
Is your stream study method reading a casebook repeatedly, hoping something will stick ? If so, do you find yourself stressed out because you can ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate memorize such a huge quantity of information in such a short time ?
As a grad scholar, it ’ randomness imperative to develop effective time management and study techniques that help you retain the most data. In grad school, cramming the night before doesn ’ metric ton cut it anymore. Go into the raw year with a new scheme and try some of these effective cogitation tips below .
Set the Stage
first, you need to create the conditions-in your body and external environment-to successfully learn and retain information. here are some survey habits worth trying :
- Get a good night’s sleep: A recent study found a positive relationship between students’ grades and how much sleep they’re getting. However, this doesn’t only mean getting a full 8 hours of sleep before a big test. What matters even more is getting enough sleep for several nights before you do the bulk of your studying.
- Switch up your study environment: This might not seem like a predict study scheme, but studies show that switching up your study environment can increase recall performance. Instead of studying at home every day, try checking out a new coffee spot each week or heading to your local library. A change in scenery can improve both your memory and concentration levels.
- Stick with an environment that works: If you you have a commodity study space at home or a café that is reliably a productive place for you, it makes sense to stick with this when you are under pressure.
- Listen to calming music: You can listen to any music you like, but many agree that classical, instrumental, and lo-fi beats make good background music for studying and can actually help you pay attention to the task at hand. Songs with lyrics can be distracting.
- Eliminate distractions: Eliminate distractions by silencing your telephone and annoying background noises such as the television receiver or radio. Make a treaty with yourself to avoid checking social media until your study seance is over .
- Snack on smart food: Coffee and candy will give you a temporary boost, but then you’ll have a blood sugar crash. For energy that is more focused and sustainable, try healthy snacks such as edamame, apples, or nuts.
10 Study Methods & Tips That Actually Work
1. The SQ3R Method
The SQ3R method acting is a read inclusion proficiency that helps students identify crucial facts and retain information within their textbook. SQ3R ( or SQRRR ) is an acronym that stands for the five steps of the take comprehension summons. Try these steps for a more effective and effective learn seance :
- Survey: Instead of reading the entire book, start by skimming the first chapter and taking notes on any headings, subheadings, images, or other standout features like charts.
- Question: Formulate questions around the chapter ’ mho contentedness, such as, What is this chapter about ? What do I already know about this subject ?
- Read: Begin reading the full chapter and look for answers to the questions you formulated.
- Recite: After reading a section, summarize in your own words what you just read. Try recall and identifying major points and answering any questions from the second tone .
- Review: Once you have finished the chapter, it’s important to review the material to fully understand it. Quiz yourself on the questions you created and re-read any portions you need to.
You can try this learn technique before taking your final examination .
2. Retrieval Practice
retrieval practice is based on the concept of remembering at a by and by prison term. Recalling an answer to a question improves learning more than looking for the answer in your textbook. And, remembering and writing down the answer to a flash card is a lot more effective than thinking you know the answer and flipping the calling card over early .
If you commit retrieval, you are more likely to remember the information subsequently on. Below are some ways you can implement the recovery summons into your study routine .
- Utilize practice tests: Use practice tests or questions to quiz yourself, without looking at your book or notes.
- Make your own questions: Be your own teacher and create questions you think would be on a test. If you’re in a study group, encourage others to do the same, and trade questions.
- Use flashcards: Create flashcards, but make sure to practice your retrieval technique. Instead of flipping a card over prematurely, write the answer down and then check.
3. Spaced Practice
Spaced practice ( besides known as “ distributed practice ” ) encourages students to study over a longer time period of time alternatively of cramming the night earlier. When our brains about forget something, they work harder to recall that information. Spacing out your studying allows your mind to make connections between ideas and build upon the cognition that can be easily recalled later .
To try this proficiency, review your fabric in space intervals exchangeable to the schedule below :
- Day 1: Learn the material in class.
- Day 2: Revisit and review.
- Day 3: Revisit and review.
- After one week: Revisit and review.
- After two weeks: Revisit and review.
It ’ south significant to start planning early on. At the beginning of each semester, schedule some clock each day merely for studying and reviewing the material. even if your exams are months aside, this will help you hold yourself accountable .
4. The PQ4R Method
This method takes an active access to learning that improves memorization and understand of the subject. similar to the SQ3R method above, PQ4R is an acronym that stands for the six steps in the march .
- Preview: Preview the information before you start reading to get an idea of the subject. Skim the material and understand only the headers, subheadings, and highlighted textbook .
- Question: Ask yourself questions related to the topic, such as, What do I expect to learn? What do I already know about this topic?
- Read: Read the information one section at a time and try to identify answers to your questions.
- Reflect: Did you answer all of your questions? If not, go back and see if you can find the answer.
- Recite: In your own words, either speak or write down a summary of the information you just read.
- Review: Look over the material one more time and answer any questions that have not yet been answered.
5. The Feynman Technique
The Feynman Technique is an efficient method of learning a concept cursorily by explaining it in complain and dim-witted terms. It ’ s based on the idea, “ If you want to understand something well, try to explain it simply. ” What that means is, by attempting to explain a concept in our own words, we are likely to understand it a distribute faster .
How it works :
- Write the subject/concept you are studying at the top of a sheet of paper.
- Then, explain it in your own words as if you were teaching someone else.
- Review what you wrote and identify any areas where you were wrong. Once you have identified them, go back to your notes or reading material and figure out the correct answer.
- Lastly, if there are any areas in your writing where you used technical terms or complex language, go back and rewrite these sections in simpler terms for someone who doesn’t have the educational background you have.
