The term is still spanking new and fresh, just two or three weeks gone at most. This makes this period the best possible time to revamp your old study habits (if they did not work for you last term), and adopt a new, more effective one. Perhaps, there’s nothing to change in the old one, but you may still need few tips to help you shore them up.
Consider these as presented by teenkidsnews.com:
Step 1: Organize Your Schedule
Let’s be honest – you can’t study effectively if you don’t know when your tests will be. Start off by making a calendar for your entire term. Write down all the exam dates, mid-term exam dates, and test dates.
But don’t stop there. The trick to better study habits is to plan study sessions in advance, because spacing out your studying is much more effective than cramming right before a test. You will remember the material better over both the long and short term when you study over a period of a few weeks than if you studied for just a few hours.
So how can you put this information into action? Easy – just carve out time in your schedule each week to review what you have covered in class. Find useful calendar apps on your smart phone and set up automatic reminders for when you need to study.
Don’t leave out revisions though. Make sure to set aside extra time in the days leading up to a big test so that you have time to prepare.
Step 2: Study Smarter
Having a calendar is convenient, but it won’t get you an A on the test. To do that, you have to start using better study habits. Here are a few of the best habits for more effective studying:
- Stay active while you study. A lazy body makes a lazy mind. Take occasional breaks from your study sessions to get up, have a snack, get a drink and move around.
- Designate one area in your home or dorm room as a study space. It will help get you into the right mindset, even when you don’t feel like studying.
- Remember that repetition is key. Study in more short sessions rather than just a couple longer sessions.
- Highlight important parts of the text you are studying. (Just be careful not to defeat the purpose by being overzealous with your highlighter.)
- Study with others. Talking about the material will help you understand it while also reinforcing the information in your mind.
- Reward yourself after studying. It keeps you motivated to reach your study goals. Who wouldn’t want to study when there’s a bowl or bottle of something nice and yummy or an episode of your favourite show waiting at the end?
Smarter Studying: Quick Facts
- As much as 80% of the material you learn in class is forgotten within 24 hours if you don’t review it. If your schedule allows, take time to rehash the material right after each class.
- Test yourself by making flashcards or having a classmate quiz you. Studies show that this is one of the most important principles of effective studying.
- Figure out which type of learner you are and incorporate it into your study habits. For example, visual learners can use color in their notes, while auditory learners can read a text out loud.
See Also: What is Your Learning Style? Is It Auditory, Kinesthetic or Visual?
