Get The Most Out Of Your Next Study Session: 5 Study Tips

By Feneyda Guerrero on September 30, 2016

 

Studying is always hard, especially in this day and age when we are constantly distracted by our phone, social media and television. I know that my attention easily drifts from reading about the life cycle of a cell to the latest viral video on Facebook, so studying becomes a tedious and grueling task.

However, studying is a huge part of the college experience. Here are some tips that I find very helpful when it comes to studying:

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1. Read your syllabus.

ALWAYS look over the schedule and make sure that you know the dates of important exams (midterms and finals). Some professors do not follow exactly what’s on the schedule in terms of topics discussed in class, but they will always stick to the exam dates they put in the syllabus, so BE PREPARED.

Having a calendar definitely helps with creating a master plan of events (if you’re like me, use your calendar on your phone and make sure you set alerts several days to a week in advance to give you plenty of time to study). 

2. Do NOT cram the day before.

Studying the night before is not the greatest idea, especially if you’re susceptible to being distracted. Instead, go over your notes the same day you took them. This will help reiterate the new things you learned that day.

Make sure to review the notes a few days before the day of the exam (I would suggest looking over all of your notes at least one week before the test date). Cramming the night before will make you become overwhelmed, especially with all of the information necessary to study.

3. Take plenty of breaks.

Do not continuously study for long periods of time. I learned a technique a few years ago that has helped me. Study for 20-30 minutes straight and then take a break for 10 minutes. Continue this method for a few hours (I suggest 3-5 hours of studying at most per day). This will help you retain the information better. 

4. Have a reward system.

Have a goal in mind to work for or to work towards (other than acing the exam). For example, when I study, I reward myself with little things, such as food (I LOVE food). If I finish reading a chapter in my book, I reward myself with a little dessert, sometimes ice cream or cookies. At least for me, this reinforces the idea that I need to finish my work first before I can relax.

5. Make sure you get enough sleep and EAT!

Another reason why you should never cram the night before a test is because you do not want to be up until three in the morning studying. You need to have enough sleep to function properly and staying up late to study may be counterproductive to your goal of being prepared for the test.

Also, DO NOT SKIP BREAKFAST! It was always told to us during state testing that we should never skip breakfast. Even if it’s just a banana, make sure that you have eaten something before you go in for your test.

Comment below with your favorite study tips! Best of luck on your exams! :)

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