Effective Study Tips Sitting down to study is a tedious business. No one wants to study, or really likes to study but in our order to pass the classes needed to get your computer science degree or your degree in business administration you need to master the art of studying. Hopefully by fostering the some effective study habits, studying for that test will stop feeling like torture and more like a necessary inconvenience.
The Importance of Notes First off, take good notes, preferably by hand. Studies have shown you are more likely to remember something if you have written it down—not typed it out. While you are writing your notes, it is a good idea to write any question or personal conclusions you gain in the margins. These personal connections that you make with the lecture will make it even easier to remember otherwise obscure facts. Better yet talk to the teacher or your fellow classmates after class about your questions and observations. These informal conversations help you remember the facts and themes of the day’s lecture even more clearly.
Reviewing Second, take five or ten minutes a day to review the previous day’s notes, and any other notes you have taken during the semester. This habitual renewing of material is more effective at retaining information than any midnight cram session. When a test is looming around the corner, you should review your notes over a period of a few days. Better yet, review your notes with classmates. That way you can help answer one another’s questions and relieve anxiety over the coming test. Read and annotate your required reading. It is tempting not write in your text books because you wish to sell back to the books store for the highest price possible. But just like taking notes on a lecture in class, you are more likely to remember what you read when you highlight and annotate your textbooks with your thoughts and insights. If marking up your textbooks really is not an option, you can always use sticky notes, write on them and remove them at the end of the end of the semester.
Note Cards Another effective study tip is to create note cards. After each class write a new terms or ideas on a note card and define them. Throughout the course of the semester keep adding to this pile of note cards. These cards should act as a truncated form of your notes, and by reviewing them every day you will be more likely to remember slippery facts like dates or names. Don’t wait until the last minute to start studying or to complete your homework. You are more likely to get better grades and be less stressed during tests if you learn to study consistently every day for small periods of time. By choosing to study this way you will remember more information, and for longer—hopefully for the rest of your life. Also how are you supposed to apply the knowledge you gained from your accounting or business administration degree to your career if you cannot remember it. Learning to study is more than learning how to pass and exam but a habit for life-long education. Photo Credit: l4red0 , lusi