Whether you’re a high schooler preparing for your next pop quiz, or a college student getting ready to take a major final exam, the way in which you study will have a huge impact on your success. In order to ensure that you flourish in your academic pursuits and make the most out of your studying time, it’s wise to follow some basic tips. So, if you’re looking to take your studying to the next level, here are some great things to keep in mind.
Set a consistent place and time
One of the very best study tips you can get is to pick a consistent place and time that you will get your work done. It can be in the morning at your dining table, in the afternoon at a quiet library, or even in the evening at a calming cafe. Wherever you study, make sure that it is somewhere that you feel calm, comfortable and happy! That will allow you to focus deeply on the task at hand.
When it comes to the time, that is up to you as well. Just make sure that you’re giving yourself the time you need to focus on the material on a daily basis. The reason why consistency is key is because if you leave it up to chance, you risk not studying at all. That means you might be forced to cram and pull all-nighters as the test day approaches.
Plan your time and stick to it
It might seem odd to strategize your studying, but it’s one of the easiest ways to make the most out of your time. You can use a calendar to outline what you will be studying each day of the week. You can also make to-do lists to break down your work so that you are not overwhelmed. Finally, if you have multiple topics to study for, set time limits so that you do not end up spending three hours on one topic, and then just 30 minutes on the other. If you are unable to make progress in the time you have allotted, you can then decide whether it’s your best use of time to continue on with your current subject, or move on to something new and circle back later on.
Take ample breaks
This might seem counterintuitive, but it’s actually a very important part of a successful study session. If you like to study for large chunks of time, it is crucial that you break that time up to stretch your legs, rest your eyes and munch on healthy snacks. Taking breaks is a great way to keep your brain sharp and your memory strong.
The ideal break can be as simple as getting up from your work area and taking a quick walk around the block while you drink a glass of water and enjoy a banana or energy bar.
Discover your ideal learning style
The most successful students are able to identify the very best ways that they are able to learn. There is no ideal method across the board – it’s all about what works best for you. There are three different major styles of learning.
Auditory learners are best at retaining information when they are listening. If this sounds like you, you may want to bring a recorder to your classes so that you can review lectures and lessons while studying on your own.
Visual learners prefer to learn by looking over and seeing the material. If you learn best this way, consider using diagrams, graphs and other image-based indicators to learn and review the material at hand.
Finally, there are tactile learners. They learn best when they are actually doing the work they are learning about. If you think this might work for you, try using techniques like role-playing or model building to retain key learning points.
Study for success
There are many different ways to study for success. Perhaps the most important tip of all is to find what works best for you and stick to it. The best studiers hold fast to their techniques, which typically leads to great success when test day finally arrives.
