1:1 Study Coaching: ace your exams the smart way
Ditch the overwork and score higher with proven strategies to accelerate your learning. Exam and study coaching for school, university and professional exams, online from anywhere in the world. Book your consultation chatView pricing
There’s a lot riding on this exam
But the path to success is not easy…
You know what’s at stake:
For students it’s meeting the offer for Sixth Form or university, scoring grades that will set well on your CV for life, and perhaps most important, achieving at the level that truly reflects your potential.
For professionals, getting the magic “pass” on your professional qualification or board exam or specialism certification, so you can move on and up in your career.
And maybe most importantly of all, that magic feeling of knowing you DID IT.
The elation, the delight – hey, maybe even the relief – when you get the news that you earned the result you’ve wanted for so long.
William – I can’t believe it !!!!! I PASSED!!!!
Can’t thank you enough for everything !!!!! I am in shock!!!!!
Working hard, but the results don’t show it?
I specialise in helping people with substantial amounts to learn for challenging exams.
It’s normal to feel like you’re not retaining what you study, at least, not as well as you’d like.
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by how much you need to get through.
It’s normal to wonder if you’re learning in the most time-efficient way – are you really getting the most from all those hours you’re putting in?
I LOVE helping ambitious scholars like you to optimise your study strategy, so you can learn faster and remember more, and make more progress in less of your valuable time.
There is a science to learning efficiently – the underlying principles are universal – but the specifics of how we apply them is very personal to your exam, your life circumstances, your preferences, style and more.
“He’d lock himself away in a study room for 14 hours at time, but retain very little from it. After failing several exams, we were desperate to help him.
William worked on essential skills and tools for powerful studying, and discussed how to use his time effectively so that he can work less hard but remember much more. After three sessions, our son achieved an “A” on a Biology exam.
We are so happy to have found the Exam Study Expert, as parents, we are forever grateful.”
Finding the balance, staying consistent
Having the best approach to learning is only half the story.
We need the consistent schedule to create the space for effective learning to happen. Creating the time to put in the right amount of work, and having a plan to prioritise the right areas.
We need the mindset to show up and do good work, managing the inevitable emotional ups and downs of exam prep and any specific doubts, worries and fears that may be impacting your productivity.
And we need the gameplan to ace the test itself, the exam-day tactics to earn every possible point we can.
Planning and prioritisation; getting and staying consistent; finding peace and purpose; outsmarting your final test. Whatever your specific needs, I’ll help you get study-fit to succeed in your exam goals.
“After I had finished my mock exams I felt like I needed some tips on how to work more efficiently.
Thanks to William’s expertise, I’ve learnt several new ways of studying effectively. I felt a big difference immediately – I can now remember information much more easily.”
“Even though I’ve sat and passed countless exams, it turns out that I didn’t know how to study! With William’s help, I developed the confidence to plan my time in advance, write a realistic revision timetable and have improved my ability to recall tricky facts. It was invaluable.”
The science is clear: optimising your study system leads to BIG gains
It’s all about studying smarter, not (necessarily) harder
I’m a cognitive psychologist, and everything I teach is grounded in the science of effective learning.
The results you read in the testimonials throughout this page are not an accident.
They are a direct result of skilfully and thoughtfully applying proven principles from science and psychology.
The stuff I teach works. It will work for you too 🙂
I PASSED my resit last month. I really changed my study habits from University for these exams and it has definitely paid off!! I still can’t believe it actually. THANK YOU again for all your help!!
The Evidence: working on your study system unlocks substantial gains in test / exam scores
Mindset Mastery
| +8% | From a planning / reflection exercise |
| +11% | With the right motivation & goals |
| +32% | By using stress-proof study methods |
Consistent Study Habits
| +18% | From a better sleep routine |
| +20% | By reducing distraction & increasing focus |
| +22% | With a better note-taking strategy |
Smarter Learning Strategies
| +13% | From spacing your work out differently |
| +20% | Switching from re-reading to a better learning technique |
| +25% | Changing the order of practice problems |
Sources (top to bottom): Pham & Taylor, 1999; Jang, 2008; Smith et al, 2016; Kelly et al, 2001; Thornton et al, 2014; Peper & Mayer, 1986; Kornell, 2009; Roediger & Karpicke, 2006; Rohrer & Taylor, 2007
These are effect sizes from individual published studies, measured in different populations and on different outcomes. They are not cumulative. How much you personally gain depends on where your current study strategy has the most room to improve.
William helped me change my study techniques, which had a huge impact on the way and speed I learnt and retained information.
He not only help me pass the exams but taught life changing study skills.
