how do you study effectively?

Question

how do you study faster and absorb the material better? any tips would be appreciated!

Answer 1

If I know I'm going to study later, I make sure that I have glucose and iron-strong foods because they actually feed the brain and make it work better. I skim through the reading first and look at the section headings so that I know the types of information that I'm going to be looking at. The brain can only learn between 5 and 9 new concepts in a session (this can be helped by chunking related items into one chunk), so give yourself several days to repeatedly rehearse and go over the material if this is stuff you're going to have to know and reuse all semester long. If you have a test the next day or the next period, cramming will definitely put some of that info in the front of your mind to help you pass the test, but cramming is only temporary memory so if you need it beyond that test, just keep going over it.

Note: it takes about 24 hours for your brain to process information to make it permanent, the more rehearsal, the more permanent it'll be.

P.S. Don't just read the words--as you're going, when you learn something new, think to yourself about 2 different things:
1. Does this make sense?
2. Does this have meaning?

In other words, do you get what they're saying, and can you think of a way it can be applied, like an example.

P.S.S. If you're still having trouble remembering things, get a study buddy and explain concepts to each other. Research shows that when you have to teach someone else, you get to understand and remember the information more thoroughly and clearly.

Happy studying!

Answer 2

Do not leave study for the last minute. Utilize as much time as possible while you are in your class room. Listen, concentrate and Analyze what your lecturer says. Start doing it on your 1st day of school. And remember its never too late so you can start doing this today.

Take notes on important points. Don't just copy everything, analyzing what you read or write will give you a picture or view of the topic so that its interesting and easier to remember.

Try to be up to date with the course, even if you've left whole year doing nothing then don't panic as there is always some solution. First learn all the Chapters, Sub chapters, take notes, write down to remember. Then read the important points and try to find out the meaning of it. Even that will help you to pass.

Concentration is important. You are learning for yourself so don't pretend that you are studying. If you feel bored then take a break for a while. You enjoy watching tv, listening to music as its your interest. As your know you have to study, make it part of your interest. If you know the fact then you would like to know more about it, thats how interest starts.

If you don't understand something then don't delay to ask, may be lecturer, class mates or someone younger than you, no need to hesitate. The moment you loose asking, you are left behind.

If exams at the door. I'd say a month for the door. So start revising atleast before a month. Take notes thoroughly and highlight the points so that you can give brief revision the day before. Don't try to revise everything on the day, just go through the points.

I have always followed these steps that's why I have never got less than 2:1 ever in my life

Good luck to you
Knowledge is Power so try to gain it as much as possible when you have got the chance
:o)
Ana

Answer 3

It depends

If you're in college, what you can do is
1st: Get a small tape recorder
2nd: Record the professor
3rd: When you get home, you listen for anything you didn't understand or something you missed

Usually, people learn better hearing than reading, so if it's possible, avoid buying a book since a tape recorder is now your study budy (unless the professor asks questions about the book on test not mentioned in lecture)
The best part of this is that you can listen closely over and over until the information sinks in and if the professor is a bit stubborn in explaining or helping you out, the tape recorder does the job. There's a possibility that most of his lectures come from the book, so buying the book would be unnecessary.

Answer 4

To study faster =>
I try to study louder, coz thats when i feel i have concentrated a lot.

To absorb a material better =>
When i study for first time i mark important points with a marker or note it in a book. I revise it to absorb the basics.
Flashcards.

If u have lot to study, set small targets for couple of hours and take a break and treat yourself when u r done for 10mins. And then resume studying.
Thats when u enjoy ur study n dont burden urself :-)

Answer 5

i am a teacher now but i did a few ideas when i was still in school that helped me get to where i am now. Hope these will be helpful to you 2:

1. Have a positive mental attitude. Prime your self at being always comfortable and confident that u can do a lot better at studying. Remember that u are studying things that will prove to be valuable in real life.

2. Prepare your work station- Look for a place in ur home or bedroom where u think u can study and maintain concentration in ur works. Have materials stocked up and in place before u study. This way, u can finish ur work on time.

3. Avoid cramming- study an hour a day even when there's no homework. Scan ur notebooks and do a little advanced reading of ur textbooks. U can also researcg thru the internet to learn more about the topics u are covering in school.

4. Do projects with more enthusiasm and creativity- Don't be afraid to think of new ideas or ways to present ur homeworks or projects. Teachers always give additional points to students who show great effort in their works.

5. Volunteer- Be active and establish a friendly attitude towards ur teachers. Offer to help them out in checking some work, filing papers or just carrying their things. Little good things add up in the end for that extra effort grade, and they'll always remember u as a very helpful student.

6. Enjoy reading the latest news. Find connections or associations with ur life as a student, as a child, as a friend, or as a citizen. Certain reports wud always ask for u to react so better be ahead with current events which you may be affected with.

