Here’s how you can study smarter, not longer

Jan 16 2023

As they say, modern problems require modern solutions, and the demanding, high-pressure mood of exam calls for more of those. While the stress of exam season can often get to you, there are ways of overcoming it and this year, Malta Daily is collaborating with PwC to help! Here are some tips on how you can study smarter, not longer:

1. Space out your studying

This exam season, a great tip we can give you is to find the time to space out your studying. While you may be inclined to cram an entire year’s worth of studying one week before the exam, take your time to process your notes and space out your sessions.

2. Don’t just read

Reading content over and over again does not make a good study session; it’s actually a very bad study skill to have going into exam season. Take notes, read aloud, practice content and most importantly, follow our tips.

3. Use pictures & diagrams

Various academics and researchers have stated that the use of diagrams and graphs in academic material can be very useful. Visual representations may help you create vivid, detailed mental models and visuals aids in general have helped students across the board for many years.

4. Test yourself

Quizzing yourself or being quizzed on exam materials will allow you to retrieve the information you’ve studied over the past months and test what you remember. It is the most accurate way of gauging how you stand before an exam.

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5 ways to beat procrastination during exam season

5 scientifically proven ways of studying better in 2023

Jan 16 2023

Exam season is here and while it may seem intimidating for most, remember that it is possible if you put your mind to it and grind. Remember that sometimes, the most difficult of problems are within your control and this exam season, Malta Daily and PwC are here to help! Here are 5 ways to beat procrastination during exam season:

1. Recognise your capabilities

When it comes to study, mindset is the first thing that you must consider and understanding what you are capable of in a limited timespan allows you to maximise your studying possibilities. Set targets & limits and get the most out of your studying.

2. Set daily goals

Setting goals every day is one of the best time-management decisions you can take. Laying down what you will be tackling on a day-to-day basis allows you to focus on the subject at hand whilst setting realistic pre-exam timeframes.

3. Time your breaks

A mistake made by many is the failure to take breaks. Trust us when we tell you that 12-hour non-stop study sessions or coffee-fuelled all-nighters are not the key to acing your exams. Instead, take short 10-to-15-minute breaks and increase your productivity by up to 45%.

4. Make short lists

Write. It. Down. When it comes to studying, we cannot stress enough the importance of writing. Whether it’s shortening your notes or writing down a to-do-list, shortlisting your tasks will reduce scrambling & stress.

5. Nourish your mind & body

Rest. Eat healthy. Move. Hydrate. Celebrate small goals. Improve your mind-body connection. Nourishing your mind and body will boost your energy levels and give you more juice to invest into your studying.

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5 study habits you should adopt during exam season

Jan 16 2023

Exam season is here, but remain calm. Whilst studying is the primary solution to all of your problems, there are a number of habits you could adopt to make your studying experience easier. This year, Malta Daily and PwC are coming together to give you a helping hand, here are 5 study habits you should adopt during exam season:

1. Find a good studying spot

Study Feng Shui is a thing and we cannot recommend it enough. Finding the perfect spot to study, maintain good posture and rest all of your necessary equipment is the perfect starting point to your exam journey.

2. Shut down social media

One of studying’s biggest enemies. Social media notifications will attempt to deviate you from your path but if you eliminate them completely from your study circle, you’ll be saving yourself so much time.

3. Organise your notes

This is best kept in mind on the first day of the semester but if, along the way, you manage to make a disaster out of your notes, there still is hope. Organise your notes on a topic-by-topic basis and give yourself space to understand the context.

4. Plants, music and aromatherapy

Oftentimes, science enjoys tinkering with nature but in the case of studying, nature does in fact contribute in a positive way. Multiple studies state that lavender has positive effects on memory whilst sandalwood and frankincense may help with focus.

5. Eat brain food

Your mind and body need the proper nutrients to function and consuming superfoods may give you the boost you need to take your studies to the next level. These include blueberries, avocados, walnuts, broccoli, fatty fish and yoghurt.

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5 scientifically proven ways of studying better in 2023

Jan 16 2023

The new year means new challenges and hopefully new ways of overcoming them. Exam season is here and we wholeheartedly believe that, while it will not solve all of your problems, maximising your approach towards studying will definitely help. Malta Daily and PwC are here to help you do it! Here are 7 scientifically proven ways of studying better in 2023:

1. Study in intervals

Cramming one semester’s worth of academic content into one sitting often leads to fatigue, frustration and depression because you can only learn and absorb so much information in a few hours. So if you want to properly process and remember your work, divide it into intervals and take one step at a time.

2. Revise already-studied content

If you want to study effectively, reviewing concepts more than once will more than help to establish them in your mind. Multiple studies suggest that revisiting notes multiple times will give you a better chance of retaining the information, effectively preparing you for exam day.

3. Test your memory

When you finish a topic, close your books, take out a blank sheet of paper and structurally write down whatever comes to mind on the subject at hand without referring to your notes.

4. Exercise before studying

Exercise contributes to improved brain function and health in general, also feeding your brain the necessary nutrients to increase attention and memory retention rate. Whether it’s going for a walk, bike ride or a bit of strength training, make sure you exercise before studying.

5. Get a good night’s sleep

Say it louder for the people in the back. We feel that all-nighters have become standard for students from all walks of life and we can’t stress how wrong that is. A good night’s sleep makes a healthy brain, so if you actually want to remember what you are reading, sleep well.

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