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You may be putting in hours of studying, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re digesting the material. Learning to study more effectively will mean shorter and more efficient study sessions, and eventually, better grades!
Steps
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Perform a resource reconnaissance. Sit down and make a list of what you think will be on an exam or quiz. Next, write down all the resources you have at your disposal to help you learn the information, such as taking a practice exam or joining a study group. [1] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source
- If you are studying for an exam, look back on the previous quizzes. Some of that information is bound to come up again.
- Quizzes are smaller than exams, and typically only cover information from the current section or chapter.
- If you can't find a practice exam or study group, create your own!
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Create a study plan. Once you figure out what you need to study and how you will take advantage of the resources at your disposal, sit down and make a study schedule. Block out periods of time within your schedule to dedicate to studying and stick to the plan.
- You can change your study schedule slightly, but try not to change it too much!
- Make sure you give yourself more time than you think you need, especially if it is a subject that you struggle with.
- Reader Poll: We asked 291 wikiHow readers how they like to prepare for a multiple choice exam, and 50% of them said studying in advance and following a study schedule. [Take Poll]
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Get in a positive mindset. You need to be in as positive a mindset as possible when you sit down to study. If you are emotionally distracted, you will be less effective at learning and retaining information. Try to think positively while studying, and don’t compare yourself to others. [2] X Research source
- Try saying something positive to yourself before you being studying, like, “I am going to ace this exam!”
- If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts like, “I’m going to fail that quiz,” stop the thought in its track. Replace it with a positive thought, like, “I’m going to master this material and succeed!”
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Find a quiet study spot with minimal distractions. Where you study affects how effective your study sessions are. If you are distracted by television, the Internet, or your roommate, you won’t study as effectively as you would in a quiet place with fewer distractions. [3] X Research source
- Take advantage of the library. Find a cozy spot with light foot traffic and start studying.
- Spend the afternoon studying in a quiet coffee shop.
- Study when your roommate is at work or class, and you have the place to yourself.
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Study in intervals. Long, extended study sessions with no breaks will not help you learn information effectively. To be an effective learner, you will need to take regular breaks as you work. Try studying in 30 minutes intervals, and taking a 5-10 minute break at the end of each interval. [4] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source
- If you find that your concentration is starting to falter, you may have to pause studying for the day or switch to a different subject.
- Do something relaxing during your break that doesn't take too much concentration, such as stretching or walking.
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Quiz yourself. Use flash cards, mock quizzes, and practice exams to more effectively learn information. Taking a test helps you learn information better than simply re-reading the information. Try creating flash cards to quiz yourself. You can also create, or ask your instructor for, a mock quiz or practice exam. [5] X Trustworthy Source Greater Good Magazine Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living Go to source
- You can create a simple mock exam for yourself by copying all of the questions from your previous quizzes and answering them.
- Consider taking a mock quiz or exam first. The topics that you struggle the most with are the ones that you should focus on when studying.
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Use as many senses as possible. Some people retain information better if multiple senses are engaged in the study process. One way to incorporate multiple senses while studying is by reading your notes out loud as you rewrite them. This approach uses multiple senses and might help you retain information more effectively. [6] X Research source
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Play a memory game. Try using a song, acronym, or mnemonic device to help you remember information. For example, if you need to memorize the notes of the treble scale, EGBDF, you can assign the letters a set of words or phrase that is easy to remember, like, “every good boy does fine.” [7] X Research source
- Memory games don't work for everyone. If you find yourself struggling to memorize information using this method, skip it.
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Rewrite your own notes. When you rewrite your notes, you are reiterating information that you are already familiar with. This repetition can help you recall information from the notes more effectively. Try writing a copy of your notes before an exam or quiz to help you remember the information. [8] X Research source
- Consider rewriting your notes using the same ink color that you will be using for the exam. For example, if you'll write in blue ink, write your notes in blue ink.
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Put other people’s notes or outlines in your own words. It’s okay to copy someone else’s notes once in a while, but you should put them into words and phrases that make sense to you.
- Putting information into your own words can help you remember the important stuff later on.
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Outline the information you need to learn. Creating an outline from class notes and materials is an active way to study your notes and other materials from the class. Try taking your lecture notes and making an outline of the information you took down in class. [9] X Research source
- You can also incorporate information from your textbook in the outline.
