.

Here’s how to build your own:

• Know Your Weekly Schedule: Write out all your fixed activities(classes, chores, rest, religious meetings, meals, etc.). This helps you know your available free hours.
• List your courses in order of weight/difficulty
• Set Clear Study Goals: Decide what courses you want to focus on, which are urgent or more difficult, and how many hours you want to study daily or weekly.
• Divide your reading hours into small chunks (e.g., Dedicate 2 hours to a course per day)
• Choose Your Best Time to Study: Morning? Afternoon? Or Night? Select the time when your brain works best.
• Mix Subjects Smartly: Don’t study similar subjects back-to-back (e.g., not reading two heavy courses together). Mix theory with calculations or light topics with intense ones.
• Include Revision & Practice: Add time for revision, past questions, quizzes, and group discussions.
• Be Flexible: Things change. Leave room for interruptions or adjustments. This doesn’t mean you should create those interruptions by endless scrolling and the like. Being flexible is leaving room for situations that are beyond your control.
• Track Your Progress: Review weekly. Are you meeting your goals? If not, adjust the plan.

8. Revise With Friends or Teach Someone

Many students make the mistake of re-reading the same notes instead of *revising*. Smarter revision can be in the form of teaching others.

If you can explain it, you’ve understood it.

Find a study partner or group and:

• Ask each other questions
• Solve past questions together
• Teach each other confusing topics
• Come up with memory tricks together using mnemonics and acronyms to enhance your recall.
• Use Active Recall + Spaced Repetition

Revisit the material after 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week. That’s spaced repetition.

These techniques help the brain retain better than reading for 7 hours straight.

However, ensure the group stays focused. 

If they waste time and only gossip, run o! 

9. Don’t Skip Classes  

Yes, we know some classes feel like a waste of time. But lecturers drop hints. They tell stories that help you remember things. Sometimes they even tell you exactly what’s coming out.

Be present.  

Take notes in your own words.  

Pay attention to what your lecturer repeats often; those are usually exam questions in disguise.

10. Take Care of Yourself Physically and Emotionally

During exams, students often tend to skip meals, stay up all night, and stay isolated.

This drains you. 

Instead:

• Eat balanced meals (fruits, carbs, protein)
• Exercise a little (even walking helps)
• Talk to friends, laugh, breathe
• Sleep well (at least 6-8 hours a day)

Your mental and physical health is part of your study strategy.

BONUS: Develop Exam Strategies

When exam day comes:

Read instructions carefully

Start with the questions you know

Manage your time (don’t spend 40 minutes on one question)

Leave time to review

Don’t panic if others are writing and submitting before you.

Focus on your paper.

My Own Testimony:

"Last semester, I used these tips to try studying smarter instead of reading from cover to cover. I read my books, used past questions, and active recall. I slept better, and surprisingly, I scored better than when I used to read all night, even though I didn’t completely read every single thing in the textbooks like I used to. I realized exams are not about reading more, but reading right."

Final Thoughts

Studying Smarter Is About Strategy, Not Struggle

You don’t need to lose your mind to pass university exams.

You need:

• Early preparation
• Smart methods
• Consistency
• Self-awareness

Remember, It’s not about who reads the most, but who reads with purpose.

Don’t try to be everyone. Be the student who knows what works and sticks to it.

You’ve got this, and we’ve got you.

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