Keep Calm and Study On

Follow these steps to ensure you are prepared to manage your time and complete all assignments, readings, and tasks to finish this term strong. 

Create your ideal study space. 

In order to stay focused and committed to your course work, find a place where you can limit distractions (friends, family, technology, noise, etc.). Aim for a space that is comfortable, well-lit, distraction-free and equipped with the right technology. Don’t forget to have your textbooks, pens, notebooks, sticky notes, and highlighters ready! 

Get organized. 

For each course, list your academic tasks for the next few weeks. Include all of the chapters you need to review, practice problems to run through, etc. Use this handy Course Tracker to get started and calculate where you currently stand in each course and what tasks you have remaining.  

Make a plan. 

This is the fun part! Now that you know what you have to do, you need to plan out when you’re going to get it done. Use the Weekly Schedule to block off time in your day to complete your tasks.  
Strategies to help you get started:  

• Create a schedule every Sunday for the upcoming week.  
• Schedule short blocks of time (one to two hours) for study sessions to complete readings, review material, and test your knowledge. 
• Be realistic. Schedule breaks between study sessions for rest, physical activity, and meals. 
• Add some necessary (and well-deserved!) “me” time to the schedule. Add breaks between study sessions for rest, physical activity, social time, and meals. 
• Plan to go to sleep and get up at the same time each day. We’re creatures of habit, so it’s important to stick to a routine.  

Stick to the plan. 

Easier said than done – we know – but you’re in the driver’s seat and need to stay accountable to yourself. You may encounter distractions like your roommates interrupting or your phone buzzing. 

Here are strategies for sticking to the plan:  

• For each one-hour block, use the Power Hour technique to stay on task:  
• Start with a goal of what you want to accomplish, work with focus for 45 minutes without distractions, take a 10-minute break, review your goal, and then assess your progress before moving on to the next task. 
• Use the Tomato Timer to set a timer and study with focus. 
• Put your phone away, disable pop-up notifications on your computer and turn off Netflix. 
• Do it for the grades!  

Take breaks. 

Once you get into study mode it’s important to take breaks and give yourself time to absorb new information. Taking a walk, grabbing a snack, doing a 7-minute workout, or just chatting with a friend can help you stay on task longer and ultimately be more productive. 

For more tips on how to take effective study breaks, watch this video on How to Be Lazy and Still Get a Ton of Work Done.  

Stick to the plan... again. 

The biggest killer of productivity is procrastination. When you procrastinate and push off tasks, ask yourself, “What am I avoiding and what am I doing instead?”

Everyone has procrastination triggers - those things we choose to do instead of the work that has to get done. Make a list of your procrastination triggers and create a pre-determined action for how you will deal with each trigger. For instance, if you know you watch Netflix for hours when you have a looming assignment deadline, write down “I will finish my assignment first and then reward myself with one episode”.

Remember that procrastination is a choice, so choose to be productive and stick to the plan instead! If you’re curious about why we procrastinate, check out The Science of Procrastination and How to Manage It.  

Monitor your progress. 

Remember, it’s not about achieving perfection – it’s about developing your skills and knowledge. This may take some practice! Monitor your plan and note what’s working and where you may need to adapt your strategies.

Some questions to ask yourself: 

• Have I planned too much, too little, or the right amount of time to complete my tasks? 
• What do I find challenging? 
• What am I enjoying? 
• Am I making enough time to take care of myself? 
• Whom can I contact to ask for support?   

Practice self-care. 

In uncertain times, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed. Being concerned and anxious about the unknown is normal. However, these feelings may increase discomfort - impacting your concentration and productivity. It’s crucial that you maintain consistent sleep patterns, eat healthy, and practice self-care.

Easy self-care strategies include:  

• Going for a walk outside.  
• Practicing deep breathing throughout the day.  
• Connecting with friends and family. 

Trust yourself. 

Remember, you’re almost at the finish line and you may even learn some new skills along the way. Stay focused, work hard, and reach out for support as you need it.