I wish I had met him when I was a teenager, my life would have been easier.
We approached William when our daughter was in Year 10. She was capable, but needed confidence that her revision approach was effective.
William spent several sessions exploring and offering suggestions and feedback. We saw her confidence grow.
She completed her GCSEs with outstanding results and feels well-equipped to continue these study techniques into her A level years.
High performers have coaches and mentors to elevate their performance
A little secret you might not know…
…but pretty much every high performer alive today has a coach or mentor in their corner, to help them achieve more and get there faster.
Elite athletes, billionaire entrepreneurs, stars of the stage and the sports field.
Almost nobody who performs under pressure does it without someone in their corner helping them prepare.
We all take exams.
Nobody is born being good at studying for them.
I’d been listening to William’s podcast for a while leading up to my exams, but having his tailored advice was invaluable. I would highly recommend study coaching with William to anyone studying for professional exams.
“Studying through your techniques has provided me with a fantastic way of learning facts and knowledge efficiently, as time is really used in the most effective way.”
I passionately believe that ANYONE who’s committed to performing well in their exams should benefit from expert guidance on their study strategy.
It’s the smart path to success.
An experienced study strategy coach on your side helps you to:
- Save months or years of trial and error by getting straight to the study strategies that will work best for YOU in your circumstances.
- Take the guesswork out of your success and avoid the pitfalls that cost so many students study time and exam marks.
- Feel calm and confident knowing you’re taking the optimal approach.
Let’s maximise your chance of scoring the result you’re looking for through a combination of both preparing in the best way and finding score gains through smart exam technique on test day itself.
Let’s save you some time and ease the stress/overwhelm along the way.
Let’s work together.
Now it’s your turn to get a top study coach & learning psychologist in your corner
Introducing your new exam success mentor: William Wadsworth
I know the science…
… in fact, I help to discover it, working with other scientists to advance the research on effective ways to study
Regular speaker at education research conferences (e.g. ResearchED, BERA)
Degree in psychology (Cambridge, 2012)
I get what it takes…
Cambridge University First Class (Hons), top 0.01% student in UK public exams
Making “study best practice” work for you in the messy, complex world of being a student in the real world
Coaching with heart and understanding
& I’m a trusted teacher…
“Science of learning” training for both teachers and students at leading schools & universities
Blog & podcast trusted by almost half a million students every single year in 200 countries
A decade’s experience working 1:1 with students, to help them get top grades
Hours' revision/study skills teaching experience to date
Delighted students who've been coached by William to date
Different exams and qualifications PASSED with our coaching*
* Love the detail? OK, expand this box for the full list of exams we've supported to date
At school level, I’ve coached students through GCSEs, IGCSEs, A-Levels, AS-Levels, Scottish Nat 5s, Irish Leaving Certificate, IB (International Baccalaureate), AP exams (US), Certificate of Education (Australia).
At university and postgraduate level, that’s included undergraduate finals across many subjects and countries, medical school exams and resits, dental, veterinary and nursing degree exams, physiotherapy and chiropractic finals, law degree finals in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Slovakia, MBA exams, master’s exams and dissertations, PhD comprehensive exams.
I have a long history of working with candidates in veterinary specialty medicine, supporting residents through board exams in dermatology, neurology, ECVS and ACVS surgery and veterinary anaesthesia.
Similarly, I have worked with many many students in a wide range of fields in postgraduate medicine, including supporting candidates for MRCP, MRCS, MRCOG, MRCGP and the AKT, MSRA, FRCEM, FRCOphth, the SCE in Acute Medicine, Anaesthetics Primary and Final (FRCA and ANZCA), TEE boards, and board exams in orthopaedics, neonatology, histopathology, dermatology, internal medicine, opthamology and the EPPP licensing exam.
In law, that’s bar exams in several jurisdictions, SQE2, Law Society of Ireland professional exams, the LSAT, Finnish law school entrance, and the Mexican Commerce Notary Public exam.
In finance, accounting and business, I’ve coached candidates for the CFA, CPA, CIMA, actuarial exams, and the CISI Chartered Wealth Manager qualification, insurance licensing, APM project management qualification.
In technology and engineering, that’s included CISM, CISSP, a mining engineering manager’s certificate, mechanical engineering certification, a nuclear reactor operator postgraduate course, architecture licensing exam.
In aviation, I’ve worked with engineers and pilots on the CASA B2 aircraft engineering licence and FAA knowledge tests.
And a few more unusual ones along the way! the French Wine Scholar certification, a firefighter promotional exam.
