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

Feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate? In this episode I'm sharing a simple way to decide what you need to prioritise in your life right now.

We're starting out from a famous speech. In 1991, former Coca-Cola executive Brian Dyson told graduates at Georgia Tech that life is like juggling five balls: work, family, health, friends and spirit. But not all balls are the same: some are made of rubber, some are glass. 

We'll be exploring how to decide which balls in your life are resilient rubber, which are fragile glass, and which are my n...

A new school year, university term or exam season is a great opportunity for a fresh start — and that doesn’t just mean buying new stationery.

In this episode, we’re doing a spring clean for your study world: clearing out the physical and digital clutter that can contribute to distraction, overwhelm and mental jumble.

See also:

Ep 198. Stitch In Time - Small Habits for Academic Success https://www.buzzsprout.com/267857/episodes/17802525

Smartphone Spring Clean - 10 Tips To Tame The Tech In Your Pocket
https...

Today I'm share five powerful mental reframes that reduce exam stress and help you perform when pressure is high. We zoom out from perfectionism, comparison, and frustration with the system, so you can revise with focus and walk into the exam room calmer and more in control.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

Today, in the lead-up to exam season, we’re diving right into how to perform well in high-stakes, high-pressure situations with expert Dr Brian Hite. 

And who better to ask about high stakes than a stuntman, former army resilience trainer, sports psychologist and coach who specialises in performance under pressure.

Dr Brain tackles exam pressure and tough questions, the 4 important stages of a high-stakes performance, and real-time tools you can use to stay calm: all interspersed with real-life experiences.

Feeling like the stakes are high this exam season? This is the episode you nee...

Got a lot on your plate at the moment? Today we're helping you thrive in a demanding exam season with the help of "the easy button": specific moves you can make to take some of the pressure off in the short-term and free up a little extra time and brainspace to focus on your studies.

Take a listen, and let us know in the comments where YOU'LL be pressing that easy button in future!

Get a copy of Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book, at https://geni.us/exams*

Perfectionism can feel like ambition for many students, but it often fuels anxiety, procrastination, and a harsh inner critic that makes studying harder than it needs to be. 

We’re joined today by Harvard-trained clinical psychologist, author and perfectionism expert Dr Tara Cousineau, to unpack the psychology and triggers of perfectionism. Dr Tara shares practical skills everyone can employ for putting self-compassion before self-criticism, and learning how to strive for excellence whilst protecting your wellbeing.

This is an excellent advice-packed episode I hope the perfectionists in our Exam Study Expert community will return to again and...

Today, I'm sharing one question that cuts through revision stress and helps you decide what to study next: what kind of learning feels most difficult right now? 

Tune in to find out why mental resistance is a signal to prioritise that work and how you can, rather than leave it to one side, actually lean into it and do more of the practice that matters most.

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Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they can a...

Many of the students and scholars I speak to struggle with stress, anxiety and overwhelming emotions: about exams, assignments, academic pressure or feeling behind.

So today we're chatting with Dr Jennifer Veilleux, clinical therapist and Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Arkansas. 

Dr Jenn explains all her key practical strategies, rooted in scientific research, that can make up an effective emotional toolkit for students. 

We explore how acknowledging, understanding and regulating your feelings can improve your mental health, your exam performance and your enjoyment of academic life at school or university.

Everything's a u shaped curve: don't work too hard, but not too little either, for best results.

Explore how understanding this "sweet spot" principle can help you find the balance in your study routine, as well as get the right balance in other areas of your study strategy too, such as how many spaced repetitions are optimal for you, or the right mix of different study methods for your needs. 

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Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to study smarter, not harder, so they c...

Unlock the secrets behind how a top student in Australia crushed his finals and secured a top 1% score in his state — and learn exactly how you can apply his disciplined strategies to your own exams. Harry's journey proves that success isn’t just about talent; it's about precision, routine, and metacognitive awareness.

We break down:
- The role of consistent daily habits in high-stakes exams
- How to use spaced retrieval practice effectively
- How to track exam practice and "vibe"

Tune in to see how disciplined consistency, metacognitive awareness, and smart prac...

