Tips for Studying? Share Them Here!

Use technology!

I like to use technolgoy to my advantage when it comes to studying. Apart from making notes using pen and paper, I find that it helps to use software like Microsoft OneNote (for Windows and Mac), which is free, or Circus Ponies Notebook (for Mac, but it is paid) to organise my notes as they allow me to give each page a tag (eg. revision question, definition, summary, formula). I also make mindmaps with MindMaple (free!) for quick revisions right before the exam.

i think one of the best tips is too recognise what works best for you because everyone learns differently so maybe try a few different ones to start with,

i think for me is being in comfetable space where i can be messy

studying at night works best for me just seem to be more productive,

i find it really important for me to take lots of little breaks so that when something starts get frustrating i go away then come back to it

Listen to music that calms you down. Make sure you don't have any distractions around you. Take breaks!

Test yourself. Make studying more "alive" instead of trying to memorize chunks of stuff without really understanding it. Understand and be able to apply.

Sometimes if there is a lot of stuff to memorize (like history or AP Biology), I like the pretend I am enthusiastic about my readings. I would talk aloud and enthusiastically through the pages while pulling it through my mind. After about half way through I would stop talking and ask myself "okay, so what did I just go through" and summarize it from the beginning. It really works if you try to deceive yourself :/

I recently started a 'study meet-up' with my friends. We go to a nearby cafe once or twice a week and study our weakest subjects or do homework - because we're together, it's a lot easier for us to teach and support each other. It's also a good way to bond with classmates or people you don't know very well! :D

I meet up with friends from Uni, get some small chocolates as a reward and try to stay focused on the topic. If I cannot concentrate anymore, I go for a walk. Do not forget to drink lots of water or tea, to stay hydrated and prevent headaches.

You might try to find fixed times to study, especially if you start early and study regularly. When you have a fixed time to end each day of study, you have time to recover and relax. To me, exercising helps a lot!

I find that having a schedule and a plan helps me study more effectively. If I know I have two exams I schedule time to study for each course, and then within that schedule list the topics/lectures I'm going to review.

Wishing you all Happy Holidays and a very Peaceful New Year

Lucy2

Take time to figure out what method of studying works best. Are you an auditory learner, hands on, or visual? Once you figure that out, mix techniques so that you get the most out of the time you use studying. I like to color code my notes (I'm studying history so I try to categorize things - eg. dates in blue, places in green, historical figures in red) because I'm a visual learner. If you work better with auditory learning, try reading your notes out loud. If you are working in a busy place like a coffee shop or a library floor where others are chatting, try websites like asoftmurmur.com for some relaxing ambient noises. I think its really helpful to plan ahead as well - look over your syllabi and write out what major papers/tests you have towards the end of the term. Usually things bunch up just before Thanksgiving and then during the last two weeks of classes. It can be really stressful to realize you have a big paper due, but it's so much easier if you've done research ahead of time or even just thought of a thesis topic. Pace yourself so you can still enjoy the weekends and do things that are fun, because you definitely deserve it!