Today’s episode brings you the solution to those toughest of memory challenges: by the end, you’ll have a toolkit of handy mnemonic tricks to help you learn those hardest-to-remember bits of your course. This is Part 6 of this special 8-part series on "How To Study Effectively" (abbreviated to H2SE in show titles). If you haven't already listened to Part 1 (broadcast as Episode 66 "How To Study Effectively: 6 Pillars of Student Success"), I recommend you start there before listening to this epis...
Nov 21, 2021•29 min•Ep. 76
Discover how aspiring barrister Charlie passed his notoriously challenging law exams using techniques from the Exam Study Expert podcast. A story of success by studying smarter, not harder; how to achieve at the highest level in academic exams WITHOUT working all night! * Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress. BOOK 1:1 COACH...
Nov 14, 2021•29 min•Ep. 75
Today, we’re talking about practice questions and past exam paper questions: a wonderfully effective study strategy that should always play a role in your exam prep. Includes 4 of my favourite creative strategies to study with practice questions - for advanced users only! This is Part 5 of this special 8-part series on "How To Study Effectively" (abbreviated to H2SE in show titles). If you haven't already listened to Part 1 (broadcast as Episode 66 "How To Study Effectively: 6 Pillars of Student...
Nov 07, 2021•22 min•Ep. 74
"I have never been a super great academic kid" - the multi-year story of how Michael turned his academic life around. From failing school to top 1% in the country, studying pure mathematics at University. * Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress. BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/...
Oct 31, 2021•31 min•Ep. 73
Do you like to write notes? They’re incredibly popular with students at high school, college, university and just about anywhere else you need to study for exams. The problem is that note-making or writing summaries are pretty terrible ways to get information into memory. In this episode, I offer you an upgrade to supercharge your limp old standard note-making technique and turn into a roaring dragon or a powerful study strategy. Part 4 of this special 8-part series on "How To Study Effectively"...
Oct 24, 2021•15 min•Ep. 72
The Exam Study Expert student stories series: showing you how real students achieve real success in real exams using the strategies we teach on the podcast. Today, meet finance professional Divine from the Bahamas, who used the flashcards study strategy to devastating effect to achieve a spectacular 95% in her accounting exams, putting her in the top 1% / 2% of candidates. All the more impressive given she was fitting her studies around a busy day job and looking after a family - tune in to find...
Oct 17, 2021•21 min•Ep. 71
I LOVE studying with flashcards. Used well, they’re astonishingly effective, especially for very knowledge-dense subjects like medicine or science. But using them well is not trivial: today, I break down my 14 top "DOs and DONTs" for becoming a flashcard wizard - and mastering your memory! Part 3 of this special 8-part series on "How To Study Effectively" (abbreviated to H2SE in show titles). If you haven't already listened to Part 1 (broadcast as Episode 66 "How To Study Effectively: 6 Pillars ...
Oct 10, 2021•28 min•Ep. 70
Our student stories series: a dose of inspiration plus actionable tips from those who've turned their academic fortunes around, overcome obstacles and achieved success in difficult circumstances. Today, discover how Australian high schooler Rose started to win in maths using the power of mindset and study strategies like memory journaling. Rose's attitude and maturity when it comes to self-improvement deeply impressed me - listen in, and take notes! * Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psycholo...
Oct 03, 2021•37 min•Ep. 69
This week, perhaps the simplest study strategy of all: how to use blank page retrieval to memorise lots of information, fast. Discover blank page retrieval ("brain dumps"), plus my signature Memory Journalling strategy which is built around blank page retrieval. Part 2 of this special 8-part series on "How To Study Effectively" (abbreviated to H2SE in show titles). If you haven't already listened to Part 1 (broadcast as Episode 66 "How To Study Effectively: 6 Pillars of Student Success"), I reco...
Sep 27, 2021•14 min•Ep. 68
Today, we meet maths graduate Katie, who tells her student story. Discover how a high-flying high-schooler found success at University, after initially pulling out of her course. Today's lessons include: Not being too competitive (see also Episode 43 with Dr Erika Patall on study motivation) How to persevere and "trust the process" in maths (see also Episode 4 with Joachim Cassel) The power of good study strategies combined with the right mindset (see also episode 42 with Prof. Tim Wilson on the...
