Lectures can be recorded using Dictaphones or phone apps, but you will need permission to do this. DSA can sometimes provide Dictaphones, speech to text software and audio note taking software. Some universities also put recordings of lectures online. Asking for lecture slides before or after lectures can also help with note taking and exam revision.

Below is a Youtube video from The Codpast, A Beginners Guide to Audio Note Taking, which gives an overview of the sort of audio note taking software that is available. Remember, the cost of these solutions could be covered by DSA.

Colour coding can be a huge help when it comes to organisation, note taking and annotating texts. Symbols with meaning unique to you can also be helpful. This means when annotating a text you can use colours to highlight different points or draw a symbol such as a star rather than having to write out a whole word or sentence. You can use pink to highlight a metaphor, for example and red for certain types of symbolism. If you do this it can help to keep a key handy at the front of books on the blank inner front pages, or on the other side of printed sheets.

Check and double check you have read exam questions correctly. Underline the keywords and write the question out again in your own words to help you make sure you are answering the question on the page in front of you.

When writing essays speech to text software, such as Dragon Naturally Speaking, could be useful. This turns what you say into a microphone into on screen text. DSA may be able to cover the cost of this sort of software.

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