Exam Season Mode: How to Survive Without Falling Apart and Still Succeed

Christmas was pure chill. A few weeks ago you were eating sweets, watching films and saying that you would catch up later. And now you have caffeine, textbooks, twenty eight open tabs and the feeling that it will be impossible to manage everything in time.

Exam season is here and so is the classic question. Am I actually studying effectively or am I just pretending.

Good news: studying smart is a skill you can learn.

Bad news: highlighters and endless rereading will not help.

Study smarter not harder. Seriously.

Universities in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Scandinavia work with one principle. Memory forms through active use of information, not passive exposure to it. What still feels alternative in Central Europe is fully supported by cognitive psychology.

A study published in Educational Psychology Review in 2021 shows that students who use active recall retain information thirty to fifty percent longer than those who only read or rewrite notes. It is one of the most effective study strategies we know today.

Forget passive reading on repeat.

Your brain is not a sponge that absorbs text by simply looking at it. It is a muscle and it can be trained. If you want to learn something you have to make it work.

The Blurting Method: A Quick Reality Check of What You Actually Know

The principle is simple and slightly uncomfortable and that is exactly why it works.

How to do it:

• Read the chapter
• Close your notes
• Write down everything you remember

No googling. No hints. Just you and a piece of paper or a document.

The result is immediate. You see what you really know and what you only think you know.

Reading is not learning. The Illusion of Knowledge is Dangerous.

Repeated reading creates a feeling of confidence but it is only a feeling.

If you:

• cannot explain a concept in your own words
• cannot describe a process without looking into your notes
• have the answer almost ready but cannot say it

…you do not know the content yet.

A tip that works:

• Write a few control questions for every chapter.
• If you cannot answer them without hints you know exactly where you need to return.

Shorter Study Sessions Equal Better Performance

Another myth of exam season says that you need to study at least three hours in one stretch. You do not. And it is better if you do not.

A study from 2022 in Applied Cognitive Psychology shows that optimal focus lasts about twenty to thirty minutes. After that performance drops sharply even if you remain sitting at your desk.

This is why the Pomodoro technique works well.

• Twenty to twenty five minutes of focus
• Five minutes of rest

No TikTok in the background.

No multitasking.

Twenty minutes of real deep work win over two hours of fake productivity.

Multitasking While Studying Does Not Exist

This is not pleasant to hear but it needs to be said.

Studying together with TikTok means slower learning and worse memory.

Neuroscience research in Frontiers in Psychology in 2024 confirms that switching attention increases cognitive fatigue and lowers the brains ability to store information in long term memory.

Change the Location and You Change Your Performance

Studying in the same spot tires your brain faster than the material itself.

Memory works better when it links information to a specific physical environment.

A new location means new stimulation and better focus.

Try:

• a library
• a study room
• a quiet cafe

Even a small change can refresh your mind and restart your focus.

Exam Season Red Flags and What to Avoid

If you recognise yourself in this you are not alone but it is good to stop it in time.

• I will start studying on Monday.
  It is Tuesday.
• I will skip this chapter. It will not be in the exam.
  It will.
• Reading it once is enough.
  It is not.
• Studying in bed.
  You will fall asleep quickly.

How to Use AI When Studying

AI is not a shortcut to passing an exam. It is a study sparring partner if you use it correctly.

• AI as an explainer: Ask it to explain a difficult concept in simple language. You can ask for an explanation made for a tired student.
• AI as an examiner: Ask it to create test questions and quiz you. Let it correct your answers.
• AI as a mirror: Write your answer in your own words and ask AI to highlight mistakes, fill in gaps and suggest what you should elaborate on during an oral exam.

Instant feedback speeds up learning and reduces frustration.

Not Enough Time to Study

Maybe you missed a few lectures or you simply got stuck on something that does not make sense.

If you feel lost in certain areas use Revision Courses, pre exam preparation sessions or Premium Care. Lecturers will walk you through exam topics and help you understand the parts that would cost you hours of frustration.

Remember: exam season is not a test of intelligence. It is a test of strategy, discipline and the way you manage your own mind. If you study smart your chances of success rise significantly.

Good luck.