Sep 19, 2021•36 min•Ep. 67
New to the podcast? Start here! An overview of all the most important things I'd want you to know about studying effectively for exams: Prioritisation: "Know Where You’re Going" Mindset: "Know You Can Get There" Routine / Time Management: "Make Time For The Journey" Focus / Concentration: "Eyes On The Road When Driving" Learn Faster: With The Power Of Retrieval Practice Remember For Longer: With Spaced Learning (Reptition) This episode is the first part in a very special 8-part audio course on "...
Sep 12, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 66
In this episode, I share lessons from the 8 biggest "turning point" moments from my time as a student at Cambridge: The 4 things I got RIGHT in my student days (either through good planning - or good luck!) - the factors that contributed most strongly to graduating with a top degree (First Class Hons) from a notoriously tough course. The 4 things I wish I'd done differently! Knowing what I know now as a psychologist and study coach, these are the things I wish I'd done better, which could have m...
Sep 05, 2021•32 min•Ep. 65
Originally broadcast as Episode 27. A "Lazy Genius" Guide To Student Life with Kendra Adachi in September 2020. Rebroadcast August 2021 as part of our "Summer Rewind" season. * * * NY Times bestseller Kendra Adachi is here to talk us through how we can be a "lazy geniuses" about student life: being "genius" about what matters and "lazy" about everything else. We talk about the secrets to great foundations for life as a student, covering everything from cooking to making friends, organising your ...
Aug 22, 2021•36 min
In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Dr Adam Putnam, who is an assistant professor at Furman University, to share his fascinating insights about: - Mnemonic techniques: widely misunderstood but can be powerful tools - Retrieval practice, and how to implement it effectively - A psychologist’s perspective on the art of focus and productivity. * Links and resources mentioned in this episode include: (These show notes also available at: https://examstudyexpert.com/adam ) Adam recommended a co...
Aug 08, 2021•44 min
Originally broadcast as Episode 1. You CAN Do This: Mindset For Exam Success With Lucy Ratcliffe, in March 2019. . Rebroadcast July 2021 as part of our "Summer Rewind" season. * * * We're delighted to welcome Lucy Ratcliffe, mindset and performance coach to elite performers, to share her incredible wisdom with us, and show how students at school, college and university how to stay positive, believe in yourself, and conquer exam nerves and anxiety. In this episode: Finding your way in life: the c...
Jul 25, 2021•37 min
Best of the September 2020 - June 2021 season: six of the most interesting, inspirational and downright useful moments from our guest interviews this year, to help you study smarter and ace your exams! Featuring highlights from conversations with: 1. Dr Erika Patall - Study Motivation What works and what doesn't when it comes to getting motivated to study? Full episode: #43, https://examstudyexpert.com/erika for resources and audio 2. Prof. Tim Wilson - Power of Mindset Why does mindset matter a...
Jul 12, 2021•40 min•Ep. 64
Increase your productivity and efficiency, learn faster, and ace your exams with the help of these cunning and non-obvious tricks and shortcuts! Now, that's clever! Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress. BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/ Get a copy of Outsmart Your Ex...
Jun 20, 2021•22 min•Ep. 63
The art of teamwork, and how to ace group assignments at school and university: How to pick the right people: do you go for the most skilled teammates or the ones you get on with best? The questions to ask yourselves to establish a high-functioning group culture from the outset What to do if someone isn’t pulling their weight How to make the right decisions as a team Handling courageous conversations and resolving conflict With Professor Mark de Rond, whose fascinating research has seen him stud...
Jun 13, 2021•27 min•Ep. 62
Get the companion book to today's episode: "Outsmart Your Exams" at https://geni.us/exams ! In today's episode, I'll be sharing 22 "top tips" taken from the book, including: - How to master your mindset - Keys to written answers to get top scores - How to create an exam gameplan for success - Memory recall secrets to guarantee great results No more “couldn’t remember”. No more “ran out of time”. No more botched exam essays. The results envelope of your dreams could be in your hand. * * * Outsmar...
Jun 06, 2021•21 min•Ep. 61
How to concentrate on your studies? I’m going to be talking to one of the world’s leading authorities on how to manage your attention, and focus on what really matters to you, Professor Stefan van der Stigchel. We’ll be walking through an entire day of concentration to show you step-by-step what you can do to help maximise your focus, including: “Attention rituals” – learning from Darwin and Beethoven How to take effective breaks Designing your environment for maximum concentration Is it OK to l...