Small can be mighty when it comes to setting the right study goals, especially at first! Learn why consistency is queen, and how a "do-able come rain or shine" study routine is the key to building and maintaining momentum in your learning, and maximising your progress in the long-run.

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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/<...

What if the fastest way to learn better is to understand why and where learning breaks down?

In this episode, I’m joined by leading UK educator and author Alex Quigley to unpack his eight predictable failure points that derail studying — and the practical, research-backed strategies that fix them.

Failure is normal. Success comes from recognising the signals early and responding with the right tools: retrieval practice, spaced learning, improved planning and evaluation, and metacognitive reflection of your studying. 

If you want to study less but learn more, this episode shows you how to cl...

What if improving results across an entire school came down to a handful of simple learning habits, done well, every day? 

In this episode we sit down with two headteachers from top-performing UK schools – Andy Green (Copleston High School) and Peter Lee (Q3 Academy Langley) – to discover how the science of learning effectively has influenced their leadership, teaching approaches, and the learning experiences of their students when put into practice across an entire school community.

We unpack how clear routines in the classroom, research-led CPD, well-communicated simple revision strategies, and a tight teaching playbook can impro...

What is metacognition? And how can you use it to plan smarter, reflect on exams and evaluate your daily learning with clarity?

We’re joined by Nathan Burns, aka Mr Metacognition, to explore his favourite stackable metacognitive learning strategies that will have you reflecting on and improving your studying at home and in the classroom – from this moment, right through exam season and beyond. 

Discover how to think metacognitively about:

👇 Your post-listening task: leave a comment and tell us...

Join William for a quick pep talk on showing due respect to the exam you're sitting, with surprising benefits for your motivation, enjoyment of the study process and even your end result.

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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...

In this episode, learn how to conquer distraction and build a healthier relationship with technology using quick wins for a digital detox.

Our guest is digital detox expert, technologist and TEDx speaker Colin Corby. We explore how constant digital distractions affect attention span, deep learning, reading comprehension, critical thinking, sleep, and productivity — especially for students.

Colin shares practical, realistic digital detox strategies, quick wins and fun micro-challenges you can apply immediately to areas including environments, routines and social accountability.

Your post-listening task: share your own digital detox intentions in comments below fo...

In today’s mini episode we’re taking a look at the surprisingly helpful question of what you do on your study breaks.

Choosing the right break activities can help you return to work on time, ready to go again, perhaps with some fresh insights and certainly some fresh energy.

The wrong break activity can suck you into a spiral of procrastination that turns a 10 minute breather into 50 minutes of doom scrolling.

Choose a smarter break with the 10 ideas we share today for a smarter study break.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just...

A short trailer episode for new listeners to get a taste of the show.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Or just want to say "thanks" - send me a text message (I read them all!).

To kick off the new year we’re sitting down with neuroscientist, international speaker and author Dr Sarah McKay to translate decades of neuroscience research into straightforward tactics students can use today for better sleep, enhanced focus and improved grades.

Dr Sarah McKay has a distinguished career as one of Australia's best known science communicators. She's passionate about translating brain science into practical strategies to improve health, well-being, and performance. Sarah boasts a PhD in neuroscience from Oxford University, has presented on ABC Catalyst (the only science show on primetime TV in Australia), authored several books on br...

Today, we're turning good intentions and a long list of things you need to do or should do or would like to do into consistent action!

Key ideas today include:
• fresh start effect as useful motivation
• split goals into one-off and ongoing tasks
• schedule one-off tasks in the diary
• design daily habits with clear what, when, and why
• use weekly blocks for deep, flow-based work
• set seasonal habits around exams or deadlines
• share your habit plan for accountability
• simple homework to lock in your cadence

Your homewor...

In this final very special episode to round out 2025, we welcome world-renowned personality expert Professor Brian Little to help us answer the question: who are you really?

As one of the great scholars of our time in the field of personality psychology, Professor Little's wonderfully engaging teaching style has also won him “favourite teacher” accolades at Harvard and found him described as a cross between seeing Robin Williams and Einstein on stage. 

