Acing academics

Students study together in the Aloha Center Mall. One senior says she studies better with other students, but another students says getting rid of all distractions, like her cellphone. helps her stay focused. Ke Alaka'i file photo by Alvin Vincent Dy.

Seniors share what tactics they use to study for big tests

BY ADRIJANA TORONTO

BYU–Hawaii seniors said they have figured out what study methods work best for them to combat the negative emotions connected with taking tests and to help them excel in school. “My first year of college is where I really figured out how to study and what worked for me and what did not,” says Jade Olsen in an online study at LDS business college. According to the Princeton Review, studies have shown students who are regularly rested learn more and retain information longer. According to Jenni Huff, a junior from Arizona studying graphic design, she was terrible at studying when she first started at BYUH three years ago. She said she would go into the Testing Center and forget everything she studied. It was not until the beginning of her sophomore year she learned what worked best for her. For Huff, she said the easiest way for her to study is to use the mobile application called Quizlet. “Quizlet helps me memorize information by setting up flashcards and matching games for me to flip through throughout the day.” Becca Hammond, a senior from Utah studying exercise sports science, said she goes the other route and uses human interaction to ace her tests. According to Hammond, the best way for her to study is to quiz her classmates. Hammond said she likes to make a study guide on Google Docs with all of the material that will be on the test.

After making a study guide based on class material, Hammond prefers to pair up with a study buddy and proceed to ask them questions about the study guide, she said.

Hammond added, “I like to ask my partner if they know a definition, use of a term, or can explain something. This allows me to teach them if they don’t know which helps me understand the concepts better.”

The Princeton Review also suggests students try to think like a teacher. It suggests, “Your homework, assignments, quizzes, handouts, daily notes, and classwork are all indicators of what your teacher thinks is important about the information and what might appear on the test.”

Malia Blackmun, a senior from California studying communications, said she has to put her phone in another room in order to have a good study session. According to Blackmun, having a smartphone in the room removes her from the reality of studying and can distract her for hours.

“I learned this trick when I was a sophomore at BYUH. I had a big test and I couldn’t focus until a friend took my phone from me. Once I didn’t have my phone, I could put all of my energy into studying,” said Blackmun.

Similar to Blackmun, the Princeton Review reports, “Distractions make it difficult to pay attention to what you’re doing, which in turn makes it harder to commit facts to memory.” •