Basically, if it’s an exam of any format, and if you need to know/understand stuff to pass it, I’ll be able to help 🙂
“The results are out and I’m very glad to tell you that I got in!
And to Helsinki university, which is the best university in Finland and the hardest to get in.
I’m so happy that my dream has finally come true and I’m going to be a lawyer.
Thank you for all, I wouldn’t have made it without you.”
In detail: what we’ll work on together
All of my students need slightly different things from our work together.
It’s a bespoke approach: I’m not taking you through a one-size-fits-all course, I take the time to understand your needs, challenges, situation and preferences, and we’ll craft the right strategy specifically for you.
Our focus for our sessions is some combination of my four of my “pillars” of exam success. Most clients need more support in some areas than others, but the mix varies from one person to another. We will talk about how you’re getting on and which areas we should work when we meet for your initial consultation call.
1. Learn Faster & Remember More: retain everything you need to know and understand for challenging exams, fast
Click here to learn more...
Staring at a mountain of knowledge that you need to learn for your exam?
Feeling that no matter how long you spend on a topic, you always forget some (or most) of it two weeks later?
Worrying how you’ll ever be able to remember it all on exam day?
As a Cambridge-trained learning psychologist, the memory is an endless source of fascination to me, and so I LOVE teaching the science of effective learning.
But I’m not just some scientist who has no idea about the messy reality of trying to get through another week at school or college: I’m also a highly experienced coach and mentor.
So I’ll not only make the principles easy to understand, but also show you my battle-tested secrets to put best practice into practice, fast.
2. Smarter Study Habits: overcome procrastination, maximise focus, optimise your routine and get stuff done, the easy way
Click here to learn more...
Finding it hard to fit in the hours?
Getting derailed by distractions, or losing time in the “dark playground” of the perpetual procrastinator?
Feeling low in energy, and relying on coffee, sugary treats and energy drinks to get through the day?
Or just a bit stuck when it comes to planning the perfect study timetable?
Then work with me to design a complete study system, based on proven productivity strategies, but 100% personalised to your way of working.
No more excuses.
No more wasted time.
No more late nights and last-minute panics.
It’s time to take control of your routine, and discover your perfect path to Getting Things Done.
3. Mark-Maximising Test-Day Tactics: exam technique secrets to hit top marks when it counts
Click here to learn more...
This one’s a bit of a personal favourite – no-one teaches this stuff. (So much so, I wrote a whole book on it.)
The tactics you use to keep your mind “match-fit” through exam week.
The memory-recall and problem-solving strategies you use in the exam itself.
How to read the examiner’s mind and give them EXACTLY what they want.
It all adds up to a BIG winning margin on exam day: and the best bit about this part is you don’t even need to do any more studying to improve your grade!
If you have exams to take, I’d recommend we spend at least some time discussing the test-day tactics that will make the most difference to your mark, and coming up with a bespoke exam “gameplan” to help you land the grade you deserve.
4. Mindset Mastery: conquer anxiety, get motivated and achieve more with the psychology of peak performance
Click here to learn more...
Struggling with exam stress or test anxiety?
Just can’t seem to maintain your motivation to study?
Worrying that you’re not good enough, that you’re not worthy?
Or simply feeling overwhelmed by how much you’ve got to do?
Then allow me to help you get to the heart of the problem, and let’s get you back in control of your mindset, and lay the foundations of your success.
I made contact with William when I started studying after a 16 year break. I couldn’t concentrate, the material was not sticking. He taught me how to focus and use my time for studying wisely.
We all need a coach for different areas of our life. In this ever-changing career generation, knowledge and qualifications are fundamental for getting ahead. Therefore a study coach is a necessity!
I’ve got the perfect programme for you
From a single “troubleshooter” session to the ultimate in ongoing study mentoring
1 x Emergency Problem-Solver Session
A targeted troubleshooter- A single 50-minute session
- Need some last-minute support? Or just want a quick once-over and tune-up? Then let’s meet for a Problem-Solver Session, for a focused fix on a specific aspect of your study strategy.
3 x Session Scholarship Package
Reboot your study strategy- A 3-session transformation: enjoy a significant saving vs “pay as you go”
- My most popular option: a complete overhaul of all major aspects of the study strategy
- You’ll be flying through your study routine, remembering more, feeling great, and primed to score BIG on exam day.
6 x Session "VIP" Fellowship Programme
Unlock your full potential- Six sessions to maximise your success
- For those who truly want to maximise their potential, while staying cool and in control.
- The ultimate support for top grades: we’ll leave no stone unturned in optimising how you study for and take exams!
