INTRODUCTION
Students with
better study methods and strategies score higher on their exams. Everyone is different. Different
methods work for different people; the following are only suggestions on
improving upon your current studying techniques. Study isn't just for the night
before an assignment's due or the night before an exam. It's never too early -
or too late - to develop good study habits. The sooner you get into a good
study groove, the easier everything will be and the more your chances of getting
good marks will improve. Make studying a part of your everyday school routine
and don't be limited to 'cramming' for exams and tests.
Here's our top tips for getting the most out of study:
- Pick a
Place and Time
- Study
Every Day
- Plan
Your Time
- Discover
Your Learning Style
- Review
and Revise
- Take
Breaks
- Ask for
Help
- Stay
Motivated
- Look
After Yourself
Everyone has their own idea about the best place and time to
study. Whether it's your bedroom at night or the library after school, find a
study space and a regular study time that works for you and stick with it.
- Set Up Your Study Space - Your study space should
be quiet, comfortable and distraction-free. It should make you feel happy
and inspired. Decorate it with your favorites pictures or objects. If you
want to listen to music or burn incense, pick a space that lets you do
that.
- Find Your Best Time - Some people work better
in the morning. Others work better at night. Work out which time suits you
and plan to study then. Don't study much later than your usual bedtime -
pushing yourself late at night can make you too tired to study properly.
STUDY EVERY DAY
If
you study a little bit every day you'll be continually reviewing things in your
mind. This helps you understand things. It also helps you avoid the stress of
last-minute cramming.
Early
in the year an hour or two a night might be enough to stay on top of things.
Later in the year you might need to study more each day.
If you're finding
it hard to find time to study, cut back on some (but not all!) of your other
activities. Prioritizing study might mean spending less time online, or it
might mean cutting back on shifts at work or giving weekend sport a miss for a
while.
It
helps to have some plans in motion so you can make the most of your study time.
- Set Alarms - Set alarms to remind
you about your study plans. A regular reminder keeps you honest and your
plans on track.
- Use a Wall Planner - Stick a calendar or
wall planner up so you can see it whenever you're studying. Mark it up
with important dates, like exams and assignment due dates. Use it to block
out your regular study timetable too.
- Make To-Do Lists - Lists break tasks down
into manageable chunks. At the start of the week, make a list of the
things that you need to have done by the end of the week. Make a to-do
list at the start of each study session too, so that you're clear about
what you need to be doing with your time.
- Set Time Limits - Before you start your
study session, have a look at your to-do list and give yourself a set time
to spend on each task. If you don't get something done in the set time,
consider whether it's the best use of your time to keep going with it, or
to start working on something else.
DISCOVER
YOUR LEARNING STYLE
Most
of us have a preferred way of learning. Get to know your learning style and
study in the ways you learn best.
- Auditory learners learn by listening. If you’re an auditory learner
you could try reading your notes aloud and discussing them with other
people. You might like to record key points and play them back.
- Visual learners learn by seeing. If you’re a visual learner
you could use colours in your notes and draw diagrams to help represent
key points. You could try to remember some ideas as images.
- Tactile/kinesthetic
learners learn by doing. If you’re a tactile/kinesthetic learner you could
use methods like role-playing or building models to revise key points.
At least once a week you should go back over the things
you've studied in class. Thinking things over can help you to understand the
concepts and help you remember when you need them the most.
- Quiz Yourself - Get a friend or family
member to quiz you on key concepts. Offer to help your friends with their
work too. Quizzes are great ways to get confident about what you know and
find out what you still need to learn.
- Make your Own Study
Materials -
Think up some practice exam questions or create your own flash cards to
help you study. This way you learn it all twice: once when you make the
study materials and once when you use them to revise.
TAKE BREAKS
It's
important to take breaks while you're studying, especially if you're feeling
tired or frustrated. Working too long on a task can actually decrease your
performance.
When
you take a break, make sure you get away from your desk or study space. A bit
of physical activity - even just a walk around the block - can sometimes help
you to look at a problem in a different way and could even help you to solve
it.
If
you're stuck on something, or something just doesn't seem to make sense, you
can always ask for help. Talk to your teachers or lecturers about the things
you don't understand. Talk to your friends and fellow students too.
When
you're studying it helps to keep in mind your reasons for doing all this hard
work, like a course or career you're working towards. It can help to have something
in your study space to remind you of your goals.
You
could also decorate your study space with inspirational quotes or photos of
people you admire and family members you want to make proud of you.
LOOK
AFTER YOURSELF
You’ll
study better if you take care of yourself. Make sure you eat well and get
enough sleep and physical exercise. Don't reward yourself with too many sugary
or fatty snacks or push yourself to study late into the night. It’s also a good
idea to make sure you drink lots of water when you’re studying.
OTHER TIPS OF STUDY
- Establish
a routine
Set aside a particular time each day for study and revision and stick to it. - Create
a study environment
this should be away from interruptions and household noise, such as the television. Ensure there is adequate lighting and ventilation, a comfortable chair and appropriate desk. - Set
a timetable
with a timetable you can plan to cover all your subjects in an organised way, allotting the appropriate time for each without becoming overwhelmed. - Look
after yourself
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, and eat healthy foods. Keep sugary foods to a minimum. Make sure you get enough sleep each night. Regular physical exercise makes you feel great, boosts your energy and helps you relax. So try to keep up regular sporting activities or at least fit in some regular exercise as often as you can. - Reward
yourself for studying
Watch your favorites television program, spend time with your friends, walk to the park and play sport throughout the week. - Have
variety in your study program
Study different subjects each day and do different types of work and revision in each study session. - Avoid
interrupting your concentration
Have all the appropriate materials with you before you start a session of study to minimize distractions. - Test
yourself on what you have studied
Ask your parents or family members to quiz you on what you have learnt, use draft questions from books, past assessments or major exam papers. - Don't
panic at exam time
If you have followed a study routine and have been revising your class work, there should be no need to worry. Try to keep yourself calm, positive and confident.
- Ask
your teachers for guidance
especially if you're having trouble - whether it's grasping a new concept or understanding something you learnt earlier in the year. They will be happy to help.
CONCLUSION
These tips are only some of the
things you can do to get the most out of your studying. You can also come up
with your own strategies. You might already have other things that work better
for you. Find out what your friends do when they're studying. Maybe your
teachers have some good recommendations too. Whatever it is, whatever
strategy you come up with, when you find something that works for you, put it
into practice and go for it!
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