Exam Study Expert: ace your exams with the science of learning
Episodes
109. Heart of a lion - tips to tackle tough exam questions
14 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're confronting the toughest of exam questions, and building the mental fortitude and practical toolkit needed to engage even when you&a...
108. How To Best Study For Exams With 3 Weeks To Go
07 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we're talking to Sibo, 3 weeks before she's due to take her specialist exams to become a psychiatrist.In this conversation, you'...
107. The best flashcards - digital / apps, or on paper?
23 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to flashcards, you can go down one of two routes: either digital apps like Anki, Quizlet, Brainscape and more, or "old school"...
106. Shortcut To Levelling Up At ANYTHING
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The secret to levelling up faster at ANY aspect of your studies or exam prep - or in life generally! Part 5 of my "5 High Impact Upgrades" s...
105. Level Up Your Exam Writing / Essays
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tricks to score higher in longer written answers and exam essays. Part 4 of the "5 High Impact Upgrades" series all this week on the Exam St...
104. Level Up Your Math(s)
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How to learn the Math / Maths more effectively, for top scores on the quantitative element of your tests and exams. Part 3 of my "5 High Impact U...
103. Level Up Your Learning System
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How to upgrade your spacing / spaced repetition system - one of my all-time favourite "secret" formulas for exam success, especially when yo...
102. Level Up Your Study Plan
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How to upgrade your study routine / revision timetable - a powerful way to get more done and take control. Part 1 of my "5 Powerful Study Upgrade...
101. Helping You Study Smarter (Bonus Episode)
02 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This bonus episode unpacks all the different ways Exam Study Expert is available to provide you with support in studying for your exams, including a v...
100. Centenary Celebration: Top 10 So Far, Listener Favourite Guest Returns & More!
26 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a very special celebration to mark the 100th episode of the Exam Study Expert podcast, including:A countdown of my top 10 picks on the pod...
99. Why Study: The Power of Purpose
19 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's your WHY? What drives you to get to your books each day and get your studying done?I share some of the best answers to this question I&ap...
98. Does Music Help You Study?
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Is it OK to listen to music while studying" is the #1 question Alix and I get asked when we're out running revision workshops in schoo...
97. Quiet Ambition for Students - with Ruth Poundwhite
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Exploring introversion in school / university, your ambition, personalised goal setting for students, coping with overwhelm and burn out in the run-up...
96. You Are Enough
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You are doing enough! An important message for those who need to hear it, because simply packing in more hours is not the path to success. Balance is ...
95. How To Set Study Goals That WORK - With David Hyner
19 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Finding your why, setting MASSIVE goals, and the magic "pyramid" process for how to achieve them, with today's special guest, goals exp...
93. Never Say Never - An Epic Student Story
29 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t settle for less than you can be. Never give up.Today's epic tale spans decades of our hero's life, and has seen her overcome lack of...
92. 3 Magical Mental Models To Help You Plan, Prioritise And Feel Calmer
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the power of The Glass, The T-Shape and The Process Flow: 3 handy and flexible mental images I often use to help students plan, prioritise an...
91. Calm and Productivity - with Chris Bailey
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“The path to productivity runs right through calm.”The “most productive man you could hope to meet” (TED), Chris Bailey, was back on the show ...
90. Four Handy Brain Health Hacks
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New year = new you? Check out our four fast "neuro-hacks" to boost your brain health this year, and beyond!Exam Study Expert's recommen...
89. Friends, Groups & The Social Side of Studying
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How do friends and colleagues impact your study habits? Who lifts you up... and who drags you down?Whether you prefer to swim solo or are a long-time ...
88. Effective Study Strategy In Action: Flashcards, Anki & Spacing
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Max, a CPA (accounting) exam candidate, brings us the daily challenges of learning an information-dense course, and how flashcards make the learning p...
87. Five Fun Memory Effects & How They Can Help Your Studying
27 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I wanted to share 5 fun little features of memory that psychologists have figured out over the years, and how we can use them to help "hac...
86. Writing A Stand-Out College Essay - Greg Smith
29 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
College essays: the bit of your application that give you an opportunity to really shine, and stand out from the crowd, especially for competitive sch...
85. Navigating US College Applications - Teri Thompson
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re applying for US colleges and universities, or thinking of doing so, then this episode is for you.I’m talking to college consultant Teri ...
84. How To Pass An Exam: 7 Make-Or-Break Moments
22 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I took major exams over 7 years of my life, through high school and University (Cambridge). Looking back, there were 7 pivotal moments itself which m...
83. Magic Time Management Hacks For Students
15 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Discover my 12 time-saving tips and tricks to create more time in even the busiest of schedules!*Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, ind...
82. Overcoming Procrastination in Studying
08 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How to overcome procrastination when studying: my top 6 tips to beat procrastination and get things done!*Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psycholo...
