Young people have all heard the advice that it's great to get a career in a field that you enjoy. As a result, many focus on the wrong part of that advice.

Exams might be the most stressful part of university for a lot of people, but they don't have to be for you. This systematic approach to preparing for exams will give you the advantage you need on test day.

It's currently "crunch time" at schools and universities around Australia, which means plenty of students are starting to have exam-induced freak outs. If you or your son/daughter are in the midst of a study cram, there is a simple, science-proven remedy that will help to bring stress levels down. It involves whiskers. And fur.

With lectures, you only get out of them what you're willing to put in. You might be bored by the slides, but that information is still important. If you spend that time thinking from the teacher's perspective, you might get a better grasp of the material.

Writing things down, on paper or on-screen, is the best way to make sure you remember important info and tasks, but sometimes you've got to rely on your plain old brain to keep essential data sorted and handy. Whether it's a client's name, a password or combination you want stored only in your head, or answers for an upcoming test, there are plenty of techniques and tools to help you lock in important stuff and pull it out when needed. After the jump, we round up some memorable memory-boosting hacks. Photo by furryscaly.

If you've been hard at work in school and haven't had the time to study for an exam, then perhaps you should set aside time the night before to cram for the exam. Depending on what type of learner you are, you may feel comfortable cramming by rereading your course notes, reviewing summaries in college textbooks, recording critical information into a tape recorder (or computer), or applying memorization techniques. Quiz yourself to review the information you've retained. Sure, it might be better to space out your studying over a few days, but if that option fails, cramming might be your only option—and these suggestions should get you on your way. What are your best cramming techniques? Let's hear them in the comments. How to Cram for a College Exam

Perfect your writing style by following the habits of great writers, especially with regards to scheduling. The Study Hacks weblog has reviewed interviews of many non-fiction writers and discovered that most writers schedule their work in the morning. To apply this advice, the article suggests that you spread out your writing over a few days, and when you do, get up early. Go to an isolated location and jump-start your day with an activity to get the blood in your brain flowing. Work for a few hours and then take a break. Don't write during other times. While this advice may be sound for morning people, reversing it to the night may be more practical for night owls. The takeaways are to make the writing "me" time and keep yourself far from distractions. How to Schedule Your Writing Like a Professional Writer