1 x Emergency Problem-Solver Session
A targeted troubleshooter- A single 50-minute session
- Need some last-minute support? Or just want a quick once-over and tune-up? Then let’s meet for a Problem-Solver Session, for a focused fix on a specific aspect of your study strategy.
3 x Session Scholarship Package
Reboot your study strategy- A 3-session transformation: enjoy a significant saving vs “pay as you go”
- My most popular option: a complete overhaul of all major aspects of the study strategy
- You’ll be flying through your study routine, remembering more, feeling great, and primed to score BIG on exam day
6 x Session "VIP" Fellowship Programme
Unlock your full potential- Six sessions to maximise your success
- For those who truly want to maximise their potential, while staying cool and in control.
- The ultimate support for top grades: we’ll leave no stone unturned in optimising how you study for and take exams!
* We provide approximate/estimated USD conversions for the convenience of our international client base. All sessions are billed in GBP, so the exact USD equivalent will naturally fluctuate a little with the exchange rate.
Online study coaching, anywhere in the world
Work with me from anywhere in the world over Zoom video call.
I’m based in the UK but can accommodate most time zones. I have helped clients from every continent except Antarctica, including many from the USA and Canada, Australia, Europe, and more. The only requirement is that you’re comfortable being coached in English.
Sessions are 50 minutes long.
“Incredible. Absolutely brilliant, couldn’t recommend William enough. [My son] loved working with him. In hindsight we should have got him on board much sooner.”
“I’ve learned so much with William, and in particular, learned so much about myself. He’s not only helped me to start doing well in exams again, but helped me regain my confidence. I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Take the first step to stress-free exam success today
Most first-time clients start out with a 15-minute no-obligation consultation call to:
- Get to know each other and confirm we’re a good fit 🙂
- Custom-build the perfect coaching plan for you
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get that call in the diary, and let’s get on your way to the grades of your dreams!
“As an educator myself, I was very discerning when seeking support for our son.
In high school, he’d been a straight A student. As a college freshman double-majoring in Biology and Chemistry, he would often lock himself away in a study room for 14 hours at time, but retain very little from it.
After failing several exams, we were desperate to help him. I knew I needed to find someone to teach him not just how to study, but how to shift his mindset.
We found that in the Exam Study Expert in the very first session.
William worked on essential skills and tools for powerful studying, and discussed how to use his time effectively so that he can work less hard but remember much more.
After three sessions, our son achieved an “A” on a Biology exam.
We are so happy to have found the Exam Study Expert to not only teach our son how to study to achieve the grades he is aiming for, but to help navigate the experience in a healthy, positive way. Shaping a positive and effective mindset is the most important strategy that William teaches.
As parents, we are forever grateful.”
Is exam success coaching for me?
I think we’re going to be a great fit for each other if:
- You’re preparing for exams at school, university or as part of your career.
- You want to do well: we can absolutely work on motivation and consistency if needed, but on some level, you have to have the hunger to succeed.
- You’re open to change: I promise I’ll make change as “non-scary” as possible so it feels light and easy, but you do need to be open-minded to working in a way that is at least somewhat different to help you work smarter and achieve more in less time.
I would not recommend my coaching programmes if:
- You’re highly apathetic: this note is mainly for parents looking at this page – I need your son/daughter to have some spark of wanting to do well to admit them to a coaching programme. It’s fine if that spark is not translating to consistent action yet, that’s normal and we’ll work on that.
- You’re not taking exams: if your score is mainly based on your academic writing as submitted assignments/dissertations etc, check out https://examstudyexpert.com/academic-writing-coaching/
Study coach vs tutor: what’s the difference?
A tutor acts as an extension of your teachers (or lecturers), helping teach you the material you need to know for your course, reinforcing your knowledge and understanding, and helping you to practise using it.
I had an extensive background in conventional tutoring, so I know that a good tutor can be a great source of support in helping you get on top of your course materials. But unless you can afford to retain a tutor’s services for hours every single day, you will have to supplement tutoring with your own independent study.
And that’s where study coaching comes in: I’ll show the techniques you need to know in order to be far, far more effective in your own study time, and get far better grades than you would otherwise.
If your budget can accommodate it, study coaching can be a great complement to traditional tutoring – for VIP Fellowship clients, I’m even happy to speak to your tutor(s) to make sure their lessons support the study plan I’ve designed for you.
On the other hand, if budget is relatively tight, you’ll find that a small investment in study coaching (perhaps just 1-3 sessions) could transform your ability to get results on your own – saving you months of regular tutoring bills.
Your questions, answered
How much are the coaching sessions?
