Exam Study Expert: ace your exams with the science of learning

Our Memory & Learning series continues with giant of the "science of effective study" world, Professor John Dunlosky. In today's must-listen episode, we discover: Why learning should be challenging A taxonomy for thinking about 10 popular study strategies - which work best, and for what? How to master "successive re-learning" Plus an expert's take on whether to us...

We're concluding our special "Teaching Learning Skills" mini-series this week with a case study on building a tutor time study skills programme. Packed with highly practical details, with today's special guest Katie Holmes. Follow Katie: @KatieEHolmes_, https://twitter.com/KatieEHolmes_ From your host: Retrieval buy-in lesson resource: >> https://ExamStudyExpert.com/retri...

Today, we're continuing our special educator-focused mini series with a chance to step back and take stock of the rise of evidence-based practice in education.  Our headline guest today is founder of the researchED conference series, Tom Bennett OBE, and I'm joined towards the end of the episode by a couple of other recent guests giving their perspectives on the question of how far we&ap...

To kick off this week's special "for teachers" series, we're welcoming Dr Haili Hughes to talk about how to be an effective mentor to students in their study skills, and what good pedagogy for "learning to learn" should include. - Mentoring in Schools [book]: https://geni.us/haili* - Follow Haili @HughesHaili: https://twitter.com/HughesHaili * Hosted by William Wadswo...

Memory & Learning series continues with Amarbeer Singh Gill, author of "Dunlosky's Strengthening The Student Toolbox In Action". We're unpacking some of less-known strategies from John Dunlosky's famous 2013 review of the most effective study strategies. Join us to learn when (and how) to use strategies like: Elaborative interrogation Self-explanation Mental imagery Su...

We're kicking off a new series on Memory & Learning with a deep-dive into memory fundamentals. We're guided in this fascinating and illuminating conversation by Peps McCrea award-winning teacher educator and author.  Even if you're familiar with some of the basics, Peps has a wonderful way of using analogy to deepen your intuition about what's really going on when we learn...

Retrieval practice is the shortcut to learning faster and remembering more, but nearly everyone under-utilises it (at least some of the time), even once you know about it and why it matters. Why? Today I'm breaking down the big 5 barriers to consistent retrieval practice that I most commonly see, and show you how to overcome them. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 69. Rose's student sto...

There’s no such thing as a “visual learner”. The idea that some of us are “visual learners” and learn best through imagery is a myth, and has been widely debunked by psychologists.  (See https://examstudyexpert.com/brain-science-quiz/ for this and more myths about learning and the brain!). But in many ways, we are ALL visual learners. Because visuals, when used properly, can have a big benefit for...

Can you remember what you learned last week? How about last month? Spaced learning is an INCREDIBLY powerful strategy for getting knowledge into memory - and making it stick there. Renowned Dr Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel of the Learning Scientists project and Teaching Innovation & Learning Enhancement network joins us to break down exactly what you need to know to get up and running with spaced le...

Today we have a special episode for the parents among our audience: I'm chatting to Dr Tamara Soles, child psychologist and parent herself, all about the most effective ways to support your child on their academic journey.   Dr Tamara has plenty of insights for parents: on our connections with our children, raising well-rounded and motivated individuals, handling academic pressure, and approa...

Maximise your productivity with these 7 brilliant list formats, each with a special job to help you get things done and stay on the straight-and-narrow! The Everything List Today's Priorities The Someday Maybe List The Tangents List Checklists Mental Resistance List Red & Green List Enjoy! Mentioned in today's episode: My book Outsmart Your Exams: https://geni.us/exams* Exam Success...

Tune in today to discovery the secrets to staying organised, keeping on top of things even when things get busy, and saving time on things that don’t matter to spend more time on the things that do. Today's guest is Dr Frank Buck, who has a doctorate in time management in education, who has been ranked #1 in the "time management" category by Global Gurus for 4 years running. Learn m...

