
Exam Study Expert: ace your exams with the science of learning
Don’t work harder, work smarter: how to study effectively and get the grades of your dreams with winning review strategies, killer memory techniques and exam preparation tips you won’t hear anywhere else. Join Cambridge educated psychologist, study techniques researcher, coach and tutor William Wadsworth as we dive into the secrets of academic success.Looking for the grades of your dreams? Want to know the real secrets to preparing for and taking exams? Through a powerful combination of rich personal experience and the very latest learning and memory science, William and his expert guests are here to help. Here's to results day smiles!
Latest episodes

Jun 29, 2025 • 10min
196. Gratitude Journalling for Students
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!).

Jun 22, 2025 • 40min
195. The Happy Student - with Dr Heather Frederick
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!).

Jun 15, 2025 • 51min
194. The Motivated Student - Set The Vision With Steve Gamlin + Find Your Purpose with Ian Chamandy
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!).

Jun 8, 2025 • 26min
193. Five Brain Hacks for Higher Exam Scores
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!).

Jun 1, 2025 • 49min
192. Academic Writing Masterclass: Better, Faster, Clearer - with Dr Alix Hibble
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.Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

May 25, 2025 • 43min
191. Stop Procrastinating And Finish Your Dissertation/Essay - with Dr Alison Miller
Learn how to overcome procrastination when working on large academic projects with today's guest, Dr Alison Miller.https://www.theacademicwritersspace.com/*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!).

May 18, 2025 • 39min
190. Brain Bootcamp: Find Focus with Magic Meditation Moments - Ann Swanson
Meditation has some fantastic benefits for scholars, including:- Wellness benefits: managing stress, nerves, anxiety and more- Productivity benefits: boosting focus and increasing your output each dayBut it's not always easy to fit into our busy lives. Our guest today shares a wealth of ingenious tips and tricks for integrating mindful moments to give you a boost throughout your day and at key moments like waiting outside an exam or hitting a challenging question in your studies.- Read the book "Meditation for The Real World" by Ann Swanson: https://geni.us/qDZ7IZk*- Get started meditating with the Headspace app: headspace.pxf.io/n15mXM*- Join the Exam Study Expert VIP supporters club on Patreon for a beautiful rejuvenating deep rest practice and much more: https://examstudyexpert.com/VIP*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/** As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases on suggested books. As a Headspace associate, I earn from qualifying subscriptions. All at no extra cost to you :-)Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

5 snips
May 11, 2025 • 32min
189. Maximise Knowledge Retention With Expert Flashcard Training [FMC 4b]
Dive into advanced flashcard techniques designed to supercharge your memory retention. Discover innovative methods like pair testing and mnemonic devices that make studying engaging and effective. Learn how to organize and adapt your flashcards for different exam formats. Plus, focus on tackling challenging material to maximize your exam preparation. Get ready to transform your study sessions with practical tips that encourage audience participation and real-time feedback!

6 snips
May 4, 2025 • 18min
188. Balancing Making and Testing Your Flashcards [FMC Part 4a]
This discussion dives into the pitfalls of creating too many flashcards without adequately testing them. It explores why learners often fall into this trap and shares effective strategies to avoid it. Using a delightful cake-making analogy, the conversation emphasizes the importance of a disciplined study routine. Balancing flashcard creation with ongoing testing can significantly boost knowledge retention, making studying smarter and less stressful.

Apr 27, 2025 • 22min
187. Magic Tricks To Make Memorable Flashcards [FMC 3/4]
Discover advanced strategies to revolutionize your flashcard-making process. Learn five key tips that enhance retention and make studying a breeze. Explore innovative techniques, including audio formats, to cater to different learning styles. Get ready to tackle specific learning challenges with clever tricks. Elevate your study game with these memorable flashcard hacks!