Sessions start from £125 / $165 (est) – please see the pricing table above.
Who / what ages do you work with?
The majority of my work is with:
- School students preparing for GCSE (Year 10, Year 11) and A level (Year 12, Year 13) exams, as well as younger students (Year 8, Year 9) wanting to develop good study skills early. Most of my work is focused on the UK school system, clients here in the UK or following British exam systems internationally.
- Professionals taking post-graduate exams, certifications and qualifications as part of their career. This commonly includes medicine or veterinary medicine (including residents, board exams, specialist certifications), accounting and finance, tech and IT, and more.
- University/college students in a wide range of disciplines, focusing on your examined courses/classes in particular. We also have a separate academic writing coaching offer for your dissertations and theses with specialist academic writing coach Dr Alix Hibble.
I am based in the UK, but I’ve worked with students from around the world: the US and Canada, Asia, Central and Southern America, as well as of course, the UK.
How do you deliver the coaching sessions?
Via video call (Google Meet / Zoom) – which allows me to work with clients worldwide.
Which coaching package is right for me?
There’s no single answer to this: every student is different, which is why I offer different packages in the first place! A good guide is if your exam is 1-3 months away, we’ll typically do 3 sessions. If it’s 3-4 or more months away, we’ll more usually do 6. But there are other factors at play too, including how much support you would benefit across different areas of your study strategy.
The best way to answer this is to suggest that, if you’re considering exam study coaching with me, you book yourself a consultation call so we can discuss your circumstances and what might be the best option for you.
I’m an experienced student – I’ve been taking exams for [many] years and have found the study methods I like. Why should I start doing things differently?
Here’s the thing – the best performers in any field are constantly finding new (and better) ways of doing things. That’s what keeps them at the top.
As you go further in your academic career, you may find that what used to work for you is no longer sufficient. Your old (high) school note-making strategy may have got you through your SATs and APs or your A-Levels, but that’s simply not cutting it any more.
No matter how experienced you are (or how much you’ve already read up on ways to study), I’ve yet to meet a single student who can’t make at least some changes to optimise their study strategy, and get (even) higher grades.
If you have ways of working that you really like, I rarely advise completely throwing everything out of the window – but rather, I’ll suggest ways to adapt and modify what you do today, to make it much more efficient.
It’s the best of both worlds: your new study strategies will feel similar to what you did previously, but you’ll get far better results from them.
Can I refer a friend?
Please do! I’m happy to offer an additional coaching session on top of your existing plan with my compliments, or a small incentive/bonus as a gesture of thanks.
I’m a parent – how do I know my [son / daughter] is going to get on with you?
I love working with a huge range of young people. It helps that I remember my own school and university years vividly, and I’ve now spent well over a decade working one-to-one with teenagers and young adults.
I have become very good at building rapport, trust and a very effective working relationship with a wide range of students.
(Teenagers sometimes struggle to take advice from Mum/Dad, so sometimes it helps that I’m simply “someone who’s not their parent”…!)
I’d normally recommend inviting your child to join us on a consultation call if it’s being booked by a parent – that way we can confirm that we’re a good match for each other.
Who should be / can be on the consultation call?
The person who is going to be coached – the student – is almost always on the initial consultation call.
Mums and Dads are very welcome to join too, especially if you are the one who found me in the first place.
Occasionally, parents value being able to discuss more delicate / sensitive issues around their child’s education with me directly – I’m very happy to have these conversations, this normally means we need two separate consultation calls (the first just between me and Mum / Dad, and the second with your child, either with or without parents).
Refunds?
This is rare in practice, but I take a case by case basis.
If it’s clear to both of us it’s not working out I’m normally happy to close early.
Please note though if you’ve paid for 6 sessions and only use one, you will be paying the normal rate for a single session (currently £250) – the discounted rate for 6+ sessions stops applying if you’re not actually doing 6 sessions.
I need to reschedule a session
Last-minute reschedule requests deprive other clients of coaching time, so my cancellation / rescheduling policy is designed to encourage you to be courteous to your fellow students, and uphold the appointments you requested.
That said, I understand life happens, and in practice am normally very understanding if unavoidable circumstances mean plans change.
DBS / safeguarding (for younger clients)
I have full DBS clearance (“Enhanced” level), the UK government’s standard certification system required to work unsupervised with young people (minors).
I also hold a safeguarding certification to the level required for “Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)” status in a school context.
“Had a parents meeting this evening – everyone seems amazed by how much he’s transformed. His teachers said he’s gone from a D grade to an A grade after working with you over the holidays. So really, thank you!”