How to Study
Mindset
- Confident peace
- You should know that you are capable of getting good grades.
- Never doubt this and allow your mind to be at ease.
- Tracking
- Assignment due dates
- At the beginning of the semester, create a master list of all your assignments and their due dates.
- Put a star next to any assignment worth at least 10% of your grade.
- Grades
- As grades start coming in, write the grades next to each assignment.
- Remember to properly weight each assignment.
- If you have a Mac, download Schoolhouse to help you track your grades and assignments.
- Assignment due dates
- Holism
- Your individual grades mean very little. What matters is the average grade.
- If you have a grasp on your entire semester, you can budget time and effort appropriately.
- Read this great guide on holistic learning.
Preparation
- During class
- Go to class (of course!)
- Take excellent notes (neat and complete)
- Learn as you go
- You should not be trying to learn the material in the days leading up to the test.
- Learn the material in class and if you need more practice, do it immediately after class.
- When you get home…
- Collect your notes and organize them.
- Put them all in one document as a giant outline.
- Studying should be a simple review.
- There is no reason to review more than 3 days before a test.
- The review process should be effortless compared to the preparation process.
- Exercise
- Exercising enhances cognitive function just as much as other methods.
Study Time
- Focus
- Find your zone
- Study wherever you are most comfortable
- If something works, do it again
- Eliminate distractions
- If you must listen to music, listen to something calm and without too many words.
- Stimulants
- Caffeine and other stimulants can help you focus and stay awake.
- However, these drugs should never be used as a substitute for sleep.
- It is usually better to get a good night of sleep than to pull an all-nighter.
- Find your zone
- Prioritize
- Efficiency
- Inefficient: Study, daydream, Facebook…study, stare, stare…study, email, bail, fail.
- Efficient: Study, study, study, bathroom, study, study, study.
- Effectiveness
- Read what you'll need, don't what you won't.
- Comprehend (don't just memorize)
- If you understand, you don't have to remember
- Efficiency
- Sleep
- In order for your brain to retain information, it needs time to process it.
- 8 hours of sleep after studying or the night before a test are essential.
Test Day
- Nutrition
- Drink plenty of water
- Do not drink alcohol within 36 hours of a test.
- Eat a balanced breakfast: protein, carbohydrates, and fruits.
- Cramming
- Much can be said about a quick cram review the morning of a test.
- If you can review everything in under 10 minutes, you'll be fine.
- Do not rely on the cram alone
- During the test
- Be in the same mindset that you were when studying: calm and collected.
- This helps your brain recall information.
- Don't make stupid mistakes. Look for trick questions. Read all the directions and all the answer choices.
- Slow down and focus
- Be in the same mindset that you were when studying: calm and collected.