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

Social connections are critical for mental and physical wellbeing, and they significantly impact academic performance. Dr. Kimberly Horne shares evidence-based insights on nurturing friendships even during busy periods of study and examination preparation.• Loneliness affects concentration, GPA, and even immune system function• College social terrain differs dramatically from high school, requiring new connection strategies• Introverts can benefit from sitting in the same class spot and keeping notes about conversation topics• Scheduling social time should be as intentional as scheduling study time• "Micro connections" of just 5 minutes can provide significant benefits during busy periods• Finding your "tribe" through shared interests makes forming deeper connections easier• Friendships serve as anchors during challenging times on campusIf you found this episode helpful, please consider leaving us a review, following the show, or supporting us on Patreon. Your engagement helps us reach more people with these important messages about study success and wellbeing.**Find out more about Dr Kimberly Horn:• Discover more resources on her website: https://www.drkimberlyhorn.com/• Grab a copy of her book Friends Matter, for Life at https://geni.us/kimberlyhorn * **Find out more about Exam Study Expert:Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.  BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/ Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams *   *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Enter Zettelkasten: a powerful and sophisticated note-making system for more advanced users.A secret superpower to help you be more productive, cut procrastination, have more and better insights, and streamline the research/writing process.Here to teach us how to use the strategy is Dr Sönke Ahrens, author of How To Take Smart Notes and widely regarded as the world's top authority on the art of Zettelkasten note making.**Find out more about Dr Sönke Ahrens:• Discover more resources on his website: https://www.soenkeahrens.de/en/home• Grab a copy of his book on the Zettelkasten Method, How to Take Smart Notes at https://geni.us/zettelkasten * **Find out more about Exam Study Expert:Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams***As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh.Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

We explore five essential habits that can transform your academic performance by taking small, consistent actions throughout your studies rather than cramming at the end. Doing these little things well from the beginning will make your academic life significantly easier when exam time arrives.• Stay organised as you go along – identify and remove your specific bottlenecks to staying organised• Learn what excellence looks like in your subject from day one – seek examples and guidance early• Address confusion immediately rather than postponing understanding – don't let knowledge gaps compound• Create a "tangent list" for interesting but non-essential topics – balance core learning with exploration• Practice memory journaling daily – spend five minutes retrieving key points to consolidate learning• Keep your approach simple – start with one or two manageable habits rather than trying to do everything*Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/examsQuestions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

In this engaging discussion, Professor John Dunlosky, a leading expert in cognitive and educational psychology and author of 'Study Like A Champ', shares invaluable insights on mastering effective study techniques. He emphasizes the importance of embracing challenging learning experiences. Dunlosky reveals a taxonomy of popular study strategies, such as the benefits of flashcards and dual coding. The conversation also highlights the necessity of persistence and personalized approaches in overcoming academic hurdles, ensuring students succeed in their studies.

Charlie Colenutt shares his journey from disillusioned lawyer to author, exploring what makes work fulfilling based on interviews with 100 people across diverse professions.You'll learn:•How the most satisfied workers can see clear, immediate results from their efforts• That career satisfaction shows little correlation with income beyond meeting basic needs• Many fulfilled workers had experienced career crises before finding satisfaction• Career paths are rarely planned and usually involve significant randomness or luck• Young workers often face disappointment when workplace rhetoric about meaning doesn't match reality• Being honest with yourself about your motivations is crucial when making career decisionsIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a review – it means the world to us as creators!*Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams***As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

A simple daily practice to have happier, more productive days: gratitude journalling for students.*Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*Today's references:Jeliseh, M.T., Valizadeh, M., Zohrabi, M. and Xodabande, I. (2025), Enhancing Language Teachers' Well-Being Through Positive Psychology Interventions: A Mixed-Methods Study Focusing on Gratitude Journaling. Psychology in the Schools. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.70005Tolcher, K., Cauble, M., & Downs, A. (2022). Evaluating the effects of gratitude interventions on college student well-being. Journal of American College Health, 72(5), 1321–1325. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2076096Redwine LS, Henry BL, Pung MA, Wilson K, Chinh K, Knight B, Jain S, Rutledge T, Greenberg B, Maisel A, Mills PJ. Pilot Randomized Study of a Gratitude Journaling Intervention on Heart Rate Variability and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Patients With Stage B Heart Failure. Psychosom Med. 2016 Jul-Aug;78(6):667-76. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000316. PMID: 27187845; PMCID: PMC4927423.**As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Happiness isn't just about feeling good – it's about living in alignment with your values and purpose while managing inevitable stress more effectively.• Stress is the primary barrier to happiness, hijacking your brain and making good decisions difficult• Toning your vagus nerve through humming, breath work, movement, connection and nature helps reset your nervous system• Self-care doesn't just take time – it expands time by improving decision-making and clarity• Colour-code tasks as red (urgent), yellow (needs attention), green (ongoing) or grey (time-wasters) to manage overwhelm• Create space between receiving feedback and responding to avoid reactive decisions• When confused or uncertain, ask for clarification rather than guessing• Focus on enjoying the learning process rather than fixating solely on gradesVisit expandyourhappy.com to learn more about Dr. Heather Frederick's work and resources.Heather's podcast is at https://happydocstudent.com/Her 5.0-star rated book is at https://geni.us/happy-student**Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams***As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.Podcast edited by Kerri EdinburghQuestions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Discover the power of clear purpose and a compelling vision with today's double bill episodes featuring two guests: Ian Chamandy and Steve Gamlin.***First, we dive into the world of purpose with coach, entrepreneur and author Ian Chamandy:Unpack the value of having a really clear view of your purpose in life and as a scholarLearn how to distil that purpose into helpful statementDiscover the tangible effect on confidence and decision makingLearn how knowing your purpose can help drive your studies and career choicesVisit https://purposeu.ai/about/ to learn more about Steve Gamlin's work and resources at PurposeU.***Next up, meet author, coach and vision board expert, Steve Gamlin, and:Learn how to improve all areas of your life by visualising where you want to be one year from nowDiscover how to identify your core valuesLearn how to create an effective vision board focused on realistic goalsFind out the importance of celebrating the small wins alongside the big achievements!Visit https://stevegamlin.com/ to learn more about Steve Gamlin's work and resources.Find Steve's podcast the Motivational Firewood Podcast here: https://stevegamlin.com/podcast/***Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*****As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh.Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

The psychological principle of "Cognitive Load Theory" has considerable power to understand how our brain thinks. There are some fascinating and powerful applications when you're taking exams to help your brain thinking smoother and faster.Discover five of my favourite exam-hall tips and tricks to help your brain work faster, make fewer mistakes, and score more marks when it matters most.For more, check out Outsmart Your Exams:>> https://geni.us/exams**Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams***As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Join the University of Oxford's Lecturer in Study Skills Dr Alix Hibble for a next-level masterclass on the academic writing process.Discover how you can save considerable time AND produce significantly better end results with a better strategy for reading, researching, outlining and writing your essays and dissertations.A must-listen for anyone with any kind of writing to do as part of their academic journey. Enquire about academic writing coaching with Dr Alix at:>> https://examstudyexpert.com/academic-writing-coaching/*Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can ace their exams with less work and less stress.BOOK 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books.Podcast edited by Kerri EdinburghQuestions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).