Before the exam 

• Start studying early.
• Confirm your ALC accommodations (if applicable).
• Ensure that you know the exam format, how long you have to complete it, and what content is being covered.
• Make a detailed study plan. Give yourself enough time to cover all content appropriately, with extra time to prioritize the more difficult material, or the material you need to catch up on.
• Check MyLS frequently for exam updates or additional resources.
• If you have questions, reach out to your instructor or TA as soon as possible.
• Review exam preparations, time management, study strategies, and online learning resources.
• Test your knowledge by answering practice questions, reviewing your study guides, and scheduling a study group with classmates.
• Double check which exam resources are permitted (calculator, blank paper, textbook, notes, etc) and have them ready.
• Take care of yourself! Eat healthy, sleep well, and take breaks.  

Locate exam room 

Worrying about finding the location of your exam room is the last thing that should be on your mind right before your exam. It’s a good idea to plan out a trip to each of your exam locations to make sure you know how to get there and what the room looks like. Check out the Find your exam room article to learn more.  

Know what to pack 

In a clear bag, don’t forget to pack:

• Your Laurier OneCard 
• At least three pencils/pens (trust us on this!) 
  • If you are writing a multiple-choice exam with a Scantron, you will need to use pencil. 
  • If you are writing a written exam, we encourage you to use pen. 
• Any authorized aids that your instructor has allowed (i.e., formula sheet, calculator, etc.) 
• Highlighter 
• Eraser 
• Ruler 

You are welcome to bring a clear water bottle with no label, but no other food or drink will be allowed in the exam room.  

What to expect in the exam room 

• You will be required to follow all COVID protocols, including wearing a mask indoors and filling out your daily assessment on the SafeHAWK app. 
• There will be at least one proctor present in each exam room. Listen to their instructions clearly. 
• All electronics must be turned off and left at the front of the exam room, along with any bags, hats, coats, etc. 
• You are not allowed to eat or drink in the exam room, aside from water in a clear bottle with no label. 
• Locate the clock on the wall so that you can manage your time accordingly. 
• Make sure to fill out your exam book, booklet and/or Scantron with your full name and student number. 
  • Not familiar with how to use a Scantron? Check out this video. 
• You must remain in the exam room for at least one hour. 
• When you are done writing, quietly close up your exam and place any extra sheets/Scantron inside the exam book/booklet. 
• If you need to use the washroom, raise your hand and wait for the proctor to accompany you. There will not be time added to your exam if you leave the room. 

During the exam 

Managing Your Time 

• Know exactly how much time you have to complete the exam 
• Allow yourself sufficient time to carefully read all instructions 
• Plan and monitor your time throughout the exam 
• Take time at the end of the exam to check your work for accuracy 

Avoiding Academic Integrity Violations 

• Write in your own words and cite as necessary to avoid plagiarizing 
• Avoid the temptation to use additional resources beyond what's expected for the exam 

Staying Focussed 

• Read each question carefully 
• Concentrate and use strategies to minimize mind-wandering 
• Have water available in case you need it 

After the exam 

• Do not copy, distribute or share the questions after the exam is finished 
• Reflect on how you "think" you did on the exam. Were you prepared? Would you do anything differently next time? 

Elaboration 
Explain content in your own words and make detailed connections between different ideas. Ask yourself questions and find answers in your notes/textbooks. Connect new concepts to past material. 
 
Concrete Examples 
Relate each idea to an example from your lecture, textbook, and/or own experience. Use specific examples to understand abstract ideas and explain how each example links to class material 
 
Dual Coding 
Create visuals such as a chart or diagram to represent each topic and learning objective. Combine words and visuals and organize your course information into alternate formats. 
 
Retrieval Practice 
Practice bringing the information to mind. Actively recall information by recording everything you know and trying practice problems. 
 
