http://scienceblogs.com/highlyallochthonous/2007/11/the_rowan_sarchasmic_index.php
I found this to be invaluable advice and would highly recommend it to any international student coming into the UK. I wonder why this has not been made a mandatory part of all international student inductions.
(Mind the computations go right over my head, but no doubt someone gifted in quantatative skills can find additional utility with this. I have a qualitative appreciation of it!)