Study Tips: How To Study Effectively

Study tips: how to study effectively.

“Work hard in silence. Let success make the noise.”

Learning is a continuous process. Students and professionals always in the process of learning for various reason. For students it may be qualifying in the examination or getting good grades where as professionals learn to keep them updated in the job market. But there is no one size fit for all study technique. Educational psychologist all over the world has researched extensively on this topic and suggests some. In this blog we will discuss some effective and time tested technique.

 

How to plan your day to day study?      

1. Plan your work: Always have a planner in written format and evaluate the plan timely. Be particular on submission date for the assignment and projects.
2. Be attentive in the class: Pay attention in the classroom. Try to clarify doubts in the classroom. If you are not feeling comfortable in asking question in the classroom, meet the teacher or mentor after the class. Take short note in the class and make sure to review the note every evening.
3. Stay away from distraction: Avoid sitting next to people who distract in the class. In the home avoid cell phone, TV and social media during study time.
4. Prepare notes: Make sure you are preparing notes from text book and other reference book. Avoid copying the exact words rather use simple own words. This note can be reviewed before the exam.
5. Use colour code: Use different colour like red, yellow to highlight the important information on the book or note. Vibrant colour increase attention and excitement.
6. Don’t cram: Study has shown that cramming doesn’t help in the long run. When a new lesson starts you can retain 70-80%  if you review the material within 24 hours. Further this percentage can be improved if you review the material within one week. A five minutes review every week can work wonder. A t the time of exam you don’t need to cram the material.
7. Recall the material: Scientist believed that active recalling improve the memory. Recalling the important points after a short reading can be helpful.
8. Feynman Technique: Try to explain the material in simple word to yourself. When we try to explain the concept in our own word , we understand it better.
9. Make a study schedule: Plan a study time and stick to it. Keep a designated area for study but sometimes change your study place.
10. Take small break: It is advisable to take short break while studying. Taking some healthy snacks like fruits or nuts is very beneficial.

 

Preparing the ground

Before study you must set the ground. There are few tips can be followed.

1. Exercise before study: Do some physical exercise before sitting for study. Exercise fight against fatigue and increase energy level. A fifteen minutes workout or a short walk can do wonder. It will improve mood and memory, stimulate hormone like endorphins which reduce stress. So exercise first.

     2. Managing stress by relaxing: Stress release a hormone called          corticotrophin which hinder memory.  So relax and study.

     3. Mind mapping: If you are a visual learner then mind mapping                     technique  is best. Organise the information in a diagram form.                   Visualise the topic   before you start studying. Write down the topic             in the centre and connect  the sub topic in a hierarchical manner.

     4. Change your study place: Change your study place in a regular                interval. Find out a cosy place which is well lit and low traffic area.              Research has shown that changing places (indoor or outdoor)                    could improve the concentration and retention level.

  5. Sometimes silence is not golden: You may not concentrate well in a          library. May be a background classical music with no lyrics brings                positivity and concentration. So find your suitable way. Studies                     suggest that low volume classical music elevates the focus and                   attention.

  6. Sleep well and eat well: Sleeping is an important activity to save the         information you have learned. The brain try to retrieve the information         when it takes rest. A good night sleep is required for a healthy brain.           Eating healthy is equally important. Eat fruits, nuts and green                     vegetables. Drink a lot of water.

 

Tips for exam preparation

Preparing for the examination is different from day to day study. A meticulous plan is required for it. There are certain tips to keep in the mind while doing preparation for the exam.

1. Start early: As early as you start preparing for the exam the better. So that you can get enough time to revise all the chapters.
2. Prepare a time table: Allocate time for each subject and each chapter. You can allocate the time according to the difficulty level of the chapters. Make sure that each chapter is being revised before the exam. One should stick to the time table and routine.
3. Spaced practice: Space practice involves reviewing material over a long period of time. Instead of cramming the material right before the exam one should distribute exam preparation over a multiple session. It is also known as distributed practice. Spaced practice started much before the exam. Steps for spaced practice-

     Day 1: Initial study session

     Day 2: Review and reread

     Day 3: Revisit and review

     Week 1: Revisit and review

     Week 2: Revisit and review

   Review the older material first. Try to connect the old information with         the new information. Write down the important point of the chapter    after it is over.

  4. Retrieval practice: While spaced practice help in storing the                      information retrieval practice help in getting out the information from            your mind. Cramming lead to short term memory. But retrieval                    practice result in long term memory. Deliberately recalling                            information force us to get our knowledge out and examine our level          of understanding. Recalling strengthen our memory. The methods of          retrieval practice are test, quizzes, problem solving etc.

  5. Flash the important point: Either you can use flash card or                     whiteboard to note down important points. Move your eye over the              points time to time. Prepare a study goal achieve it.

  6. Know your exam: Review and practice old question paper. You               should know the question paper pattern, syllabus and time table of the       exam. You must know the venue and time of the exam and reach the         examination hall before time. Do not panic and believe in yourself.

Conclusion

Everyone try to get success in exam. But getting success depends upon your dedication, effort and smart work.  Maintaining a well planned schedule throughout the year can be the key to success.