Are you tired of struggling to memorize information for exams? Do you find yourself cramming the night before a test? This blog post will explore effective study techniques to help you retain information, improve your grades, and reduce stress. Tested and approved by A+ average students just like you, these study tips can help you become a more successful learner. Let’s dive in!
1. Avoid Cramming
Last-minute cramming is your #1 enemy. According to the American Psychological Association, spacing out study sessions results in improved long-term memory compared to the same amount of studying crammed into the last day. In addition, cramming could result in staying up late to finish studying. A UCLA Health study determined that staying up may impair cognitive function and lower test performance, rendering studying counterproductive. In short, your test performance might benefit more from extra hours of sleep than extra hours of studying.
Instead of staying up late, a viable study tip is to schedule your study sessions in advance. Avoiding procrastination is easier said than done, but your future self will thank you.
2. Breaks Are Productive
Taking short breaks is a study tip instrumental to achieving high grades and avoiding burnout. In fact, an NIH study has found that short breaks are just as significant as active practice when learning. While we decompress, our brains compile memories of what was learned, helping us perform better in future practice.
A popular study technique involving timed breaks is the Pomodoro Technique, which involves four rounds of 25-minute sessions followed by 5-minute breaks and a 15-30-minute break before repeating the cycle. A website that automatically sets timers for this technique is Pomofocus; alternatively, you could manually set timers through Google or other timer apps. Remember not to skip the breaks, even if you feel “in the zone.”
3. Use The Study Cycle
The study cycle is an easy study technique that adapts to daily life. Endorsed by top Universities such as UNC-Chapel Hill and LSU, It contains 5 key steps:
1. Preview the topics before the teacher starts lecturing them in class. You don’t have to memorize it all, but skimming through it will get the big picture, meaning the class will make more sense.
2. Attend and pay attention to class. Take notes in the way most beneficial to you. I can get more information if I type it, but research has shown that writing notes by hand increases memorization and learning ability.
3. Review by going back over your notes. Don’t just read through it; explain it, summarize it, and quiz yourself.
4. Study for brief but concentrated periods of time spread out over the week. Use active learning techniques and reward yourself after studying.
5. Check your learning by quizzing yourself, discussing with classmates, and answering questions from the learning objectives.
4. Active Recall is Your Bestie
Active recall is a study technique that forces you to remember information (even if you fail) rather than re-reading it a billion times. You could start by closing your book and explaining what you just read or making flashcards through websites like Quizlet or Anki. If you can’t remember something, reread it and try to recall it until you have it memorized. Using active recall is one of the best study tips anyone has given me.
5. Learn by Teaching
As a form of active learning, teaching what you want to learn to your peers, your parents, or even your dog is one of the best study techniques to fill knowledge gaps and prepare yourself for tests. This study tip forces you to remember information, make connections, and recognize where you lack knowledge about a subject. After teaching someone else, you remember what parts you struggled to explain, which is an easy way to find out what you need to study. In addition, teaching improves your communication and presentational skills.
6. Ask questions (not only to your teacher)
Every top student I know regularly asks questions about the material they’re learning. They don’t go past a word or concept they don’t understand without asking questions until they fully comprehend the material. Remember that your teacher isn’t the only resource you have; you can also easily look up unknown terms on Google or other search engines. Curiosity is a crucial element to studying like an A+ student.
7. Set up study sessions
Getting coffee or Facetiming your friends to study together is a helpful study tip, provided you’re both dedicated. Firstly, having your phone occupied with Facetime can keep you from using it. Secondly, your friends keep you accountable, preventing you from quitting the study session before reaching your goals. Thirdly, you can ask them to quiz you and discuss topics with you, or they may even let you teach them the material! Also, websites such as Study Together bring people from around the globe for focused study sessions. What’s not to love?
8. Work smarter AND harder
The common phrase “Work smarter, not harder” is only half true. Employing effective study techniques is fantastic, but they’re only going to work if you work.
9. Background noise
Finding ideal background noise for your needs is an indispensable part of a study environment. Some might benefit from silence, some from music, and some from podcasts or mundane video essays. Background noise can motivate and help you focus for more extended periods. However, make sure that whatever noise you choose is not distracting.
10. Reward yourself
Last but not least, sweet rewards! Rewards can be anything from a tea break to playing Roblox to buying a fancy item. They are a helpful tool for motivating yourself and avoiding procrastination since you’ll feel your work has a purpose. For example, I reward myself by playing games with my friends or attending a fancy brunch. Motivate yourself to reach your goals!
Bonus Study Tips
Experiment with apps that help you study! My favorites are Study Together, Forest, and Study Bunny. Use all the resources you have on your academic journey 🙂
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