Studying….. Stu…..dying. To study. I studied. Spending our time learning something and memorizing something for a class or part of a class that six months from now may have absolutely no relevance to us or anything we’re doing in life. However, we do it to learn and to get a good grade to pass a class that will help us with the bigger picture, graduating, getting into a good college, accomplishing a goal and obtaining a degree. I know most of us would rather not have to study, but sadly, somewhere along the line, it became part of life for most of us. So, if it’s something we’re going to have to do, we might as well learn some tips for studying.
I am going to start this off by saying in no way are these tips going to work for everyone and if this is not how you learn, then I do not suggest changing what you know already works for you. However, if you’re looking for some tips on better studying habits, maybe this is for you.
Throughout schooling I have found quite a few different things that have helped me throughout the years to study smarter, not necessarily harder, and get me and other people in my life through many years of schooling.
- A great work area.
Having a distraction free work area is essentially one of the most important tips I could give anyone for when it comes to studying. Find an area that works best for you. Whether it is at your desk in your bedroom, in the common area of your dorm (as long as you aren’t there when all the boys are having their video game tournaments), or you find a quiet desk area on the quiet floor of your school’s library.
- Your notes
Keep good notes. Taking notes while going through the course and your textbook will help set you up for a better and more productive study session. This will save you time from reading 100s of pages of your textbook because you will already have all the important stuff outlined in your notes. Reviewing your notes can help jog your memory on the smaller facts mentioned throughout the course to help give you a better understanding of the subject at hand. I always sit down and review my notes and I use my notes as a baseline to start my studying.
- Flash cards
Flashcards might not be everyone’s thing, but growing up and going through school it certainly was my thing. I used flash cards like crazy all the way through college. This was a way of telling my brain the knowledge I needed to know by writing it down on the flashcard and then reviewing it was so much easier because by being on a flashcard that was the only fact and piece of information I was forcing my brain to look at for that split moment. Flashcards might be a drag to make, but they have definitely helped me ace so many tests throughout the years.
- Reading out loud
I did not use this one a lot throughout my educational experience, however; it has helped quite a few people to memorize information. Re-reading your notes can help jog your memory and it is like teaching yourself all the information again but in the form of converting it to memory. And on that note, reading it out loud is a form of letting yourself hear the information, which can then tell the brain that this is important information and it will bring a whole new light to studying.
- Acronyms
Sometimes this is easier said than done. I get it; I have tried this method so many times and sometimes it just does not seem to work. Information does not always easily make an acronym. However, on the occasions you have information and let’s say you have to memorize the steps involved in something, sometimes that is a better scenario in which acronyms actually work. Sometimes the sillier they are, the easier the information is to memorize. I have used this and I come up with silly acronyms or ridiculous words used to remember something and sometimes you might let out a giggle, but you’ll be the one remembering what no one else took the time to create an acronym for.
- Chewing gum
I was obsessed with chewing gum while studying for and then taking exams. It helped correlate the muscle movements of your jaw with the information you were attempting to remember. Some people even have a different flavor for different courses and that has seemed to work wonders for people. I personally just do not like that many gum flavors to match one with a different class.
- Don’t study too late or if you’re tired
Staying up late or losing sleep to cram for an exam might seem like a great idea in the moment and maybe it has worked out in your favor before. However, the main reason why this is not recommended is because all of this information is converted from short-term memory (something you might not remember in the morning let alone when it comes time for the exam) to long term (a much higher chance it’ll stick around for exam time retrieval) happens while we are asleep. And if you do not get enough sleep, you are not allowing your brain the time to convert this knowledge to long term. Getting a good night’s rest before an exam will ensure you are more awake, alert, focused, and actually know the information for your exam.
- Take practice tests if they are available
If a practice test is available for you, I recommend taking it at least twice and using it as part of your study guide. If the questions aren’t the same, the information will be similar and the format might also be similar. Another tip to follow is making your own practice exam. Take all the information you know or information from a potential study guide and create a test or maybe get together with a few classmates and collectively make a practice exam or two. Studying based on the facts another gives you can help you also learn the information in a new way.
- Try to meet with a friend from class while preparing to study
Planning any sort of study session with some friends from your class can be extremely beneficial. This will allow you to compare your notes and also sometimes they may have found a piece of information important that you overlooked or they took notes on something that you missed. I never studied in a group often, but having the option was always extremely beneficial because if I did not have time to meet with my professor, I could turn to my peers for any questions or misunderstandings.
- Don’t be afraid to ask your professor for any further clarifications
You should never second guess if you are considering setting up a time to meet with your professor to discuss any questions you have or anything you are not understanding. Professors are there to help you and they know the most about the subject and what you need to know for the exam. Setting up a time to meet with your professor can help you prepare for your exam and leave you ready for a great study session.
- Utilize on campus tutors
Most, if not all, college campuses have peer tutors that are offered. This could be a great benefit if you cannot meet with your pressor or any peers from your class. A tutor is normally someone who has taken the course and they can give you tips on what the test might look like and anything you should really focus on while studying. This is a whole new way of getting a cheat sheet for your practice exam without any of the dirty work.
There are so many tips I could give you and so much I could go into when it comes to studying. However, theses are what I have used in the past and what i will continue to recommend. Again, the 11 tips in which I have found the most effective when studying and trying to ace your exam are;
- A great work area.
- Your notes
- Flash cards
- Reading out loud
- Acronyms
- Chewing gum
- Don’t study too late or if you’re tired
- Take practice tests if they are available
- Try to meet with a friend from class while preparing to study
- Don’t be afraid to ask your professor for any further clarifications
- Utilize on campus tutors
I hope some of these tips will work for you. Let’s get out there and crush your next exam.