Ahhh, uni. You either love it or you hate it. Personally, I loved uni. But the assessments? Yeah nah. Not crazy about them. If you’re anything like me, then you’ll know that getting the best results out of the minimum required effort is the way to go. So I’m here to tell you how to ace your subjects and get all of the HD’s, without totally sacrificing your social life. Because there are $6 Espresso Martini happy hours at the uni bar and no one deserves to miss that.

1. Have A Report You Need To Read? Listen To It Instead

This was a little trick that a good friend of mine let me in on, and it blew my mind. Everyone knows that listening to an audiobook is faster than reading it. And podcasts are in their renaissance right now, so you’re probably used to listening to people talk at you for hours. If you’re given an article that you need to read by the next day, highlight the text and get your computer to read it to you. A cheeky little ctrl A, Edit, Start Speaking will have your computer reading to you like your own little lecturer. Take some notes as it goes and boom, minimum effort, maximum results.

2. Try To Not Skip Class (Like At Least Not Too Much)

This is baseline minimum effort. Just living up to the most basic of expectations can take you a long way at uni. Turning up and being present for your lectures can help you get some of that info you’re supposed to be absorbing, even if it is just by osmosis. Whether you realise it or not, there will be some kind of information transfer sinking into that brainbox of yours. And hey, if you feel up to it, you might even stop online shopping for a second and take some notes.

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3. Study Groups Are Your Friend

Troy and Abed in the moooornning! We really do have Community to thank for the new love of study groups. And I don’t just mean the uni assignment ones (unless you’re into that). Grab some friends and have a little study group, maybe once a week or so. This way you can share and exchange notes and insight that maybe not everyone got. Plus, you’ll be able to soak up some of that badassery from your more studious friends. Just don’t be that person who comes with nothing and expects to get everything. Have some original thoughts prepared so you can actually be part of the discussion.

4. Pander To Your Tutors

There’s nothing like being teachers fave. And while you want to believe that your tutors won’t be giving bonus marks based on how much they like or dislike their students, the truth is, most will be more forgiving with a bro (or gal). Get to class on time, participate in discussions, laugh at their jokes. A little bit of pre planning and relationship building can go a long way when it comes to test time. I once had a tutor give me an extra 2 weeks to finish an assessment because we were buddies. This is a tried and tested method from a proud teachers pet. Trust me.

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5. Commit To What You’re Doing When You’re Doing It

We’ve all had that moment where we’re suddenly inspired to actually do the work set for the week. Maybe it’s because this week’s topic was genuinely interesting. Maybe you had one of those out of body experiences where you realised just how much money this is costing you (hello mid-year existential breakdown). But if you do find yourself in one of these moments of motivation, really commit to it. If you’re gonna study, study your ass off. If you’re gonna’ online shop, online shop in your free time outside of this motivation. Really try to avoid getting distracted and ride the wave of this divine intervention.