81. Coaching For A New Habit - Chris Loper
06 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I'm in the hotseat this week, as habit change coach Chris Loper puts me through my paces in building a lasting habit in my own life. Whatever hab...
80. Level Up Your Study Habits - Chris Loper
30 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the grounding principles for creating lasting changes in your own study habits.Your studies will never be the same again!With habit change sp...
REWIND: Jo' Journey: A Truly Incredible Student Story [Orig. Ep 18]
19 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Another chance to catch perhaps the greatest "student story" I'll ever tell: how one man named Jo made it from primitive island village...
79. How To Study Smarter, Not Harder (H2SE 8/8)
12 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Summarising and synthesising the How To Study Effectively course right here on the Exam Study Expert podcast. It all works together as a complete syst...
78. A Neat Trick For Mastering Problems In Maths (& More!) (H2SE 7/8)
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re talking about interleaving: a powerful but not widely-known study strategy for maths-style problems.Interleaving will help you master m...
77. "C To A Grade": Rose Returns, 1 Year On
28 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We catch up with Australian high schooler Rose from Episode 69, one year on, to hear about the impressive transformation she'd pulled off, and br...
76. Memory Hacks: Mnemonics & Chunking (H2SE 6/8)
21 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode brings you the solution to those toughest of memory challenges: by the end, you’ll have a toolkit of handy mnemonic tricks to help...
75. Retrieval Practice For Passing TOUGH Exams: Charlie's Student Story
14 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Discover how aspiring barrister Charlie passed his notoriously challenging law exams using techniques from the Exam Study Expert podcast.A story of su...
74. Creative Ways To Study With Practice Questions (H2SE 5/8)
07 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re talking about practice questions and past exam paper questions: a wonderfully effective study strategy that should always play a role i...
73. From Coasting To Flying: Michael's Student Story
31 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"I have never been a super great academic kid" - the multi-year story of how Michael turned his academic life around.From failing school to ...
72. Make Notes? Do This Instead, It's Way Better (H2SE 4/8)
24 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you like to write notes?They’re incredibly popular with students at high school, college, university and just about anywhere else you need to stu...
71. Studying Smarter & Acing Exams: Divine's Student Story
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Exam Study Expert student stories series: showing you how real students achieve real success in real exams using the strategies we teach on the po...
70. Flashcard Masterclass (My Favourite Study Technique!) - H2SE 3/8
10 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I LOVE studying with flashcards.Used well, they’re astonishingly effective, especially for very knowledge-dense subjects like medicine or science.Bu...
69. "Ready For Change": Rose's Student Story (Pt 1)
03 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our student stories series: a dose of inspiration plus actionable tips from those who've turned their academic fortunes around, overcome obstacle...
68. Powerful Learning With The Blank Paper Technique (H2SE 2/8)
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, perhaps the simplest study strategy of all: how to use blank page retrieval to memorise lots of information, fast.Discover blank page retri...
67. Giving Up; Growing; Graduating: Katie's Student Story
19 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we meet maths graduate Katie, who tells her student story. Discover how a high-flying high-schooler found success at University, after initiall...
66. How To Study Effectively: 6 Pillars of Student Success
12 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
New to the podcast? Start here! An overview of all the most important things I'd want you to know about studying effectively for exams:Prioritisa...
65. 4 Regrets / 4 Wins: What I Got Right & Wrong At Cambridge
05 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I share lessons from the 8 biggest "turning point" moments from my time as a student at Cambridge:The 4 things I got RIGHT ...
REWIND: Kendra Adachi on “Lazy Genius”-ing Student Life
22 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally broadcast as Episode 27. A "Lazy Genius" Guide To Student Life with Kendra Adachi in September 2020.Rebroadcast August 2021 as pa...
REWIND: Dr Adam Putnam on Mnemonics & Getting Things Done
08 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Dr Adam Putnam, who is an assistant professor at Furman University, to share his fascinating insights ab...
REWIND: Lucy Ratcliffe on Success Mindset
25 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Originally broadcast as Episode 1. You CAN Do This: Mindset For Exam Success With Lucy Ratcliffe, in March 2019..Rebroadcast July 2021 as part of our ...
64. Best Of Exam Study Expert: 21/22 Highlights Reel
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Best of the September 2020 - June 2021 season: six of the most interesting, inspirational and downright useful moments from our guest interviews this ...
63. Study Hacks: 21 Non-Obvious Tricks To Save Time & Achieve More
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Increase your productivity and efficiency, learn faster, and ace your exams with the help of these cunning and non-obvious tricks and shortcuts!Now, t...