Today, we're diving into the surprisingly powerful choice of where to study - a decision that can boost your motivation, focus, productivity and maybe even your memory recall! Where do YOU do your best work? Mentioned today: Episode 87: Five Fun Memory Effects & How They Can Help Your Studying Episode 140: Gifted & Neurodivergent Scholars Unleashed - Dr Matthew Zakreski  * Hosted by W...

Unlock the potential of your unique brain with Dr. Matthew Zakreski, a clinical psychologist specializing in neurodiversity and mental health.  In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of neurodivergent brains, exploring conditions like ADHD, autism, OCD, dyslexia, and giftedness. Dr. Matt's insights illuminate the strengths and challenges associated with each, empowering you to e...

This 5-minute daily planning / journalling habit has had a big impact on what I've achieved in the past few weeks - I think it could help you too! Focus on what matters Get motivated to make rapid progress Approach the day with a clearer, calmer mind Habits to nurture a positive mindset Tune it to today's bitesize episode to find out how. * Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologis...

Strap in for a transformative journey with Derek Johnson, US Army veteran and personal development maestro. In this episode, Derek unveils his secrets to building resilience, overcoming adversity, and the art of turning life's tests into a triumphant comeback story.  For more on Derek's life-changing philosophies and to witness real transformation stories, visit his website at: http://fi...

In my contribution to the Motivation Series here on the Exam Study Expert podcast, I'm sharing the top 7 reasons you want to get started with your exam prep (or project work) sooner. So many put off starting till later than we intend, and find themselves at best stressed, at worst, underperforming. Let's not let that happen to you :-) Fuel your get up and get to get going sooner with thi...

Our "Motivation To Study" series continues this week with an inspiring, fascinating and highly practical conversation with Peps McCrea, who has synthesised the motivation research into 5 drivers. Where does motivation come from? And crucially, what can we do to build and nurture it? Tune in to fine out! Discover Peps' work via: - Peps' website: https://pepsmccrea.com/ - "E...

To kick off a mini-series on motivation on the Exam Study Expert podcast, we're revisiting a gem from the archives, in this conversation with leading motivation scholar Dr Erika Patall. Today, we're cutting through the endless advice you can find on the Internet and getting right to the heart of the science of motivation Let's discover what really works and what doesn’t when it come...

Make your phone work for you with these super-quick steps you can do right now! - REJOICE as you decrease those pesky phone-based distractions - RELISH a lasting little boost to your daily productivity - FEEL GOOD as you nurture positive life habits - REVATALISE your device function, as you free up storage and decrease battery drain - And generally get a whole fresher, lighter and cleaner feel tow...

Today, we're looking back on the year we've all had, taking a moment to celebrate the progress we've made, and what we've achieved, as well as looking forward to next year. What's your "word of the year"? A powerful concept to guide and shape your intentions over the year to come, and help you have the year you'd like. * Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory p...

Got a bit of time off school / university / work for the holiday season? Might be a great chance to catch up (/ get ahead..!) on your studies. But it's not always easy to balance rest time, family time, productive time, or to manage expectations around the holiday season (your own expectations, and those of anyone you live with). In this episode, we break down some top tips for navigating the...

Today we're looking at how students can use generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google's Bard to support their learning and revision. From speeding through your note-making to innovative ways to recruit an AI tool as a free interactive tutor or quizzing partner, there are a wealth of ways students today can put the latest tech to work for them to help them study smarter, not harder. Enj...

I asked the Exam Study Expert community what their favourite productivity tips were, either their best overall tip, or one that's a little bit "weird" or unusual / original, perhaps that they came up with for themselves. Thank you to everyone who submitted tips - some really nice ideas, and I hope you enjoy the resulting episode! Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say &q...

Unleash the power of real clarity on what matters (and what doesn't), and what you need to do to get you closer to your destination in your studies, with your version of the powerful "boat go faster" question. Plus, finding flow state more often, for enhanced productivity, creativity, and above all, enjoyment of your studies! Join The Scholar's Way and find peace, purpose and f...