Interleaving 
Switch between different ideas or courses while you study to strengthen your understanding. Don’t study one idea for too long and change up the order when you are reviewing content. 
 
Spaced Practice 
Start your exam preparation early and space out your studying over time. Set aside time each day to study. Test what you know and review information that you forget. 
 
The Power Hour 
Leveraging this study strategy is a great way to stay focussed and get your work done. 
 
Managing Procrastination 
Learn all about procrastination: what it is, why we do it and how to avoid it! 

Use the checklist below to help you determine how prepared you are for the upcoming exam season.  

Are you studying effectively? 

1. Have you finished all of the assigned readings, course work and watched/attended all lectures? 
2. Have you created a study schedule to avoid cramming and ensure you have time to review all topics? 
3. Do you know what content is being covered (e.g., chapters 1–8 and videos) and what types of questions will be included (e.g., multiple choice or short answer)? 
4. What have you learned from past tests and assignments that can help you study for your exam (e.g., how were questions asked, what level of knowledge is required)? 
5. Do you know what resources are available to help you study (e.g., study guide, office hours, practice tests, etc.) 

Are you using effective study strategies? 

1. Are you thinking like your professor and creating practice questions or scenarios (anticipating questions)? 
2. Have you made a list of topics you are less familiar or comfortable with (prioritizing your studying)? 
3. Are you using a variety of study methods to review material (e.g., flash cards, study groups, reviewing notes, creating study guides or concept maps) (developing understanding)? 
4. Have you practiced answering questions or recalling information without using your notes (retrieval practice)? 
5. Are you studying to remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate or create new content (see above to help you determine what types of questions you can expect) (Blooms Taxonomy)? 

Five Myths about Written Exams and Final Papers

One can never use “I”.

Depending on your academic discipline and the genre of writing, “I” can actually be encouraged! Writing genres like Op-Eds and reflections often even require the use of “I”. If you aren’t sure whether you can or should use “I,” you can always ask your professor or TA. 

You must have five paragraphs.

If you went to high school in Ontario, you were probably taught that every essay has exactly five paragraphs: one introduction paragraph with a thesis, three body paragraphs with different sub arguments, and a conclusion paragraph. In university, you should use as many paragraphs and sub arguments as you need! Each new paragraph should be a change in idea or example, not necessarily a change in sub argument. As a general rule, if your paragraph is longer than about ¾ of a double-spaced page, you probably have at least two paragraphs. To make your essay easier to read and follow, you can split this long paragraph where you notice a shift in idea or example.   

You must use direct quotations.

Think of it this way — if you are writing a 500-word discussion post and 100 of those words are your quotes, that’s already 20% of the post that isn’t showing your own knowledge and understanding. It’s showing someone else’s words and ideas, not your own! Direct quotes can be effective when you can’t change words without changing meaning, but paraphrasing and summarizing are often more effective. No matter whether you use a direct quote, paraphrase or summary, make sure to put a citation! 

You will get a good mark if you restate everything you learned in the class.

University-level writing is almost always about your own analysis or findings. Simply restating everything you learned in class is very rarely enough to succeed. It may help to think of academic writing as a conversation. What are you adding? A new example? A confirmation of a previous experiment? How do pieces come together, in your opinion? It might be scary to rely on your own thoughts or interpretation, but you can take a leap of faith if you are relying on evidence. 

When it comes to university-level writing, you’re on your own.

Though you always want to take care to act with academic integrity, there is more support for your academic writing in university than there was in high school! Reach out to your professors, TAs, IAs, lab supervisors, etc. if you have any questions or concerns about an assignment. Subject-specific librarians can help you with your research, and we at Writing Services can help you at any stage in your writing process. Just be sure to book your appointments early, especially at the end of term! 

The only thing standing between you and your well-earned break is finals. The good news is that you have already made it this far! Keep practicing the golden strategies that brought you to this point. Check out the Staying Golden During Final Exams article for a refresher on what it means to act with integrity while working on final assignments and writing your exams.