It’s that time of year when midterms are approaching, or you’re ready to wrap up the semester, but you still have some final exams ahead.
Hi! My name is Enzo de Souza. I’m an undergraduate student and a student employee at International Student Services at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
I know study periods in college can be challenging and stressful, but I have gathered tips and advice to help you succeed during exam week.
- Find a good study spot. It can be either the library, a campus building, somewhere nice outside, or just your room. A dedicated study spot can help your brain shift into “focus mode” and reduce distractions. The UW Libraries offer study rooms that anyone can reserve to meet their needs.
- ISS has its own space that’s perfect for studying during exam periods. It’s called the International Community Center (ICC), and the best part is that during finals week, ISS always hosts study events with free food and drinks! Feel free to stop by our beverage bar for a free coffee (even outside of exam periods.)
- Create your schedule and manage your time. Controlling your schedule and your study sessions will help you accomplish your goals and maintain a stress-free routine. Build weekly or daily plans with calendar software, use your own physical planner, or use to-do lists. Did you know a UW student created an app to help students achieve academic success?
- Make sure you still have healthy habits. It’s easy to lose track of yourself during exam week. Take breaks, touch some grass (unironically), drink water, eat, rest, and socialize!
- Fun fact: A Columbia study found that a 5-minute walk every 30 minutes lowered both blood pressure and blood sugar. Other trials also showed this pattern improved mood, reduced fatigue, and enhanced cognitive performance!
ENZO’S STUDY TIPS
Pomodoro technique
I know you might be tired of hearing about the Pomodoro technique, but it truly works! This method involves focusing for 25-minute intervals followed by a 5-minute break. During breaks, avoid social media; instead, walk around, hydrate, stretch, or do some light exercise. Here are some popular and highly-rated Pomodoro apps for you to try:
- Pomodor is a simple web-based Pomodoro timer for those who like things straight to the point.
- Otto is perfect for Windows and Chrome users, with its own extension that includes web blockers and a built-in page timer.
- Forest was rated as one of the best Pomodoro mobile apps of 2025. Forest is a gamified Pomodoro timer that plants real trees for every minute of focus, perfect for those who want to romanticize their study sessions.
- Session is another simple Pomodoro timer for Apple devices, letting users integrate their study sessions with their calendars.
- Flow is a minimalist, simple timer for those who, of course, like minimalist software. On a Mac, you can use its menu bar, which lets the timer float over other pages.
Active recall
Active recall is a learning method in which you continuously test yourself by pulling information from memory instead of passively reading notes. Although testing yourself can be challenging and scary, this method strengthens neural connections, making it easier to retrieve information later and benefiting you in the long run. Some of the best strategies to practice active recall provided by Birmingham City University are:
- Flashcards: Write key points on one side and the answer on the other. Test yourself regularly!
- Practice questions: Find past papers or create your own questions to mimic the exam format. Teach it to someone: Teach a friend or family member the topic or plan a lesson.
- Summarize in your own words: Condense key points into a shorter text or bullet points.
- Blurting: Write down everything you recall about a topic as quickly as you can. It’s messy but effective!
UW-Madison free resources
Last, but not least, we can’t leave out some of the free university resources available on campus for you to use.
- Math Learning Center (MLC) – personally? My favorite one. Located in Van Vleck Hall B224, the MLC offers drop-in tutoring, office hours, and proofreading support for UW–Madison students enrolled in math courses.
- The Writing Center is perfect for those who need help with their writing assignments and final papers. Check out The Writing Center website to learn more about their support center.
- Software Training for Students (STS) – do not think we are leaving programming students out of the equation. STS is a FREE peer-to-peer training service that focuses on teaching software and coding skills.
- Greater University Tutoring Service (GUTS), offered by the university, has study skills workshops for any UW-Madison student that focus on specific topics like maximizing productivity or effective note-taking strategies.
And even more! Did you know the university offers tutoring for numerous subject areas? They range from anatomy to statistics, with over 80 course-specific tutoring options just for you.
MENTAL HEALTH (TALK ABOUT IT)
The truth is that we can test multiple ways to study efficiently, but no magic trick is enough if our mental health does not receive proper care. Talk with your friends, family, or professionals: you are not alone.
Journaling can be a good habit to add to your routine. Writing your feelings down on paper helps you understand yourself better and reflect. Fortunately, UW–Madison offers various mental health resources for you to explore.
- Drop-in support at Let’s Talk
- Have a specific problem and would like to talk it through with a mental health provider.
- Did you know ISS offers drop-in support at Let’s Talk? Visit the Pyle Center on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. for extra help.
- The UHS Mental Health Crisis Support Line is staffed 24/7 by licensed professionals. Call 608-265-5600 (option 9)
- UHS is partnered with Uwill to expand access to flexible, no-cost, virtual counseling for students.
The UW Department of Psychiatry also recommends some mental health apps.
- Calm
- Variety of meditation exercises and relaxing soundtracks organized by topic (e.g., stress, anxiety, sleep, focus, etc.)
- CBT-i Coach
- VA resource with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia strategies, free guided relaxation activities, and sleep logs to help keep your sleep on track
- Happify
- Science-based activities and games to overcome worries and stress
- Techniques were developed by experts who study evidence-based interventions in the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Healthy Minds
- Translating pioneering neuroscience into tools for everyday life using mindfulness practices and podcast-style lessons.
- App designed by UW Center for Healthy Minds
FINAL ADVICE
Although I’m sharing a few tips, remember that not everything you find online will work for you. Everyone learns differently, and discovering what suits you best takes trial and error. Finding the right study approach can be challenging, but this is just a temporary speed bump. With dedication and persistence, you can make meaningful progress.
Maybe creating a coping mantra could help! Create a motivational phrase to help you through the process. If even Taylor Swift has one, why can’t you?
“I go through several processes and coping mechanisms. And one of them is saying, ‘You chose this. You chose this every day. You could have opted out of this any day before it got unmanageably big.’ And I decided not to because I love it that much.” –TAYLOR SWIFT
REMEMBER: You’re not alone in finding college stressful. There will be highs and lows, but you don’t have to have it all figured out. Take it one step at a time, make room for joy, and give yourself credit for how far you’ve come. You’ve got this!