Four questions, seven tutors, and one main topic – studying! As we mark the end of Fall term, we asked some of the Writing Centre tutors for their tips and tricks for making finals a bit more bearable. Read on and see which tips resonate with you!

Question 1: What is your favourite place to study on campus?

  • A quiet spot...I typically go up to the library's third floor and hunker down in a corner to focus on my task.
  • Third-floor library in the quiet section.
  • Third floor of Building 6. Empty classrooms are great too.
  • Any corner AWAY from noise is good - I find Building 11 has quieter places.
  • Third floor of the library or main floor in Building 7.
  • If I really need to lock in, I’ll go to the third floor of the library, find a nice quiet corner where I can zone in and block out the rest of the world. If I want to lightly lock in or socialize a bit, I’ll go to one of the rooms that’s available to English students.
  • The Writing Centre and the Makerspace, just because everyone knows each other and it’s nice and intimate. If I need to get up to take a study break, there’s space to walk around. It’s also just a really chill environment.

Note: We love that the third floor of the library is such a popular study spot (and swear we didn’t tell the tutors to say that! 😊)!

Question 2: What is your most helpful study tip?

  • Explain the concept that you have just reviewed to someone else in your own words. My favourite study buddy is my fish, who is a great listener and does not mind how often I interrupt our conversation to double-check my notes.
  • Know when the due date is and break [studying] down into smaller chunks.
  • Create your own study guide.
  • Use the Pomodoro Method for time management and procrastination. I set up a timer for 25 or 30 minutes and get as much done as I can within that timeframe. Once the timer goes off, I stop what I’m doing, get up, walk around for 5 minutes and repeat the cycle 4 more times. If I feel compelled to keep writing or reviewing notes after the timer goes off, I will continue. It is pretty amazing how much you can get done in 30 minutes!
  • Use a planner and break bigger tasks into smaller ones instead of cramming.
  • Find a playlist of music you really like, turn it on, and really lock in. I find that music with no lyrics is good if you need to read a lot, but if you’re writing, music with lyrics is just fine, and that way you can really zone in and get your work done.
  • Take frequent breaks – what I often do is study in bursts of ten minutes, and then I take a fifteen-minute break, so i can really focus my energy in those ten minute bursts.

Question 3: How do you stay motivated while studying?

  • By setting my study goals before I start my study session. It might be that I review for a few hours or I need to get through a certain number of chapters, but knowing my goal in advance helps me stay on task. I also make sure to take small breaks in between to avoid overloading my brain with new information.
  • Getting a hot drink and sipping on that. Also, listening to podcasts.
  • I look forward to the relief that comes with completing the task for which I am studying.
  • Mainly stress and time. I work best under pressure, so I’m able to cut through the noise if I’m writing a big paper. This doesn't help if you need to memorize anything, but I do prefer to use procrastination as a motivator.
  • By using a reward system - for every thirty minutes of studying I give myself a 15-minute break.
  • I just keep reminding myself of the omnipresent thought of grad school. I want to remain competitive, so I just keep that in mind every time I go to study or write a paper. I'm always thinking of what comes next – not just right now, but the future as well.
  • I just remember my goals and what I need to get out of the semester. If I need to do well in a certain class, then I’ll make sure to space out my assignments, so that for my final projects – which we often do as music students – we can work on them piece-by-piece up until the due date.

Question 4: What is your favourite study snack?

  • A hot cup of tea, accompanied by a sweet treat. If I am feeling healthier, that might be fruit, but some days call for cookies.
  • I don't snack when I study. I'm too focused.
  • Anything protein and fat heavy. Meat and cheese keeps my brain functioning well because if I consume too much sugar, I just crash.
  • M&Ms!
  • A nice cup of fruit or a little cup of almonds – I try not to overeat before or during studying because I just get tired and sleepy. Something nice and light!
  • Definitely a drink – chai! I love chai so much, and I would drink it so much until it’s my blood.

A big thank you to our Writing Tutors for contributing to this article:

Ashley Alton

Catherine Koppel-Joosten

Christian Lambert

Ijaz Janmohamed

Olad Ayodeji

Selma Salman

Tivona Lo