How to Get Organised to Study

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Although studying is very important, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to do it. Making a study space that you enjoy working in is a great way to make studying less tedious. Scheduling a study plan is another great way to stay focused and keep on task with all of your assignments. By making and following a study plan, you can make sure that you don’t fall behind in any of your classes.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Organizing Your Class Materials

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  1. For each class you are studying for, it is best to keep a binder. All of your course notes, homework assignments, quizzes, and tests should go into the binder. You can sort them and keep them divided with tabs in the binder. Keep extra paper in the binder for taking notes during class. [1]
    • Place the syllabus in the front of the binder with important deadlines highlighted.
    • Color code your subjects to easily keep track of everything.
  2. If you are studying for a test or exam, you are likely under a time limit. Look through the concepts you will need to know and prioritize based on what you know and how likely the concept will be on the test. If it’s something unlikely to show up and you already know it quite well, it is low priority. [2]
    • Focus most of your time on the material that you struggle with. You can always review the things you know well on the last day before the test.
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  3. When it comes time for finals, a study checklist is essential. Look through the study guide and prioritize what you need to study and put it on the list. If you struggle with a specific problem or concept while studying, add it to the checklist and take that with you when you visit your teacher or professor to ask questions.
    • As you go through concepts, check them off and move on to the next one.
    • Include important assignments and reading on your checklist as well.
  4. [3] Flashcards are a great way to organize and study. Make flashcards throughout the year on important concepts that you come across. Flashcards are really nice because they are easily transportable and you can flip through them at any time.
    • If you’re waiting in a long line or commuting, take out your flashcards and review.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Creating a Study Space

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  1. [4] The best level of background noise is different for everyone, but in general, a quiet place is the best for studying. An ideal study space is in your home, perhaps at a kitchen table or in an office-specific for studying. [5] If you need more background noise, try a coffee shop.
    • Avoid making your bedroom a study space as this can lead to associating your place of sleep with stressful studying.
    • Reader Poll: We asked 265 wikiHow readers which study space they found most effective for staying focused and productive, and 51% of them said, a quiet library cubicle. [Take Poll]
  2. Not everybody studies well in groups, and you may not want a group for every class or subject. If you feel like being in a group motivates you to study rather than distracting you, a study group that meets regularly can be great if you are a social learner.
  3. [6] You want the space to be comfortable, but not overly comfortable. Set up a desk and a comfortable chair. The desk should be about waist-height and the chair height should allow you to place your feet flat on the floor and rest your elbows on the table without scrunching. If using a computer, position it 18-30 inches away from you. [7]
    • Make sure the temperature isn’t too hot or too cold.
    • Avoid reading in your bed or on a comfy couch so you won’t fall asleep.
  4. If possible, make your study space near a window to get lots of natural light. If you are studying at night or don’t have access to a window, make sure you have a good lighting. Simple overhead lighting is often not enough. Get a desk lamp or a floor lamp to brighten your study space.
    • Position lights so that there are no distracting shadows.
    • Avoid placing lights in a way that cause them to shine directly into your eyes.
  5. Once you get in the study zone, you do not want to be distracted by having to grab scissors or a piece of paper. Make sure you have everything you will need readily available. Some good things to have close-at-hand include: [8]
    • Calculator
    • Paper (lined and plain)
    • A glass of water and/or snacks
    • All necessary notes and textbooks
    • Calendar and to-do list
  6. Social media websites, cell phones, and television are some of the most distracting things when trying to study. Turn off your computer (or just the internet), turn your phone on silent (or leave it in another room), and turn off the T.V. Limiting the number of distractions around will help you focus and get your studying done. [9]
    • Tell your family you’re going to study so they also know not to distract you.
    • If you want to listen to music, background music is better for memory and retention than using headphones or earbuds.
  7. Clutter can be very distracting so clean it up to stay focused. When you are done studying, put everything back where it belongs. If you had snacks, take your plate back to the kitchen and throw away any garbage.
    • Remove all non-essential items from your study space at the end of every study session.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Making a Study Schedule

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  1. The best time to prepare a study schedule is at the beginning of the school year when you receive the syllabus for each course. Start by writing down all major homework assignments, quizzes, tests, and exams on your calendar.
    • Color code your study schedule for each subject.
    • You can start a study schedule at any point in the year, but it is best to start as early as possible. You can even make individual study schedules for final exam time.
    EXPERT TIP

    Alicia Oglesby

    Professional School Counselor
    Alicia Oglesby is an Academic Counseling Expert based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Education at the University of Pittsburgh and working as a Graduate Research Assistant. She was previously employed as the Associate Director of College Counseling at the Winchester Thurston School. Prior to that, she worked as a Director of School and College Counseling at 4 other secondary schools. With over twelve years of experience in academic counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College.
    Alicia Oglesby
    Professional School Counselor

    Set up manageable systems for organizing schoolwork. Use colored pens to code school subjects in planners and matching folders. Set phone alerts for tests, projects, and assignments, so you stay on top of work. Handwrite to-do lists by due date and class to help retain the information.