6. Leitner System
The Leitner System is a teach technique based on flashcards. ideally, you keep your cards in respective different boxes to track when you need to study each set. Every card starts in Box 1. If you get a card right, you move it to the future box. If you get a menu wrong, you either move it down a box or keep it in Box 1 ( if it ’ s already there ) .
Each box determines how much you will study each set of cards, like to the follow schedule :
- Every day — Box 1
- Every two days — Box 2
- Every four days — Box 3
- Every nine days — Box 4
- Every 14 days — Box 5
7. Color-Coded Notes
messy notes can make it intemperate to recall the crucial points of a lecture. Writing in color is a dynamic way to organize the information you ’ rhenium determine. It besides helps you review and prioritize the most significant ideas .
A holocene study found that tinge can improve a person ’ south memory performance. That same study found that warm colors ( red and yellow ) “ can create a eruditeness environment that is positive and motivating that can help learners not only to have a positivist perception toward the subject but besides to engage and interact more with the learning materials. ” It besides reported that quick colors “ increase attention and educe excitement and information. ”
Writing in color may seem like a no-brainer, but keep these tips in mind :
- Write down key points in red.
- Highlight important information in yellow.
- Organize topics by color.
- Don’t color everything—just the most important information.
8. Mind Mapping
If you ’ re a ocular learner, try mind map, a technique that allows you to visually organize information in a diagram. First, you write a give voice in the center field of a blank page. From there, you write major ideas and keywords and connect them directly to the central concept. other associate ideas will continue to branch out .
The structure of a mind map is related to how our brains store and retrieve information. Mind mapping your notes rather of just writing them down can improve your reading inclusion. It besides enables you to see the big picture by communicating the hierarchy and relationships between concepts and ideas .
then, how do you do it ?
- Grab a blank sheet of paper (or use a tool online) and write your study topic in the center, such as “child development.”
- Connect one of your main ideas (i.e., a chapter of your book or notes) to the main topic, such as “developmental stages.”
- Connect sub-branches of supporting ideas to your main branch. This is the association of ideas. For example, “Sensorimotor,” “Preoperational,” “Concrete operational,” and “Formal operational.”
- TIP: Use different colors for each branch and draw pictures if it helps.
9. Exercise Before Studying
not only does exercise fight fatigue, but it can besides increase energy levels. If you ’ rhenium struggling to find the motivation to study, consider adding an use routine to your day. It doesn ’ t have to be a full hour at the gymnasium. It can be a 20-minute exercise at base or a brisk walk around your region. Anything to get your heart rate pump. Exercising before you study :
10. Study Before Bed
Sleep is all-important for brain function, memory geological formation, and learning. Studying before you sleep, whether it is reviewing flashcards or notes, can help improve recall. According to Scott Cairney, a research worker from the University of York in the United Kingdom, “ When you are awake you learn new things, but when you are asleep you refine them, making it easier to retrieve them and apply them correctly when you need them most. This is significant for how we learn but besides for how we might help retain healthy brain functions. ”
When you ’ rhenium asleep, the brain organizes your memories. alternatively of pulling an nightlong, study a few hours before bed and then review the information in the dawn .
No one wants to spend more time studying than they need to. Learning effective study techniques can ensure you are amply cook for your exams and will help curve any loom quiz anxiety. Hopefully, with the techniques above, you can avoid cramming the night before and make your study time more effective. For more tips, download the infographic downstairs .
Sources :
Chai, Meei Tyng, et aluminum. “ Exploring EEG Effective Connectivity Network in Estimating Influence of Color on Emotion and Memory. ” Frontiers in Neuroinformatics vol. 13, Oct. 9, 2019, doi:10.3389/fninf.2019.00066
Medical News Today, “ Can You Learn in Your Sleep ? Yes, and here ’ s How ” : hypertext transfer protocol : //www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321161.php # 1
Yana Weinstein and Megan Smith, “ Learn How to Study Using… Spaced Practice ” and “ Learn How to Study Using… Retrieval Practice ” The Learning Scientists, hypertext transfer protocol : //www.learningscientists.org/blog/2016/7/21-1 and hypertext transfer protocol : //www.learningscientists.org/blog/2016/6/23-1 .
“ Better Sleep Habits Lead to Better College Grades. ” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 1 Oct. 2019, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191001083956.htm .
“ Top 10 Healthy Snacks for Studying and Staying Focused : BrainMD. ” BrainMD Health Blog, 25 Oct. 2018, brainmd.com/blog/top-10-healthy-snacks-for-studying/ .
“ What Is recovery Practice ? – Retrieval Practice. ” Unleash the Science of Learning, www.retrievalpractice.org/why-it-works .
Whelan, Jesse. “ Using the Leitner System to Improve Your Study. ” Medium, Medium, 21 Sept. 2019, medium.com/ @ jessewhelan/using-the-leitner-system-to-improve-your-study-d5edafae7f0 .
Chai, Meei Tyng, et aluminum. “ Exploring EEG Effective Connectivity Network in Estimating Influence of Color on Emotion and Memory. ” Frontiers in Neuroinformatics, Frontiers Media S.A., 9 Oct. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6794354/ .
Warner, Jennifer. “ Exercise Fights Fatigue, Boosts Energy. ” WebMD, WebMD, 3 Nov. 2006, www.webmd.com/diet/news/20061103/exercise-fights-fatigue-boosts-energy.
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Aamodt, Sandra, and Sam Wang. “ Exercise on the Brain. ” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Nov. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/opinion/08aamodt.html ? ei=5070 & em= & en=875b1c15ea6447c9 & ex=1194670800 & pagewanted=print .
“ Benefits of Exercise. ” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 4 Oct. 2019, medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html .
Sandoiu, Ana. “ Can You Learn in Your Sleep ? Yes, and here ’ s How. ” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321161.php # 1 .