Too much coursework? Not enough time? Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. Exams are coming as thick and fast as snow; looking back at this winter, that really is saying something! And no matter your course or year, there is always coursework. Study schedules are never a walk in the park, and can be particularly difficult if you struggle with communication, written language or practical tasks. Whether it’s special educational needs or just not much luck with the above areas…how do you keep coursework in check?
Let’s start with the obvious: separate study time from household chores time. I know from experience it can be all too easy to procrastinate by doing something else productive. The solution? A to-do list. Figure out which tasks need doing most urgently. But maybe see if you can go that bit further and designate a time for uni work and a time to do the dishes, clean the kitchen and – very importantly – create a suitable study environment.
On that note, work out how and where you study best. Leaving this until you are allegedly about to start will only lead to more time spent thinking than working. In other words, having a basic plan could save you a lot of study time. Do you like to bounce ideas off other people or to work alone? Personally I work best alone, with someone in the distance I can ask for help. Just find somewhere comfortable. Is your work surface a mess? Find a proper home for as many items as possible. Already tidy? Put things you use back where you found them.
That is not to say you cannot make any changes. As an Asperger student, I find it discombobulating when any plans I have carefully thought through have to be changed in a way that I don’t understand. Which means it definitely helps if I take time to work out what needs to be done differently, how and why. Working with too many people talking all at once? Explain any difficulties with communication you have and ask someone to clearly summarise where the group is currently at. Love it or hate it, flexibility can be vital.
Now with all of the above sorted, that assignment may look bigger than ever. Break it down! If you have any essay, work out what key issues need covering and convert them into subheadings that can be expanded upon. If you have trouble remembering what you have read, or like me, distinguishing relevant from irrelevant information, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
And if it is revision that is getting you down, have you ever tried mind mapping? It got me a grade A for my Music GCSE and around 70% for my Journalism exam last year. Simply write your main idea in the centre, then break it into sub-ideas on a network of lines starting from the centre. Use key words only, write on the lines and be as creative as you like. By doing this, you are retaining information by combining the logical and creative parts of your brain. Then see if you can memorise your mind map and recreate it on a separate piece of paper. And repeat…
