Category: Study Tips

Here are some tips for more effective studying

Things You’ll Need

•    Material to Study 
•    Quiet Area 
•    45 minute Interval 

Tips and Strategies:

*Find a quiet place with no interruptions so you can focus on the material.

*Review the material right after class when it’s still fresh in your head – preferably the first 24 hours after the material is introduced.

*Review notes, power points and any handouts after skimming the chapter that was covered.

*Take notes , highlight vocabulary words and important notes/ selections in specific colors.

*Make note cards on important concepts or vocabulary words that you especially need to know. This way you can study in short intervals as the note cards should only take a few minutes to go through.

*Take short breaks frequently. Your memory retains the information that you study at the beginning and the end better than what you study in the middle. Its best to study in 45 minute intervals and take a 15 minute break, rather than study for hours on end. You will retain more information this way.

*Try to study least once a day for 45 minutes.
This way, the material will stay in your long-term memory . Cramming the material will only reside in your short-term memory .

*Make sure that you understand the material well, and don’t just memorize it.

*Study groups are good too, but they can sometimes veer off the studying direction if too many people are involved. Be sure to only use a study group if the people within the group are as serious as you are.

*Take the quizzes provided on CD or end of the chapter questions to review the material.

*Record the lectures if possible. This way you can either listen to them on your Ipod or in your car when you don’t have time to review for the day.

Ever want to be successful in school without having to cram right before tests? Wonder how the kid who seems like he never studies before a test does so well? The class might actually just be a complete joke, or he is applying other strategies that help him not have to cram. I will teach you how.

Instructions

Pay attention in class, most teachers take information straight from their lectures and apply them to their tests. Say 50% of the information on tests is from lecture, if you just pay attention you are guaranteed at least a 50%.

Read your notes right after class. When the information is fresh in your mind, review it so it sticks in your mind. This will help eliminate the need to really try and memorize everything at once before the test.

The other source of information teachers use for tests is your textbook. Before or after class read your textbook. This is when lecture is fresh in your mind and you can fill in the holes with the textbook information, and visa versa if you read before class.

STOP CRAMMING! A typical human can only be productive at an intense task like studying for around 30-45 minutes before there is an exponential decline in the productivity in the mind.

Math is one of the most challenging subjects in school for many people. Here are some tips and pointers to help you perform better in math courses, and help you get better grades.

Things You’ll Obviously Need (Crazy but True!)

•    Your brain and time away from the party!
•    Lots of paper and determination to succeed! 
•    Pencils and calculator – no need to borrow from others!

Maths is a Practice Subject – No Shortcuts to This Reality

No matter what level math you are studying, the most important thing in succeeding at math is to practice. To some, math concepts come naturally, and to others, they comes more slowly. The best thing you can do in either case is to practice, practice, practice. Practicing can lead to more comfortable performance during tests which can help you get better grades in math. Do a little bit everyday – work consistently!

Understand your homework

Lets say you are having trouble with algebra (or geometry, trigonometry, calculus, or linear algebra) and you have 15 problems assigned to you for homework.The best thing you can do to really help yourself in the long run is to really try to understand and finish all the assigned problems. Don’t just breeze through it just because your homework is graded on completion, rather than accuracy.

If you are still having trouble understanding a concept, or getting answers right, go to the back of your math book and see what answers are given to you. Then, without looking at the answers, try to solve extra problems that weren’t assigned to you and check your answers in the back.

You should always keep up with what you are learning in class, and not fall behind. In other words, even if you finish a homework assignment, make sure you know you understand it as soon as possible. This is because many concepts in mathematics build off of each other, so if you don’t understand something from an earlier date, it will make it harder to learn new concepts. Above all, swallow your pride (if you have any) and go ask your teachers/lecturers for help in understanding a concept or idea! Remember though, people will help you more enthusiastically if they see you are trying!

Practice Past Papers or Problems

As for tests, if you can, try to take practice tests before your actual exam. This will help you get a feel for what exam problems are like for a given subject matter. During the test, take your time and do the problems you know how to do first, then go back and try to finish everything else. Hopefully, following these tips will lead to you getting better grades in math courses!

Whether you are preparing for an exam in school or to obtain a professional license, these tips can help your success rate improve. Take a moment to help yourself achieve your goals – you are worth it!

Things You’ll Need:

•    Study Materials 
•    Comfortable Chair 
•    Good Lighting 

Do not procrastinate. Be consistent so you do not fall behind and then have so much to do that it is easy to say there is just too much to do and thus set yourself for performing poorly. This means setting aside time prior to exam days or research paper deadlines and takes us to the next logical step below.

Prioritize and plan ahead. If you have a paper due at the end of the week and an exam that same day, plan to get the paper done first so you can then have time to study for the exam and not cram them both into the same night. It is a great idea to use a calendar so you can quickly review when you have assignments due or exams scheduled. There are free online calendars that make this easy and very useful.

Find a place that is conducive to studying. This should be a place where there are limited distractions, that is comfortable and where you can control interruptions. You do not always have to turn off the phone or sign off from your IM account, but when you need to get some serious work done, it is a good idea to sign off for an hour or so.

Study at a time when you are most productive. For some people this is early in the morning and for others might be late at night. You know yourself – try to study during the time that works best for you.

Study methods to memorize material or prepare for exams differ. Some people learn better from visual methods, others via reading or writing material. Try several methods such as retyping your notes from class in a more condensed format, highlighting items that you must memorize. If you seem to remember things better when you have something visual associated with them, add some clip art or photos. Then, when you are taking the exam, it may be easier to recall the material when the picture pops into your mind first. Making flash cards is another method that can be very effective for some, but does require lots of time. However, the act of actually writing material while studying, is known to help reinforce memorization.

There is no secret to being a good student- it takes a lot of hard work!

Things You’ll Need

Know: when, where and how to study

WHEN

Start out by estimating how many hours of study you need.

Study when you feel most energetic and motivated.

Find odd “down” times to study like while you are waiting to see the dentist.

WHERE

Select a quiet location where you will not be disturbed.

Study sitting in a chair instead of lying down. Your head will stay clearer.

Maintain a routine by Studying in the same place.

HOW

• Stay focused on your reason for studying (in other words, keep your goals in mind).

• Resist distractions during those times you have to set aside to study.
• Be persistent and disciplined.
• Think about tackling the tougher chapters first.
• Study in briefer time spans and give yourself short breaks in between. This keeps you fresh and wont waste time.
• Study habits work better when you take time out to “play”. Do not deprive yourself of being with friends and family.
• Remember that sleep, good nutrition, and exercise keep the brain and body in good working order.