1. Study actively and productively.

1. Passively soak up information like a sponge. 

2. Differentiate between main and side issues.

2. Try to learn everything.

3. Take brief notes, make an outline or a mind-map, ask yourself questions, etc.

3. Just skim the texts or summarise them too extensively.

4. Try to understand the materials but, when necessary, also memorise important facts. Lecturers will give you clues as to what is important.

4. Only have a general understanding of the materials, or be unable to fall back on important basic knowledge.

5. While studying test your knowledge by asking yourself questions, discussing the material with others and looking at past exam papers.

5. Assume too quickly that you know the materials, or keep reading materials without assessing how well you actually know them.

6. Keep up your interest and enjoyment in your subject.

6. Feel that the only reason you are studying is to pass exams.

7. Build up confidence in yourself as a student by setting achievable goals and thinking realistically about how you can improve your own performance. 

7. Underestimate yourself (I can’t do it, I passed because I was lucky), or overestimate yourself (I should be able to manage it in this short amount of time).

8. Organise your work, start revision and assignments in good time and study at a steady pace.

8.  Let yourself get side-tracked: thinking about your free time whilst studying and vice versa, starting revision or assignments at the last minute, letting yourself be too easily distracted.

9. Make sure you have a suitable place to work. Find out where you are able to study most effectively.

9. Have a cluttered desk with insufficient room for your study materials; or a noisy workplace where people keep disturbing you.

10. Have a good strategy for your exams.

10. Just see how things go, because it’s down to luck on the day.