To study well is a skill for academic life. Most students go through a seemingly never-ending study period with little success. But with some (if just a little) smarter study strategies, you can optimise your learning in less time.
In this post, we will discuss a few different techniques to help you study smarter and not harder, so you can retain information and ace your exams.
What is the Importance of Study Habits?
The Shift from High School to College
The move from high school to college is a difficult transition in many aspects, including study habits. High school usually comes with more handholding on the part of teachers, while college professors expect more independence from students.
This transition requires college-level skills to develop effective study strategies different from those adopted by high schools.
The Role of Active Learning
Active learning is an essential part of studying the natural sciences. One way to do that is by getting involved in the content itself, not just in a passive way, by reading or by trying to highlight the material with a highlighter, but in an active way.
This method allows students to become responsible for their learning, thus enabling the information to be more meaningful and memorable.
Setting a Study Schedule
The Power of Routine
Why a regular study schedule is the key to successful learning. When you dedicate specific times to practice, you establish a routine and give your brain time to get ready for focused learning. Regularity like this can increase concentration and facilitate learning.
Time Management Techniques
Learning how to manage your time and increase productivity through time management tools – just like the Pomodoro Technique, for example- can improve the quality of your study sessions.
This technique uses the idea of working for a specific amount of time, usually 25 minutes, and then taking a break. This balance helps you stay focused without getting burned out, and you can study better.
Creating an Optimal Study Environment
Choosing the Right Space
Where you study makes a difference in your ability to focus. Choose a quiet, well-lit area with little to no distractions. This might be a library, a dedicated study room or even a coffee shop depending on your preferences.
Have everything you need to study on hand. A neat and tidy study area is crucial, and avoid wasting time by not being able to find the right book or pen.
Minimizing Distractions
In order to maximise productivity, distractions must be minimized. That includes turning off phone notifications, using social media-blocking apps and informing friends and family of your study schedule.
By making the environment around you in focus, your mind will be in tune and stay on task while processing information more efficiently.
Active Study Techniques
Engaging with the Material
Active study methods, on the other hand, engage with the content, instead of just reading or listening to it passively. From these and elsewhere, know that:
- Self-Testing: Practice remembering the material to help solidify learning. This may involve the use of flashcards, practice tests, or online quizzes.
- Summarise: Summarise what you’ve read about a reading passage, using your own words. This is useful as it reinforces your learning and gives you a reference for what you need to improve.
- Teaching Others: Teaching others (even yourself) So how does explaining something teach you better than just reading it? Teaching makes you clarify your thoughts, and it exposes the gaps in your understanding.
Utilising Visual Aids
Reading comprehension and retention can be improved with the use of visuals like diagrams, charts, and mind maps.
By drawing out complex information into visual representations, you can see how various concepts relate and connect, allowing for easier recall on exams.
The Study Cycle
What is the Study Cycle?
The Study Cycle includes five steps: Preview, Attend, Review, Study, and Assess your learning. All three stages are critical in the learning process:
- Preview: Glance at the material in order to prepare for what you will learn before you go to the lecture.
- Class Participation: Contribute to class discussion; observation of taking notes.
- Review: Review your notes after the class and mark the important points.
- Study: Review by actively studying to help strengthen your knowledge.
- Comprehension: Challenge yourself to understand the material.
What is the Importance of Spacing?
Distributed practice, or spreading out your studying over time, is one of the most effective learning strategies.
Rather than trying to take everything in d’Round, spread out your study sessions over days or weeks. This method helps to increase retention and decrease the chance of forgetting things.
Utilizing Technology
Educational Apps and Tools
While Liden and his peers use the classics like Quizlet to study for their exams, several new apps have been developed in the last year alone in the rising growth of studying apps for the digital age. Consider using:
- Flashcard Apps: You can use these to build digital flashcards for easy review.
- Note-taking Apps: Keep your notes organised and readily available anywhere.
- Study Group Platforms: Use to talk with friends about test questions.
Online Resources
Utilize online tools like video lectures, how to tutorials, and discussions. These sites may help you with further explanations and clarify things from the textbook you did not fully understand.
The Role of Motivation
Setting Goals
Setting clear, reachable objectives can improve your study motivation. Divide that to-do list of tasks that never seem to end into tasks you can manage, and so celebrate the small wins.
This “moving forward” helps you not get bored and maintain motivation while studying.
Finding Your Why
The motivations behind your studies can influence motivation. Consider your long term goals, and how your current studies are helping to meet them.
This point of view can also help you to remain motivated and dedicated throughout your academic career.
Effective Note-Taking Strategies
The Cornell Method
The Cornell Method is a widely used method for notetaking that allows students to interact with what they’re learning.
Take three sections of notes: cues, notes, and summary. This structure creates more organization and makes it easier to study.
Mind Mapping
Another good method to visually sort information is using the mind map. Begin with what you know, then extend to related ideas, generating a visual diagram of the information. It can be helpful in seeing the larger structure and making connections between topics.
Preparing for Exams
Creating a Study Guide
Study Smarter, Not Harder With Study Guide Studying for an important test? Summarize by heading Extract most important concepts, definitions, and examples from your reading or notes.
Lay out this information in an easily readable format so that it can be quickly read through before the exam.
Practice Exams
Practice exams are a great way to study for the real thing. Time yourself and attempt questions without your notes, to replicate exam conditions.
Practising like this can allow you to identify the weak areas and gain confidence for the true exam.
Managing Stress and Anxiety
Relaxation Techniques
As exam time approaches, it can be stressful, so you need to include some relaxation strategies into your schedule.
Try things like deep breathing, meditation or yoga to manage anxiety and enhance concentration.
Maintaining a Balanced Lifestyle
Half of the game is having a balance. Make sure you are getting the right amount of sleep, eating healthily and exercising.
These things can all affect how well your brain works and how good you feel.
Conclusion
Working smarter not harder is the key to academic success. I mean by that, you can study smart, not hard, maximise your learning by studying in the right environment, and make the most out of the time you allocate to studying.
As a reminder, the objective isn’t just to cram more information in, but to study effectively and succeed with as little stress and unnecessary work as possible.
Adopt these strategies and soar as you step into the examination room with full assurance for your exams.