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4Use your notes to teach someone. Teaching someone from your notes is a great way to solidify the information in your own mind. Try using your notes to develop a short lesson and ask a friend to listen to you give it. Your friend could even do the same if they are in the same class as you, so you can both reap the benefits of this activity.
- For example, you could create a brief PowerPoint using your notes, or write key talking points on index cards and use them to help you present the material.
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5Try the Cornell note-taking method . This method of note-taking requires you to plug in essential answers to questions using the information in your notes. As a result, you will be better able to retain the information in your notes. [10] X Research source
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Join the Discussion...
I have a big psych test coming up and I need your studying tips! I've never been good at studying, I always lose focus or get too anxious about a... Read More
1. If you're having trouble focusing it's important to study somewhere your mind won't wander. The library is my go-to.
2. Be selective ab... Read More
2. Be selective ab... Read More
Good advice. I'll add to the library one: as someone who has spent a lot of time in university libraries, it is best to choose a day and time tha... Read More
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I keep from being too sleepy during early morning study hours?Community AnswerTry going to be earlier. If you wake up at five, then go to bed by ten the night before. Don't study right after you wake up. Go for a morning walk or do some exercise. You can keep your mind fresh by starting the day like that. Then, wash your face with cold water and start studying.
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QuestionHow soon before a test should I start studying?Community AnswerStart studying the day you are told about the test to give yourself plenty of time to study. That way, you won't be stressing out the night before.
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QuestionCan we use creativity to study more effectively?Community AnswerOf course! Draw mindmaps, pictures and diagrams to help you study. Use lots of coloured markers, highlighters and pens.
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Tips
- If you're studying a chapter, go through the whole thing first. Before further studying take a break, think about your actions. Continue. Then draw a quick mind map about sequences in the chapter. Afterwards, study everything on its own and connect information together, thus strengthening your knowledge on the chapter.Thanks
- Highlighting information helps so that you can remember the important parts. This is good, especially if you are a visual learner.Thanks
- Seek tutoring if you are having trouble remembering information or taking notes. A tutor can help you with individual subjects or help you to build study skills in general.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/11/study-smart
- ↑ https://alis.alberta.ca/succeed-at-work/make-your-work-life-more-satisfying/a-positive-attitude-will-help-you-learn/
- ↑ https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/a1-listening/study-tips
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2011/11/study-smart
- ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/purpose_in_life
- ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/enhancing-your-memory/
- ↑ https://www.utep.edu/extendeduniversity/utepconnect/blog/november-2017/4-memory-techniques-for-successful-study-sessions.html
- ↑ https://www.cmich.edu/blog/all-things-higher-ed/five-tips-to-improve-your-study-time-efficiency
- ↑ https://www.fnu.edu/7-techniques-improve-study-habits/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To study intelligently and effectively, break your study sessions into 30-minute chunks, and give yourself 5-10 minute breaks between sessions so your brain has time to rest and recharge. As you study, rewrite your notes and read them aloud so that you're engaging all of your senses and boosting your memory. If you're still struggling to memorize your study material, try creating a song, acronym, or mnemonic device to help you absorb the lessons! For help planning a study schedule and picking the perfect studying spot, keep reading!
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"Thanks for the help! You showed me new ways to study that will help me study regularly and effectively for tests and exams. You also showed me new ways on how to mark the stuff that I need to learn by using highlighters."
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"This article helped me a lot in terms of taking down notes. I especially love the idea of having flash cards. The method of questioning myself and putting them into a "done" pile and a "needs more work" pile really helped me a lot. Thanks, wikiHow!"
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"Apart from taking notes, the quiz yourself seems effective. I used to do flash cards but I thought that they are time consuming, especially when the day before the exam comes. But you proved me wrong, wikiHow! Thank you for posting this article. "
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"This really worked. I liked the point here: that you can use back ground music but that you should not focus on the music's lyrics; your focus must be on studying. This article helped me avoid my cell phone and laptop. Thank you, wikiHow :)"
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"My grades were in shambles, I had trouble focusing and when I did study, it sucked the life out of me. Turns out I've been studying wrong. Take a break, it helps, seriously."
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