Study Tips from Science Peer Academic Coaches (SPAC)

Science Peer Academic Coaches (SPAC) help you discover which study methods work best for you.

General Study Tips

• 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!

Chemistry Study Methods

• 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

Biology Study Methods

• 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

English Study Tips

• Re-read texts
• Prepare for various essay topics by brainstorming essay points
• Practice writing essays in exam conditions
• Get support on proofreading and editing with a writing consultation

Physics Study Tips

• 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

Mathematics Study Tips

• 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

Effective Exam Strategies

1. 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
2. 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
3. A picture is worth 1000 words
   • Draw a diagram whenever you can
   • Diagrams can help supplement an answer during problem solving questions
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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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