Professor Little helps us explore how your personality traits, character and goals interact to shape your learning, engagement, memory, attention and ability to flour...

Discover the three core ways to prioritise better in your studying, to get through what you need to do in much less time with as little impact as possible on the quality of your output.

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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...

We’re joined today by Scott Hardiman, a confidence coach who specialises in helping people rebuild their confidence and get their drive back. Scott shares his own relatable and inspiring student story, from bullying and anxiety to finding his confidence mindset. 

Plus his top six tricks – easy daily practices, micro-experiments that everyone can try – to build up your own confidence and face any high-stress situation:

 • the impact of taking action
 • using your “stretch zone”
 • physiology and posture
 • keeping an evidence bank of confidence-boosters
 • the importance of keeping your promises
 • and the power of self-awareness<...

A practical guide to using the time boxing time management strategy to boost focus, sharpen your prioritisation, overcome prioritisation, mitigate perfectionism and ultimately get your work done faster. 

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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*

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Today we’re revisiting the Zettelkasten system for capturing and organising your notes, with esteemed expert Bob Doto. Bob has effectively codified the Zettelkasten methodology, written the excellent go-to primer on the topic, and moderates the popular r/Zettelkasten subreddit community.

So few have thought more about the practical implementation of Zettelkasten than Bob. And today we’re breaking down a lean Zettelkasten workflow for anyone interested in starting the method, but with a particular interest in academic use.

From initial note-taking through to the anatomy of different note types, and with clear steps and live...

Today, I'm sharing a simple way to study faster by clearing mental clutter and turning a long or disordered to‑do list into a sharp plan for today. 

There is surprising power in the right daily task list to boost focus, reduce decisions, and build momentum.

Discover how my all-new "SOCK" method for the perfect daily to-do list can transform your day. 

When you start with a list that is Specific, Ordered and Clear, you can Knock it out in no time!

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Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent rese...

We're back today for another Student Story: celebrating successfully beating a high-stakes test, and learning all the study techniques that made the difference between pass and fail.

Our guest today is veterinary dermatologist Alissa, who confidently passed her specialist exam after spending some time as my coaching client - she put in the hard work, studied smarter and took home a well-deserved win.

Alissa shares her practical tips on what made the difference to her confidence and studying success:

Join us for another episode in our popular Student Stories series, featuring Dr Frank Douglas, a scholar for whom education was pivotal in his life's journey. 

From his beginnings in Guyana to his work in global pharma leadership, we'll follow Frank's journey of "bouncing forward": of scholarships and hard work, undertaking a PhD in America, facing racial discrimination in the workplace, and beginning a new career after medical school.

Frank also shares his clear methods for turning setbacks into strengths through hard work, perseverance and understanding how to turn your own problems into solutions for e...

Sometimes less just really is more! We're exploring the value knowing when to let things go. We're stopping, dropping, trimming and de-prioritising to make space for the things that matter most. 

So today, we’ve got three solutions for when three key areas of life get overwhelming and out of balance: 

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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 super...

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
• Find...

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.

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Find out more about Dr Sönke Ahrens:

• Discover more resources on his website: https://www...

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...

First broadcast as Episode 154, we're revisiting this epic interview with giant of the "science of effective study" world, the great Professor John Dunlosky.

In today's must-listen episode, we discover:

Featured today:

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...

A simple daily practice to have happier, more productive days: gratitude journalling for students.

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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...

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
...

Discover the power of clear purpose and a compelling vision with today's double bill episodes featuring two guests: Ian Chamandy and Steve Gamlin.

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First, we dive into the world of purpose with coach, entrepreneur and author Ian Chamandy:

Visit https://purposeu.ai/about/ to learn more about...

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*

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Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and study skills coach. I help ambitious students to...

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/

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Hosted by William Wadsworth, memory psychologist, independent researcher and s...

Learn how to overcome procrastination when working on large academic projects with today's guest, Dr Alison Miller.

https://www.theacademicwritersspace.com/

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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

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As an Amazon...