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Tips for Studying? Share Them Here!

Barush October 5th, 2014

Hello, fellow students! Since the decade+ of me being a student on various levels, I found out there are certain ways of studying that suit me better than others. However, I'm always open to any tips and suggestions to make the exam period less torturous :P Also, I think knowing what studying methods other people use might serve as an inspiration to the rest of us :)

How do you like to study?

Are there any things that work great for you and you'd like to share them with others?

Thanks for sharing!

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tidyKiwi5130 January 9th, 2016

When I have a text book i read through all the diagrams and pictures first then go back and read the chapter.

2 replies
lucy2 January 9th, 2016

Hi @tidyKiwi5130

Thanks for sharing, I haven't heard of that so I will give it a tryyes

Lucy2

1 reply
tidyKiwi5130 January 9th, 2016

@lucy2 Glad to help! I took the idea from my biology teacher, he's the best teacher I've ever had

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disenchantedxx April 3rd, 2016

Study Plan

Focus on the course(s) you try to avoid them out (and try to focus on them at the beginning of the week when you feel more motivated)

Always start study sessions with what you reviewed last time

Plan sessions in 2-3 hour blocks throughout the day and spend time studying a different course in each session (or at least one different course in-between the same course to reduce boredom)

Create practice tests and quiz yourself on material by shifting memorization to true understanding

Use summary notes to help destress before exams

Create study groups (if thats your cup of tea) to quiz each other and explain concepts

Emma88 May 16th, 2016

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Fauna June 25th, 2016

Few weeks before any exam, I always take some time to lay out a study schedule for the weeks to come. Most of the time, I try to stick to the schedule amd it has been working out pretty fine as I set it flexibly so any sudden changes will not dramatically affect my study quality. Hope this helps for all of you too! No harm trying.

July 2nd, 2016

For memorization work, Anki (an application) works really well! :-) It acts like a flashcard but in a more environmentally friendly manner hmm.

1 reply
inneryu July 24th, 2016

@fhyl Anki!! I use anki too!!

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Teaoholic July 2nd, 2016

Have something fun planned each day so you don't feel trapped by the revision. Even if it's just reading a book or going for coffee with a friend.

DevonneLeiFisheye July 27th, 2016

You maximise the learning capacity of your brain, you have to understand how your brain waves work:

β brain waves - They are brain waves that cause short term memory phases and are often triggered if your heart's bpm is high and/or when you are not relaxed. When your brain is emitting these wavelengths, it is considered almost difficult to bring back memories of things that you have learnt before.

α brain waves - They are brain waves that are associated with long term memory phases and are present when your heart's bpm is low (About 60 - 70 bpm) and when you are relaxed. When your brain is emitting these wavelengths, it is much more easier to bring back memories of things you have learnt before.

Here are some tips to maintaining a study routine:

#1. NEVER study in the night before the test ( β brain waves can be active during the test, you do not want that to happen)

#2. When you try to study, try to seclude yourself and listen to music that is not too hyped or has ANY human voices in it (Your brain will get distracted if you do so - possible β waves can be active... when you play that music, your brain will likely emit α waves since you are really relaxed when you study)

#3. Don't constantly study, your brain needs to have a break every once in a while. Best way to take a break is to just walk outside and let the blood flow go back to normal and maintain your performance (Sitting for more than 3 hours can cause a lot of issues).

#4. If you are trying to memorize something on paper, highlight it and draw a box around the highlighted part
(You become more visually stimulated if you do so)

#5. NEVER rewrite your notes as it is a waste of time to do so... instead, you should just say your notes out LOUD
(This triggers auditory learning, which is way better than just rewriting notes)

#6. If you are sitting on a table do NOT cross your legs, the chances of you making an error increases
(Idk why... I tested it and it is legit)

#7. Sometimes, textbook questions are not the best way to revise. You should look at past exam questions, as they familiarize you with the structure of the question along with how marks are distributed
(You can learn how you can maximize your mark and understand the nature of the questions. Memorizing content is a skill, but applying the content is another skill entirely)

#8. SLEEP. 8 hours is recommended. Sleep is vital for learning and functioning in daily life. Lack of sleep can cause issues that will ultimately bring down your mental + physical health as well as your learning capabilities.
(Lack of focus, etc)

#9. Procrastination --> The reason you might procrastinate is because you cannot manage the task at hand, in that case you have to be able to do small things until you get the full outcome. E.g. Do one question for maths every 2 hours (To start off with, when you feel that you are more comfortable, you can try more questions, etc.)