7. Listen to ur teacher, take a few notes.- In my experience, the more i copy and take down notes, the more i get lost in the lecture. It is best to listen first and understand before u jot down any important keywords. Yes, use keywords, simple doodles and arrows to make associations. These will help u remember all concepts mentally.

8. Keep handy notes on small index cards. I use different colors so i find them interesting to read.

9. Watch TV wisely. pick up points which may seem relevant in your life. Always initiate converstaion about the latest shows and issues you have watched. Don't be afraid to argue and defend ur opinions.

Good luck, i hope u can make use of my ideas.

Answer 6

Everyone absorbs material in a separate fashion; this is not to say every single person is completely distinct, but different strategies work better for certain people than for others.

Flashcards, for example, are good for memorizing more trivial material such as historic dates, vocabulary, and simple math equations.

When it comes down to problem solving in terms of math and science, practice makes perfect. The more practice you have with solving math and science problems, the better you'll be when you see one that is similar.

As for reading to absorb knowledge (such as a textbook), strategies become less black and white. Some people can skim the a book and get 99% of the important ideas from it, other people, like me, absorb knowledge much slower.

Some strategies I've personally found to be very effective for textbooks and books in general are: (1) making chapter outlines in my notebook (2) reading through the chapter and possibly rereading for clarity - this doesn't make for very fast learning (3) read an outline or chapter summary BEFORE I read the actual chapter so I know where I need to read carefully and where I can gloss through a bit - this makes for the fastest reading.

Good luck in your quest for knowledge!

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Answer 7

1. Get some sleep.
2. Start to study straight after waking up (you could get a shower and have a breakfast of course, but don't postpone the studying).
3. Work effectively during about 1 hour, then take a break: you could do some physical exercises for 15 minutes, or just lying with closed eyes, but you shouldn't continue to load your brain, you need a rest).
4. Work in such temp as long as you could.
5. Make a break and repeat studied information. Or start next day studying with repeating it.

It works for me.

Answer 8

Well heres my advice:
If you sleep well you are able to absorb info better. So try to have a good nights sleep almost every night. And don't read too much. When studying take some breaks. Its good to let your brain relax in between time or you wont really take in all the info your studying. At least ten minutes ( but I personally take 15) Go to bed when your tired, if you cram there is a more than likely chance you will forget what you learned. Try to study right after breakfast instead of at bed time. You will be more alert and more energetic. Not to mention your memorization skills are better after your body energized its self with sleep

Answer 9

What a coincidence today at school we were given a whole booklet on how to study the most effectively!

but the answers have a great range this all depends what kind of learning style you have.
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html
(this will show you what your particular learning style is, so that you can determine which way is more effective for you to quickly understand the information presented.)

Some tips that have proven to be the most effective are when you make "Mnemonic"
an example of this would be, used to help you with memorizing the capitals of Canada:

St. Johns..........Super
Halifax...............Happy
Fredericton.......Friends
Charlottetown...Can
Quebec.............Quickly
Toronto..............Trip
Winnipeg..........When
Regina..............Running
Edmonton.........Every
Victoria.............Victory
Yellowknife........You
Whitehorse......Want
Iqaluit................Ice Cream

If you make one up you will be able to remember it and remember what ever it is your trying to memories.
Also try reading out loud, or explaining a concept you need to study to a friend, and let them do the same to you, some people need to study in groups.
Flash cards are very effective also.
You could write what you need to remember, stare at it and then try to picture it in your mind.
Go over anything you need to remember right before you go to sleep, because then your brain will 'commit it' to memory

Hope I've Helped Some.
:]

Answer 10

I don't think there are any shortcuts...people become subject matter experts by immersing themselves in the subject on a regular basis. If you completely and thoroughly reviewed the subject on a regular basis, you would have less of a need to "study" since a majority of the material will already have been absorbed. Repetition over time is key. However, assuming you do not have the time to thoroughly review the subject, create an outline, starting at a macro level for each topic and gradually break it down becoming more granular with each addition of information for that specific topic within your subject. Do not do this on a computer. Physically writing out information that needs to be absorbed provides a higher level of retention than typing.

Good Luck.

Answer 11

Go to a quiet place with no distractions (The library works best for me). Then just kind of take a deep breath relax and just review over the meterial several times. In 7th grade I learned a readin strategy that really helps a lot. It was called SPHQ3R. What you do is you Skim the chapter you need to read. Then you look at and analyze the pictures and the heading. Then you read the questions that are asked at the end of the chapter of you can ask your own questions too. I would reccomend both. Then you read the chapter 3 times. You start with a slow normal read and then the 2nd time you go a little faster and then the 3rd time you go faster but not as fast as the skim. It works for me I still use it today.