62. Group Work: The REAL Secrets of Success with Prof. Mark de Rond
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The art of teamwork, and how to ace group assignments at school and university:How to pick the right people: do you go for the most skilled teammates ...
61. Test Taking Mastery: 22 Tips To Maximise Your Mark
06 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Get the companion book to today's episode: "Outsmart Your Exams" at https://geni.us/exams!In today's episode, I'll be sharing...
60. Maximum Concentration: "Attention Professor" Stefan Van der Stigchel
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How to concentrate on your studies?I’m going to be talking to one of the world’s leading authorities on how to manage your attention, and focus on...
59. Pomodoro Masterclass: Ultimate Guide To This Student Favourite Technique
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Boost motivation. Sharpen focus.Overcome procrastination.Could all this really be possible through the Pomodoro Technique?Join us today to go beyond t...
58. Why Focus Is Hard & What To Do - With James Lang
16 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wish you could concentrate harder or for longer?James Lang’s book Distracted took the world of education by storm: he’s here to share his top tips...
57. Got Too Much To Do? Here's What To Do
09 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How to cope when it feels like there's just too much to get done, and too few hours in the day!This is my two-stage prescription for study overwh...
56. Brain Chemistry of Memory, Stress & Attention
02 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The chemistry of your brain is everything to how you think, learn and focus.You might have heard of some of these molecules - like adrenaline, cortiso...
55. My Top Study Motivation Hack
25 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling to get motivated?Need to overcome procrastination?Today I share my favourite tactic for finding your get-up-and go.It all starts with "...
54. Giles Paley-Phillips: Faltering, Failing, And Picking Yourself Up
18 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why it’s fine to falter and fail, and how to pick yourself up againWith smash-hit Blank podcast host & author, Giles Paley-Phillips, who knows m...
53. Are You Working Too Hard?
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are you working too hard?We're all about helping you study SMARTER, and not HARDER on the Exam Study Expert podcast.But what if the key to studyi...
50. My 50 FAVOURITE Study Tips
28 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate the 50th episode, here are 50 of my all-time FAVOURITE study tips!It's a whistlestop tour... hold on tight!Been enjoying the first 5...
49. Better Grades With Interleaving & “Desirable Difficulty” - Dr Veronica Yan
21 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is interleaving?Why is it so powerful for helping you learn faster and remember more?How can you use it?Listen in today, and all will be revealed...
48. Oliver Caviglioli: Visual Learning Strategies For Students
14 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
47. Unleash The Power Of Spaced Learning: Dr Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel
07 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Can you remember what you learned last week?How about last month?Spaced learning is an INCREDIBLY powerful strategy for getting knowledge into memory ...
46. Retrieval Practice: Master This Vital Technique
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The most important thing I can teach you is to use retrieval practice a lot and to use it well.So that's what I'm doing today: sit back, we&...
45. Dr Yana Weinstein-Jones: 6 Strategies To Maximise Memory & Save You Time
21 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to "Science Of Learning" season on the Exam Study Expert podcast!Over the next few weeks, we'll be maximising YOUR memory - bre...
44. Imposter Syndrome & How To Beat It
14 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ever felt like you're not good enough? Not worthy?Like the admissions tutors must have made a mistake?Imposter syndrome is more common than you m...
43. Motivation To Study: What Really Works with Dr Erika Patall
07 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
One question I hear possibly more than any other single question is “how can I increase my motivation to study”?Today, we're cutting through ...
42. Redirect: Change Your Story, Change Your Life with Prof. Timothy Wilson
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the secrets of how mastering your mindset can set you up for success with renowned mindset scholar, Professor Timothy D. Wilson.Why does mind...
41. 10 Strategies To Help You Change When Change Is Hard (Part 2)
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What's on your list of things you'd like to do more of (or less of) this year?It's one thing to fantasise about the things you'd l...
40. New Year New You Part 1: Why Change Is Hard
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How to change when change is hard?Discover what's holding you back from making the changes you want to make in your study routines - and in your ...
39. Brian Tracy - Eat That Frog & Excel In School / College
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To kick off 2021, I am THRILLED to welcome one of the true founding fathers of the field of personal productivity: Brian Tracy.You may have heard of t...
38. Take A Break - You've Earned It...
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Keeping work and life in balance, and the art of stopping, with my "four levels" of breaks.Enjoy.Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychol...
37. How To Study: 5 FAQs With William (Your Qns Answered!)
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're hurtling towards the end of the year, so I've dug into the listener mailbag to answer some of YOUR frequently asked questions about ho...
36. Chemistry: Formula for Success with Dr Peter Wothers MBE
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join legendary chemist Dr Peter Wothers MBE to discover the magical, explosive world of chemistry!Why study chemistryApplying for chemistry at univers...
