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

William Wadsworth
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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!

  1. 223. Perfectionism, Self-Compassion and Making Progress - with Dr Tara Cousineau

    3D AGO

    223. Perfectionism, Self-Compassion and Making Progress - with Dr Tara Cousineau

    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 again, covering everything from working definitions of perfectionism and types of inner critic, to key tools for rewriting your mindset about excellence and progress. If Dr Tara’s advice has resonated with you, why not share this episode with a friend who’s stuck in overthinking mode, and leave a review so more students can find the show.  👇 I’d love to know: What’s one perfectionist habit you want to loosen this week? **  ⭐About today’s guest, Dr Tara Cousineau:  📖 Find her recent book, The Perfectionist's Dilemma: Learn the Art of Self-Compassion and Become a Happy Achiever here: https://geni.us/perfectionist * 📖 Dr Tara’s first book, The Kindness Cure: How the Science of Compassion Can Heal Your Heart and Your World can be found here: https://geni.us/kindnesscure * 🌐Discover more about Dr Tara Cousineau: https://www.taracousineau.com/ 🌐And learn more about The Perfectionist’s Dilemma here: https://perfectionistsdilemma.com/ *** 🎓About Exam Study Expert:  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.  🎙️Support the podcast on Patreon and grab exclusive benefits: https://examstudyexpert.com/patreon/ 🎯 Book 1:1 COACHING to supercharge your exam success: https://examstudyexpert.com/workwithme/  📘Get Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book: https://geni.us/exams *  **    Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh. * 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!).

    45 min

  2. APR 19

    222. Eating Your Frogs In The Final Weeks Before An Exam

    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. * 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!).

    7 min
  3. 221. Your Emotional Toolkit for Academic Stress - with Dr Jennifer Veilleux

    MAR 22

    221. Your Emotional Toolkit for Academic Stress - with Dr Jennifer Veilleux

    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. Listen in to discover when to listen to your feelings, when to calm them, and how to stop anxiety and procrastination from running the show. 👇Your post-listening task: leave a comment and tell us which of Jenn’s strategies you think will help you in your studies today. *** ⭐About today’s guest, Dr Jennifer Veilleux:  📖 Find her book, Open to Emotion: How Acknowledging, Understanding, and Regulating Your Feelings Can Improve Your Mental Health here: https://geni.us/drjenn 🌐Discover more: https://emotioncentered.com/ 📱Explore Dr Jenn’s recommended app How We Feel, here: https://howwefeel.org/  *** 🎓About Exam Study Expert:  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 Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book: https://geni.us/exams *  **    Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh. * 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!).

    52 min

  4. MAR 15

    220. Study Motivation and the U Shaped Curve

    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.  * 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!).

    14 min

  5. MAR 9

    219. Scoring Top 1% In The State: "Student Story" Case Study with a 300 Day Anki Streak

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

    28 min

  6. MAR 1

    218. Hare And Tortoise: The Magic In Consistency

    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. * 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!).

    9 min
  7. 217. Why Learning Fails (and What To Do) - with Alex Quigley

    FEB 22

    217. Why Learning Fails (and What To Do) - with Alex Quigley

    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 close knowledge gaps, balance your confidence and find the motivation to turn struggles into steady progress. **  ⭐About today’s guest, Alex Quigley:  Alex Quigley is a well-known figure in UK education: author of several popular books & a monthly column for the Times Educational Supplement, he's a former teacher who now works at the Education Endowment Foundation.  🌐Discover Alex’s blog and resources at: https://alexquigley.co.uk/ 📖 Grab a copy of his book Why Learning Fails (And What To Do About It) right here: https://geni.us/alexquigley ** Also mentioned: Graham Nuthall, The Hidden Lives of Learners: https://geni.us/hiddenlives ** 🎓About Exam Study Expert:  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 Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book: https://geni.us/exams *  **    Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh. * 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!).

    47 min

  8. FEB 15

    216. Transforming Schools with Learning Science: Inside Two High-Performing UK Schools

    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 improve engagement, consistency and exam results school-wide.  This episode is slightly different to our normal fare, but it is packed with practical insights. Whether you’re a teacher, school leader, parent or student, you’ll come away with concrete ideas for building a culture of effective learning – in the classroom and at home. ** Three invitations for (UK) educators: 1.      Come and watch me teach (revision strategy workshop)  Want to see what expert revision strategy training actually looks like in a real classroom? Come and watch me in action delivering a revision strategy workshop in a school near you.  2.      Take part in the Revision Census I’ve surveyed the revision habits of over 75,000 students in the UK to date. Want an insight into the habits of your own students? Participate in the Revision Census and get a clear, data-rich picture of your students’ current habits, what’s working well, and where the biggest opportunities for improvement lie. 3.      Work with me (student workshops + teacher CPD) Level up on learning science across your whole school: sign up for high-impact revision workshops for students and CPD for teachers in your own school.  If any of these sound useful for your school, get in touch with Katie at katie@examstudyexpert.com  and we’ll get the ball rolling. ** 🎓About Exam Study Expert:  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 Outsmart Your Exams, my award-winning exam technique book: https://geni.us/exams *  **  Podcast edited by Kerri Edinburgh.  * 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!).

    44 min
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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!

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