How to Study Effectively
Studying does not end with reading and memorization alone but requires a thorough amount of time management, organized notes taking and self-testing to make it effective. Here we will provide you with a simple method to follow that will be of great help to better learning.
What to do:
- Be committed – practice active studying by engaging with the study material in a way that is meaningful and promotes retention in order to avoid boredom. Pause for a break and ask questions to test how well you understand the subject matter and organize information into charts to maximize better understanding.
- Practice spaced studying – this method involves interval and repeated study sessions over time to better absorb and understand information. Spaced learning is very effective when combined with self-testing. Divide the study materials by topics or chapter and space them over period of time to avoid cramming.
- Summarize and organize your notes – practice active notes taking. Make an outline or summary of the whole topic by organizing the main points into charts or concept map to form a bigger picture of the whole topic. Be creative.
- Practice self-testing – this method is very essential to test your mastery of the course. Rereading notes is not enough to better grasp the whole content, try interval spaced studying combined with self-testing at the end of each chapter or lesson. Use mock exams or end of the chapter questions that mimic the examination type that you are going to take.
- Make your study habit a routine and don’t forget to focus – if your current study habit is not effective, make small changes that will make you more productive. Use timer method in studying by allocating a specific amount of time to focus intently on your task at hand and then take short break right after. It is also very important to choose a conducive place or time to focus mainly on studying and avoid any other form of distraction by turning off your phone or doing a self-imposed no web browsing rule.
- Choose the right volume of study materials – think actively when studying and target in-depth reading on important parts that deserved more attention. Outline a set of questions in mind about your study material and write them down.
- Lastly, make changes – reflect and assess your pace and productivity to better improve your practice, performance, and skills.