3 Simple Tips to Study Effectively

12/4/2020

3 Simple Tips to Study Effectively

Are you amongst those spending sleepless nights covering the course? Ended up acing that exam, did you?
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
Well, I have a proposition to make.
I have three tips that will not only make you ace the exam (yes, yes, I know you have already done that, read on), but you will not need to spend hours and hours cramming it all up.
True!
I swear I am not pulling your leg.
Let’s not beat about the bush and get this show on the road!
How should I study? Yup, you read right.
“How” is a very important question to answer.
Why?
Well, some people who did not really need to study in undergraduate school.
I had so many classmates who did not. They are quick learners and understanding and retaining information comes to them naturally.
But for me, I always needed to write things down to memorize them.
So, the first thing to do is realize what type of learner you are, and what your current study habits are prior to studying. Once that’s done, you can proceed to the three tips below.
1. Be Organized
I cannot stress enough how important this is. Look below to find out what I mean by being organized.

Being organized comprises of all these things. So, even if you have a pop quiz the next day, you won’t have to spend half the day looking for notes.
2. Study Smarter, Not Harder
Ever heard your elders say:
“Study hard and you will do well?”
That is one piece of advice I am tired of hearing.
What I will advise you is to study smart not just hard.
Confused?
What does studying smart mean? It sounds the same as studying hard, right?
Not exactly.
Studying smart can encompass the following strategies: The Study Cycle and Focused Study Sessions.

All you need to do is follow the Study Cycle and used Focused Study Sessions every time you sit down to study. Trust me it will take you less time than staying up for nights before the exams.
Preview: Before class, skim the readings; look at the note headings, bold face words, review summaries and chapter objectives, and note the questions you have based on this preview.
Attend: GO TO CLASS! And make sure you are actively engaged and not scrolling through social media. Ask questions and take meaningful notes.
Review: within a day, look at your notes, fill in the gaps, and develop new questions.
Study: Repetition is the mother of learning. Ask yourself questions to stay engaged, like: "Why is this important?"" How does this information help me?" "What does this concept remind me of?" Have three to five focused study sessions per day. And on the weekends read your notes and make corrections.
Assess: From time to time check-in with yourself to see if your methods are effective, if you understand the material, and determine if you would feel comfortable teaching it to someone else. Then make adjustments as needed,

3. Take It a Step Further:
Focused Study Sessions - your brain needs occasional breaks to process the information you are feeding it. It also needs focus and minimal distractions. So try to stay focused for 25 minutes with a 5-minute break or 45 minutes with a 15-minute break for study sessions.
What do you do in that time?

Connect lecture and textbook notes by creating one study tool to review.
Develop example problems and a guide for the process behind the example for better understanding.
Read the text/lecture notes and summarize verbally what you are reading.
Teach the information to someone else to assess your own level of understanding.
Develop a concept map, matrix, or outline to organize the material and link ideas.
Quiz yourself on your with a whiteboard, flashcards, or by making a practice test.
Reflect on your past exams and create new questions similar to your professor's style to test yourself.

Using focused study sessions will not only prepare you for all types of questions that the professor can develop, but it will also tell you what information is essential, where you stand in terms of the exam, how to tackle different questions, and so much more.

So, what are you waiting for?
Happy learning!

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