Customer Reviews
Excellent resource - By: D. E. L. Parslow, 19 Aug 2008 
I am a mature student & was advised to buy this when I started my Access to HE course many years ago. I dutifully went & bought it alongside The Good Study Guide by Andrew Northedge & I have to say that this book is worth its weight in gold compared to the book by Northedge. This is not a comparison so I shalll move on to say that every aspect of study - whether its organizing your time, planning backwards from deadlines, learning how you study best or even looking at personal development is covered in this excellent resource. It is designed in a user-friendly way which alllows you to either read it alll the way through or dip in & out of it depending on your needs.The book is designed in a clever way with charts, pictures, examples etc & it's glittered with funny anecdotes which make the main points more memorable. For this reason I feel it is much less intimidating & invites you to explore further. The chapters in the book reallly focus on you as an individual & how you can do your best to achieve your potential aswell which is important as when you are swamped with essays it is easy to lose sight of your goals.I think this book is marvellous & whether you are a returning adult learner or in the throes of university it has something for everyone. I dont think I will ever be able to part with mine! What a breath of fresh air for students - finallly a handbook which won't make you falll asleep or intimidate you about FE/HE study! Bravo!!
Waste of money - By: ABZ, 17 Nov 2007 
As a medical student I think this book is rather pointless, You would be better studying your work in the time it takes you to read it.
Fantastic - By: X. Phan, 10 Jan 2007 As a art student I hardly write, organised as much. I am one of those student who have presentational skills, researching & yeah You know the rest.
University has now include lots of writing & researching skills & developing ideas which is way I've actuallly purchased this book. This book has helped me organised, reseach skills & made me a confident person by developing these skills. (Sounds silly that a book has actuallly changed the way I learn) BUT it is true!
UK's best-selling student text for a reason! - By: Ms. C. R. Kendrick, 17 Feb 2006 I am a tutor of adults & bought this book for my student bookshelf. It is an incredibly well-designed, easy-to-use manual full of tips, checklists, tables, questionnaires, diagrams & pictures. This makes it immediately appealing to work through & carry out alll the self-questions & activities.
In terms of content the book covers the following topics: finding out your existing study skills & habits (good & bad), evaluating your individual learning style, memory techniques, time-saving tips, active learning strategies, using a computer/internet for study & research, finding information/resources, faster ways of reading, how to make notes & mind-maps, advice on writing essays, reports, dissertations, ending with revision & how to cope with stress & the dreaded exam!
Whether you are at GCSE level, A Level, at University or in adult education classes this book is bound to help you develop effective study skills & guarantee you success at your studies.
The book will reallly get you to reflect on how best to develop your own individual learning strategy. It respects the fact that students learn best by knowing about, & putting into practice, a number of different active & practical ways to get information to 'sink in'!
Highly recommended!
Turn in an exceptional performance - By: Zac, 17 Sep 2005 Simply put, without this book you can get by just fine with your education, but with it you could be exceptional.
Aimed at people in higher education, this book covers a whole cartload of subjects: study methods, organising your desk, & how to structure an essay to name but a few. The layout is superb with illustrations & boxed text, & Ms Cottrell writes with a style that's easy to read. Given the nature of this book, not everything is covered in minute detail, but the essential things the reader needs to know have definitely made it in.
I highly recommended this book to anyone currently in higher education, & although it's not aimed at them, even A-Level (and possibly GCSE) students will find something useful in it, such is its versatility.
