Effective and easy studying habits?

Question

Nic here.
im in tertiary education and i am doing OK.
but i want to be greater than that and up my GPA.
For all the geniuses, can u tell me what worked for you?
How did you get those high grades?
What habits should i pick up?
Help me. i need help.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Answer 1

koosher's answer is excellent in my experience (both as student and as college lecturer) - what i would add to it is to use the mornings as much as possible for the tasks that need real brain power. Use the afternoons and evenings for the 'legwork' - the stuff that is less challenging, like organising notes, chasing up references, finding library books, planning study timetables or padding out essays that you planned and started in the morning.
Also, it's useful to find out what your learning style is (there are loads of tests online if you haven't done one already) - you could have a distinct strength in one learning style, which you could take advantage of - for example if you're a kinaesthetic learner movement will help and you could do what i used to do when i had a list of items to learn off (italian verb forms for me!) - learn them while going up and down stairs, the rythmical stepping really helped me to remember them. Writing things out really helps kinaesthetic learners too. If you're an auditory learner, like koosher is I think, saying it out loud is a great help. So, find out what your style is and work in harmony with it.

Answer 2

Don't skim your notes... Focus on certain sections and master them before you move on.

Take a brisk 10 minute walk before you take a test this releases various chemicals from your brain

There is an accupuncture point between your thumb and your index finger... Pinch the soft spot and it will release calming hormones. You will do better on tests if you are calm.

After a while of studying take a 10 minute break. This break should be in a completely different environment than where you are studying.

Wearing the same clothes or studying in the location can help as your memory will recall specific things by using your environment as triggers.

Have good posture: Good posture will allow you to breath better and make you score better because you can focus better.

Study before you go to bed because your brain continues to be active while you sleep and will continue to learn the material.

Date your notes and go over them the day that you had the lecture. This lets you reinforce the knowledge while it is still fresh in your mind.

Answer 3

What i did to go from a horrible-habit first year undergrad who only slept three nights a week due to procrastination to a relatively efficient grad student who does actual work 30 hours a week...

i realized that it was for real and that now *I'm* paying for it.

I dont go out anymore, except for twice a month.

it works like a charm.


specifically, I never read school work before bed because it messes up my sleeping habits. I read something totally non-work related until i can't hold my eyes open (usually sci fi or something that requires no brain power)...
i do all of my serious work in the mornings and late afternoons (only after the "after lunch nap-need" wears off) and try to do no work at night.

Answer 4

You may feel silly doing this- I did at first, but I got used to it.

Take really good notes in class. Then, re-lecture the material yourself. That is, go back through the material, explaining the same things you learned in each lecture, OUT LOUD, looking at your notes as little as possible. Also, come up with questions that could potentially be confusing (that you can explain), and answer the questions that other people in your class may have asked during the lecture. Don't just memorize your notes though, discuss them, even if it's just w/yourself.

I know this may sound kinda dumb, but after I started doing this, the lowest score I got on any of my exams was a 93. :) Hooray.

Good luck to you!

Answer 5

I'll tell you what not to do. don't study on your bed. you fall asleep. 100% guaranteed. i know for a fact...