Exam season is creeping in—and with deadlines looming, it’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed. But don’t worry! We’ve got you covered: we have gathered insights from hundreds of students on how to best prepare for your deadlines and exams. Lucky for you, there’s a whole world of apps and tools out there designed to help you stay on top of your studies and (most importantly) protect your peace of mind.
Here are 5 student-approved apps to help you manage your time, stay focused, and keep your well-being in check!
1. Time Management: Google Calendar, Notion, Tweek
Time management is one of the trickiest skills to master, especially when you feel like you’re drowning in stress. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone! With apps like Notion and Google Calendar, you can break down your revision into smaller, doable tasks. Notion is great for all-in-one planning, while Google Calendar lets you schedule study blocks and reminders so you don’t forget them.
Tweek is another free app to manage your daily tasks and colour-code them, so you can have a clear daily schedule to stay on top of your game. Its minimalist aesthetic is also a nice plus!
2. Revision and Memorisation: Quizlet, Anki
If you’re worried about how much information your brain can retain until your exam date, flashcards can be very helpful! Quizlet has tons of ready-made decks, or you can make your own. Anki is also a fan favourite, especially for medicine students, because it uses spaced repetition to help you retain knowledge in the long term. Flashcards can also be a fun way to test knowledge in a group setting: bring them along to your friends’ study session and quiz each other!
3. Effective Note-Taking: OneNote, Evernote
Taking notes both during class and while you’re revising is one of the best ways to help you organise your ideas. You don’t necessarily need an app for that – actually, taking notes by hand can help you retain information better through muscle memory. But if you’re a visual learner who prefers an expandable, digital notepad, then going to the apps is a great option. Check out OneNote and Evernote to organise your notes by subject, add tags, or even record voice memos.
4. Keep Your Focus – Pomodoro Timer, Flora
It’s a bit of old-fashioned advice that you should turn your phone off because it’s only a distraction from your studies. It can be a little unrealistic for some to completely abandon their phone while at the library or in a cramming session, so why not incorporate it? Apps like the Pomodoro Timer and Flora can help block distractions by breaking down your study time into easier chunks and incentivise your focus through rewards, like keeping a tree alive!
5. Practice Mindfulness – Headspace, Calm
No matter how packed your schedule is, your mental health matters. Apps like Headspace and Calm offer short mindfulness sessions, breathing exercises, and soothing sounds—perfect for unwinding after a long day of studying or calming nerves before an exam. Even putting on some relaxing background music on Spotify or YouTube can keep you grounded and in tune with your emotions.
Try a few of these out and see what works best for your study style. You've got this!
This time of the semester is especially tough on students, but exam season doesn’t need to be as solitary as you may think. If you need to unwind and take a well-deserved break from your studies, KCLSU is always here to offer support!
Our Advice Team has compiled a list of useful information and links on what you should know before your exams. You can find them all here!
Also, check out our Take Time Out activities, designed to help you take your mind off your deadlines, meet new people, and experience new hobbies. Keep an eye out for our Events List to practice some crafts, touch some grass (literally), or release your stress through yoga – we have so many activities you can join for free, and we can’t wait to see you there!