  2. Once you have the important dates on your calendar, add in other important study deadlines before these hard deadlines to stay on task. Add in tasks like “review lecture notes,” “skim textbook chapters,” “rework homework problems,” etc. Give yourself at least a week to study for big tests.
  3. Write down everything that you are obligated to do each day (classes, meetings, extracurricular activities, exercise, etc.) on your calendar. Once you have everything on your calendar, you can figure out how much free time you have each day. Make a list of all of the time you have for each day and how large the blocks of time are. Your schedule might look something like this:
    • Mon: two 2-hr blocks
    • Tues: three 1-hr blocks
    • Wed: 4 hrs
    • Thurs: two 2-hr blocks
    • Sun: 6 hrs
  4. The material that you need to cover each week will change, but take a look at your schedule at the beginning of each week or for the next two weeks and plan what you are going to work on. You may need to read for one class, do homework for another, or work on a project for a third.
    • One-hour blocks of time between classes are a great time to review notes or flip through flashcards. Take advantage of these times and you could add 4-8 hours of study time to your schedule.
  5. If you have large blocks of study time on the weekends, make sure you schedule in breaks. [10] If you have five hours of time to study, take a 30-minute break in the middle to give your brain time to process and decompress.
    • If you find you are easily distracted, try setting a timer and working in 20-30 minutes chunks with a short 5-minute break between chunks.
    • Reward yourself when you take a break by getting a snack or drink or playing a game. You might also time your study sessions so that when you're done you can go do something fun with your friends. This way you'll feel like you're working towards something, even if you don't particularly like studying.
    • You also want to make sure you have time for fun and social activities. Don’t schedule every second of free time for studying because you will be unlikely to stick to that.
  6. A schedule is only good if you actually follow it. The study schedule is not absolute. If you need to revise it as you go along, definitely do that. You may find that you work a lot better in the morning and have trouble working in the afternoon. Use this information to your advantage and try to maximize your morning study time. [11]
    • Schedule the more important and/or difficult material for your best study times. Work on the easier material when you are not at your best.
    • Make sure your schedule is flexible and can accommodate emergencies or conflicts as they may arise.
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Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Do you want to make your studying more efficient, learn more quickly, and remember more information? Check out these expert articles.
1
Study For Exams
2
Study So You Can Remember Everything
3
Make a Study Space
4
Create Good Study Habits for Exams
5
Learn Without Forgetting
6
Retain Information when You Study for a Test

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What is the best time of day to study?
    Jai Flicker
    Academic Tutor
    Jai Flicker is an Academic Tutor and the CEO and Founder of Lifeworks Learning Center, a San Francisco Bay Area-based business focused on providing tutoring, parental support, test preparation, college essay writing help, and psychoeducational evaluations to help students transform their attitude toward learning. Jai has over 20 years of experience in the education management industry. He holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.
    Jai Flicker
    Academic Tutor
    Expert Answer
    Thinking about what works best for you is key. Some people love getting up early, so they're going to do better with an early start to get all of their studying out of the way. Others really need their sleep and may do better with a late start when studying. Try to find a schedule that works for you.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 4
  • Question
    What is the difference between to-do list and checklist ?
    Freyr
    Top Answerer
    Checklists are a documented process, for something that you do daily, and a to-do list is something you have assembled yourself and you need to do at certain point of your day. To-do lists are more one-off tasks, whereas checklists generally are repeated tasks.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 10
  • Question
    Is using fancy materials for this important?
    KittyCalico
    Community Answer
    You do not need to use fancy materials like expensive markers, or stickers to take notes. These are just suggestions.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://saralaughed.com/index.php/45-tips-for-staying-organized-in-college/
      2. ↑ http://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/how-to-study-for-finals
      3. ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      4. ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      5. ↑ http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/study-skills-test-taking/space-makes-you-want-to-study
      6. ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      7. ↑ http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/study-skills-test-taking/space-makes-you-want-to-study
      8. ↑ http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/study-skills-test-taking/space-makes-you-want-to-study
      9. ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      1. ↑ Jai Flicker. Academic Tutor. Expert Interview. 20 May 2020.
      2. ↑ http://au.reachout.com/how-to-write-a-study-timetable

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