Study skills, two ways: A chat between an introvert and extrovert

Hi, we’re D.A. (final‑year BSc Business Management, certified social butterfly) and Michelle (MSc Global Health & Social Medicine, happy café‑corner dweller). With exams and dissertation deadlines looming, we compared notes on how our very different personalities shape the way we revise, and what any King’s student can steal from our routines. 

The ideal revision habitat

D.A. asks Michelle: Where do you slip into full focus?

Michelle: 'Quiet is my super‑fuel. Most days I sit at my little desk that faces the window, plants on the sill, lo‑fi beats humming. On campus I hunt for the hidden booths on Bush House Floor 4. Once I’m settled, the rest of the world fades and my word count climbs.'

Michelle flips it back: But you revise in cafés on purpose, why?

D.A.: 'ExCeL’s exam hall is huge and echoey, so I mimic that hum. A small café in Borough with clinking cups or even a YouTube “exam hall ambience” track keeps me from freezing when the real noise hits. Plus, seeing other people grinding away makes me feel part of a team.'

Takeaway: Match your practice space to your exam reality. For some that means silence, for others it means embracing the buzz. If you're looking for a new place to work, check out these elite study spots you may have been sleeping on. 

Breaks that actually recharge

D.A.: 'My micro‑break is one Charli XCX song at full volume while I stretch or wipe my desk. Five minutes later I am buzzing again. For longer resets I pull on an eye mask and power‑nap even after a triple espresso. It feels like washing my brain...'

Michelle: 'Everything lives in my paper agenda. I block out a 45‑minute study sprint and then write “walk to Potters Fields with an iced matcha”. When a break is inked in, I take it without guilt. I come back with fresh eyes instead of doom‑scrolling and feeling bad about it.'

Takeaway: Breaks work best when they’re short, planned and guilt‑free.

De‑stress buttons

Michelle: 'When anxiety spikes, I slice tasks into tiny goals – one paragraph, one reference. Ticking them off is my version of a mini high‑five. After dark I’ll swap notes with my flatmates on the sofa, skincare masks on, because a two‑minute laugh reminds me I’m not alone.'

D.A.: 'I go full “delulu”. I write a cheeky affirmation like “First‑class honours already printed” and then play the movie in my head: sprinting through lecture notes, walking into the hall, mum ugly‑crying at graduation. It turns revision into a story where I’m the main character.'

Takeaway: Whether you prefer structured micro‑goals or bold visualisation, pick a mindset tool that makes you smile, not spiral.

Solo vs group study

Michelle: 'Small group? Maybe. Big group? I end up explaining memes instead of analysing data. Solo lets me dive deep and come up for air only when the section is done.'

D.A.: 'Same! People assume extroverts love group study but I chatter away until we are off‑topic. I save meet‑ups for the “we are doomed, motivate me” moments 48 hours before an exam.'

Takeaway: Personality isn’t destiny, test both formats and use each when it serves you. If you're looking for structured group study sessions, try one of King's upcoming Academic Skills workshops to help power your exam success.

Advice to our kindred spirits

D.A.: 'Use your social energy but set boundaries. If friends become a distraction, hit pause and catch them at dinner instead.'

Michelle: 'Do an honest audit. What fuels you, what drains you. Build your timetable around that reality, not around TikTok study vlogs'

Our unlikely study quirks

D.A.: 'I dress like I’m off to Fashion Week, even for living‑room revision. It tricks my brain into ‘big day’ focus and I’m less tempted to slump.'

Michelle: 'A snack prize sits beside my laptop. Finish a section, claim the snack. Also, natural light only, harsh fluorescents kill my vibe, and a perpetual lo‑fi playlist keeps me calm.'

Your turn

Ace Your Assessments isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. Maybe you’ll thrive in a buzzing café with runway‑ready attire, or maybe your power lies in quiet corners, lo‑fi beats and snack rewards. Try a few tactics, keep what clicks, ditch what doesn’t, and craft a revision plan that feels like you.

And remember: King’s Study Skills, Student Services Online and the Counselling & Mental Health Support Service are all on hand if you need extra backup.

Good luck, you’ve got this, whether you charge up from crowds or from calm.