35. Med School: Applying For Medicine (UK) With Dr Rohan Agarwal
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
So, you want to be a doctor?Dr Rohan Agarwal from uniadmissions.co.uk talks us through what it takes to land an offer to study medicine in the UK.If y...
34. Business School & MBAs with Mark de Rond
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mark de Rond is a Professor at the Judge Business School in Cambridge. He's perhaps best known for his unique and fascinating approach to researc...
33. Getting Hired: Supercharge Your (Job) Application With Sonal Bahl
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
"You weren't born to fit in: you were born to stand out".Discover how to land that coveted internship or grad programme with ace career...
32. University / College Interviews: Advanced Tips To Get The Offer
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to get accepted to the course of your dreams?This week, it's all about acing the interview!I'm talking mainly about applyi...
31. Mindfulness & Meditation For Students, with Claire Kelly
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There's growing scientific evidence that meditation, especially mindfulness training, can have a profoundly positive impact on a mind-bogglingly ...
30. Revealed: ULTIMATE Study Routine Secrets
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is all about how to take your study hours to the MAX, while keeping enough balance in your life to avoid overwork, exhaustion and stress....
29. Focus & Get Things DONE with Chris Bailey, TED's "Most Productive Man"
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Bailey - "the most productive man you could hope to meet" according to TED - joins us today to help you get focused, get productive, a...
28. The 5 Smartest Things I've Read This Year
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There's some incredible wisdom to be found on my bookshelf. Today, I pick out some of the BEST tips and tricks to be found in five of my most-lov...
27. A "Lazy Genius" Guide To Student Life - Kendra Adachi
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrating the launch of a brand new season of weekly episodes, NY Times bestseller Kendra Adachi is here to talk us through how we can be a "la...
26. Better Speaker, Better Grade With Florence Bavanandan
30 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the second of our two "summer specials", we're joined by Florence Bavanandan, who specialises in helping people speak confidently an...
24. Save Time With These 3 Powerful Study Productivity Strategies
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Want to get more studying done, in less time? Whether you're working through assignments, writing essays or dissertations, or learning for upcomi...
23. My 5-Minute-A-Day Secret To Supercharge Your Learning
07 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Want to actually remember what you learn in your classes and lectures each day? Now you can, with my new 5-minute-a-day study habit to transform your ...
19. Applying for Ivy League & Careers in Science - When I Grow Up Month
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The second instalment of our summer "When I Grow Up" series, helping you decide on the path you want to take through education and life, equ...
18. Coconut Shells To Industry Titan - "When I Grow Up" Month
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a very special series of episodes on Exam Study Expert, where we're unpacking the lives of individuals who have achieved success in a ...
17. Surviving A PhD: Oxbridge PhD Students Share Their Tips
26 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you doing a PhD, or considering doing one some day in the future?We interviewed six current and former PhD candidates at some of the world's ...
16. Multiple Choice Papers: 3 Cunning Strategies
15 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how to get the most marks you can in multiple-choice papers? Tricks to improve your guessing, what the science says about strategies for...
15. Exam Nerves: 7 Strategies To Soothe Them
15 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Strategies for dealing with test-day nerves and exam-week anxiety: discover the counterintuitive science behind “the butterflies”, and learn to ta...
14. Outsmart Your Exams: 14 Test Taking Tips for Top Grades
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode features a panel of guests: teachers, professors, tutors, even students, sharing some of their favourite exam-taking strategies, ...
13. Exam Technique: 3 Golden Principles To Maximise Your Mark
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Learn more about Outsmart Your Exams, the first book from Exam Study Expert, at https://geni.us/examsIn this episode, discover the three golden princi...
12. The Calm Episode - Managing Stress & Anxiety
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Rachael Williams joins us to talk about dealing with emotion and anxiety in our studies, how to combat procrastination, and get through exam season. A...
11. Mnemonics, Memory Magic & Getting Things Done - Dr Adam Putnam
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we’re delighted to welcome Dr Adam Putnam, who is an assistant professor at Furman University, to share his fascinating insights ab...
10. Study Hacks: 10 Practical Tips To Cut Your Study Hours & Boost Your Grades
07 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
10 "study hacks" to get you better exam results, faster, including:- Engineering your environment for success- How re-planning your schedule...
9. Learning Latin & Studying Languages with Supertutor Joe Hytner
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking languages: tricks for memorising your vocab lists more easily, how to get your head round the grammar, and some handy exam techn...
8. Performing Under Pressure & Studying Music - Prof. David Rowland
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode features Professor David Rowland, Professor of Music at the Open University and Director of Music at Christ's College, Cambr...
7. How to Study AND Take Care of You - Dr Yana Weinstein-Jones, Learning Scientist
17 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Yana is a respected researcher in the field of how to learn effectively, and brilliant teacher on how to apply the science to the question of how to s...