May 30, 2021•33 min•Ep. 60
Boost motivation. Sharpen focus. Overcome procrastination. Could all this really be possible through the Pomodoro Technique? Join us today to go beyond the basics and discover exactly how to use this powerful technique. A guide to the Pomodoro method for advanced users! For more, see https://examstudyexpert.com/pomodoro-method/ * Hosted by William Wadsworth , memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ac...
May 24, 2021•29 min•Ep. 59
Wish you could concentrate harder or for longer? James Lang’s book Distracted took the world of education by storm: he’s here to share his top tips on overcoming distraction and maximising concentration. Read more with James’ book: “Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus And What You Can Do About It” - get your copy from Amazon at https://geni.us/distractedbook *. Discover more at: http://jamesmlang.com/ On Twitter: @LangOnCourse On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimlang7/ * * * Hosted by Wi...
May 16, 2021•34 min•Ep. 58
How to cope when it feels like there's just too much to get done, and too few hours in the day! This is my two-stage prescription for study overwhelm, for getting back on top of life when you can't see how you're going to fit it all in. Tune in, and take back control of your to-do list today! For personalised help getting in control of YOUR to-do list and study plans , find out how I can help you as your personal exam success coach, at https://ExamStudyExpert.com/coaching Download my free "study...
May 09, 2021•19 min•Ep. 57
The chemistry of your brain is everything to how you think, learn and focus. You might have heard of some of these molecules - like adrenaline, cortisol and dopamine - but how much do you know about how they work? Find out in today’s fascinating conversation, and discover how you can harness your brain’s chemistry to help YOU study smarter! With Ginny Smith, author of Overloaded ( https://geni.us/overloaded ). Links are resources from today’s conversation: Read Overloaded: https://geni.us/overlo...
May 02, 2021•35 min•Ep. 56
Struggling to get motivated? Need to overcome procrastination? Today I share my favourite tactic for finding your get-up-and go. It all starts with "why"... For personalised help with YOUR study motivation , find out how I can help you as your personal exam success coach, at https://ExamStudyExpert.com/coaching Download my free "study smarter" cheat sheet at https://examstudyexpert.com/freetips Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!...
Apr 25, 2021•12 min•Ep. 55
Why it’s fine to falter and fail, and how to pick yourself up again With smash-hit Blank podcast host & author, Giles Paley-Phillips, who knows more than most about failing and faltering, having interviewed over 100 celebs on their experiences with “blank moments”, from Stephen Fry to Dame Kelly Holmes, Dawn French to Gary Linekar. “Blank” - the book - is available now: https://geni.us/blank * The Blank podcast: https://play.acast.com/s/theblankpodcast * Hosted by William Wadsworth , memory ...
Apr 18, 2021•36 min•Ep. 54
Are you working too hard? We're all about helping you study SMARTER, and not HARDER on the Exam Study Expert podcast. But what if the key to studying SMARTER wasn't just about your study technique, but also about working LESS HARD, so you can have more energy and can study with more intensity and focus? When it comes to study hours, "more hours" beyond a certain point does not necessarily mean you achieve more. Today, I'm getting real with you about the counterintuitive reality that by easing of...
Apr 11, 2021•18 min•Ep. 53
To celebrate the 50th episode, here are 50 of my all-time FAVOURITE study tips! It's a whistlestop tour... hold on tight! Been enjoying the first 50 episodes? Support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/examstudyexpert Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!)....
Mar 28, 2021•15 min•Ep. 50
What is interleaving? Why is it so powerful for helping you learn faster and remember more? How can you use it? Listen in today, and all will be revealed with the help of Dr Veronica Yan. Veronica will also be talking us through her insights on barriers to actually adopting effective learning strategies, including interleaving, but also many of the other strategies we’ve covered in recent weeks as part of Learning Science season on the podcast. Find Dr Veronica Yan online at: Twitter: @EdScienti...
Mar 21, 2021•38 min•Ep. 49
There’s no such thing as a “visual learner”. The idea that some of us are “visual learners” and learn best through imagery is a myth, and has been widely debunked by psychologists. (See https://examstudyexpert.com/brain-science-quiz/ for this and more myths about learning and the brain!). But in many ways, we are ALL visual learners. Because visuals, when used properly, can have a big benefit for our learning, not least through the powerful “dual coding” effect. Highly respected teaching and lea...
Mar 14, 2021•30 min•Ep. 48
