Science Peer Academic Coaches (SPAC) help you discover which study methods work best for you.
- After you study a particular section, do the corresponding problem set questions immediately.
- While going through the material, create questions in your head that might be asked on the exam.
- Find past exams and answer the questions under test conditions (set a time limit and remove distractions).
- Use a calendar-style notebook to track the things you need to do every day and make sure you mark them "Done" or "To Do" at the end of each day.
- Read information out loud to store it in 2 ways: you'll see it and hear it!
- Do practice problems immediately after studying related concepts
- Verbally describe the steps needed to solve each type of problem
- Do a question that would require you to use each formula on the formula sheet
- Use visualizations (e.g. models, drawings) to help you understand concepts
- Make a mind map of the main concepts
- Draw your own diagrams/flow charts
- Don’t rewrite notes, instead re-organize concepts and materials to create new connections
- Verbally explain learning objectives to yourself or a study buddy
- Re-read texts
- Prepare for various essay topics by brainstorming essay points
- Practice writing essays in exam conditions
- Visit the UBC Writing Centre to get support on proofreading, editing, and tutoring
- Understand the theories behind the formulas
- Prioritize course materials (notes, text, MasteringPhysics)
- Do problems involving the same concept together
- Re-do problems that you are struggling with
- Practice, practice, practice (problems are more important than notes)
- Don’t look up answers! Work through the problems on your own
- Make sure you understand the theory, but don’t fixate on details
- Know which formulas are provided and memorize them others early
- Skim at the beginning
- Do easier questions first
- Star harder questions to come back to
- Read instructions carefully, check units
- Plan out your time accordingly
- Check that you have all the pages
- Identify mark distribution, prioritize questions
- Multiple Choice
- Read questions very carefully
- Predict the answer before looking at the answers provided to avoid being tricked
- Do easier questions first
- Process of Elimination - cross out the answers that are wrong to narrow the choices down
- A picture is worth 1000 words
- Draw a diagram whenever you can
- Diagrams can help supplement an answer during problem solving questions
- Be concise
- Do not over-think
- Keep answer as clear as possible for the marker
- Avoid repeating yourself
- Take the time to write a concise thesis statement
- Answer all the questions
- Don’t give up - something is better than nothing
- Answer all the questions unless there is a penalty for wrong answers
- If you don't know the answer to a question, still put something down! You might get it right.
- Don't panic
- The purpose of the exam is to demonstrate what you know
- Take a deep breath if you feel yourself getting anxious/nervous while writing the exam
- Learn strategies to combat emotional responses during a stressful situation
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