#10. Life's greatest lessons are learnt through failure and pain. If you have decided that you don't want to pursue something because you failed, That is a not a good decision, you learn a lot more from failure compared to when you succeed, you might fail more times than you can count... but you will learn things that could help you understand things outside of the questions. A lot of successful people in their fields have managed to get to their position through perseverance and passion.
Failure is one of the keys to success, embrace and understand your mistakes. Life is one big learning experience after all ;)

IcarusFalls April 8th, 2017

Kinesthetic learners arent necessarily suited to the traditional classroom. They learn best when they are physically active, or through learning activities that involve active participation.

Like Auditory Learners, Kinesthetic learners are not tremendous note-takers in class.

They can be fidgety and not enjoy sitting still for long periods of time, which sometimes comes across as disruptive or uninterested.

I am a kinesthetic learner. I comprehend information best through hands-on work and doing things.

Things that help me whilst studying are:

Making charts:

Having a structure for my notes helps my mind to comprehend the information and recognize patterns easily. The act of creating the flowchart helps me alot in retaining the information.

Taking breaks whilst studying:

Kinesthetic learners often have a hard time sitting still for long periods of time. I make sure to take frequent (but not too lengthy) breaks while studying.

They give your mind a chance to renew itself and refocus when you sit down to study again.

Combining an activity with studying:

Kinesthetic learners retain information best when they are doing activities. I've tried going for a walk or run while listening to audio recordings of lectures and notes and it helps.

Using tools like flashcards and mnemonics:

Flashcards are a great study tool for me. Theres something about the act of writing out the cards, and the act of physically flipping them over, that engages lots of different parts of the brain. Mnemonic devices, such as songs or rhymes, are also great to pair with case law and your outlines.

Staying active whilst studying:

One way to engage myself whilst studying is to engage my fingers in the studying.

Like tracing words and re-writing sentences to learn key facts.

Tap a pencil repetitively against the table, squeeze a stress ball, or do something to occupy you want to do, something with your hands without becoming a distraction.

Chewing gum surprisingly helps a lot.

(Just make sure that this doesnt become a distraction itself!)

Using lots of examples whilst writing study notes:

Many main points and concepts can be demonstrated with examples. I tend to make better associations with the examples than just the plain facts.

For example, most science concepts can be backed up with specific examples. Instead of just remembering the formula, F = m × a, you can think of a cellphone being dropped from a balcony, and how force, mass, and acceleration are related. (The more personal or relatable to their everyday life the better.)

Many of the arts subjects include many examples and case studies. Try and get yourself to think of these ‘situations, not just the plain facts.

Studying with other people:

I enjoy discussion. Talking about what I've learnt is often a great way to consolidate what I learnt.

Listening to music whilst studying:

Kinesthetic learners tend to be less distracted by music while studying than other people, although this is a personal debate.

I personally study very well regardless of the fact that I am listening to music at levels that probably cause hearing damage.

Finding an ideal study space:

Having a regular place to study is beneficial for most students because it trains your brain to engage in the work at hand.

However, for tactile learners like me it could help to find a type of study space that accommodates your particular need for movement or engagement.

Experiment to find what feels best for you.

Taking notes: (Or atleast trying to)

Taking notes while reading online or studying is one of the best ways to keep yourself engaged and take in the material as an active learner.

My notes need to be personal to myself. So if you like lots of color(Like I do), use different pens or highlighters in your note taking. Draw diagrams, stick figures or symbols in your notes to help retain concepts.

I tend to understand information best when I personalize it and use representative tools as visual cues.

Teaching others:

Teaching the information you just studied to someone else is a fantastic method to help me remember it.

AstronomerAJ April 13th, 2017

For studying, listening to music helps. For taking notes, I normally type them as bullet points and highlight important things in the notes!

Hope that helps!

1 reply
AstronomerAJ April 13th, 2017

@AstronomerAJ

Also, I know this goes against what most people say, but I listen to songs with lyrics. If I have music to refer to, I can sorta create a song using my notes.

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rowenaravenclaw April 15th, 2017

Understand not just memorize.

Ask questions.

Apply.