What are some tips you can give on studying effectively?

Question

I am a college student. I have a desire to study hard, but it is hard to me to stay concentrated on one issue and also to retain the information. Can you please help?

Answer 1

Always take breaks in between studying.

Don't study for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Study in a QUIET place-no music or TV.

Study for a few days before the test-don't study the night before.

Give yourself a practice test and/or quiz yourself, or have your roommate quiz you on the information.

I hate studying too, but this stuff really does help. It makes you feel less overwhelmed.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

TALK to people - teachers, tutors, peers. Find out as much as you can about what is expected of you.

Be systematic and get your notes and materials organised.

Invest time in mastering the skills you need to study effectively, eg: computing, library, language, information skills.

Plan backwards from deadlines and consider drawing up a work or revision plan.

Manage your time explicitly, allocate appropriate amounts of time to tasks, be realistic and build in some flexibility but stick to your plans and goals.

Think about when and where you work well and do your most demanding tasks when you are at your best.

Don't try and eat the elephant all in one go, chop it up into manageable chunks! Divide large and complicated tasks into small achievable pieces.

Build in checking and review time so that you can edit, proof-read, spell-check etc.

Reward yourself for getting jobs done (rather than hours spent!) and keep a sensible balance between work and play.

Answer 3

Read. Listen with utmost concentration what your teachers profess. When you come home you will have a feeling that you learned nothing on the day.
Here is where I can help you.
Wash your legs and face. Wipe them clean. Lie down on your back. Close your eyes. Repeat in your mind all that you read during the day and all that your professors said in the class. All that passed during the eight hours in the school you can repeat in your mind in 30 minutes. I have successfully tested this technique on myself and on more than 300 engineering degree holders.

Have you watched how the cows and sheep eat? They eat for 8 hours. Then they lie down. All that they entered in the stomach they bring back to the mouth, thoroughly chew them and then return to the stomach.

Answer 4

Flash cards

Get the lined index cards
On one side turn your notes into fill in the blank questions and put the answer on the back.

You will be writing the information...then reading the information, and if you are lucky enough you can find a friend or a person in same class and you can get them to read them to you and you say the answer.

Flash cards got me through college.

Answer 5

It's probably different for everyone. I was a loner in college and I think my grades suffered for it. I've learned since college that I learn best in a brain storming group of two or three people closely aligned in intelligence and drive.

By the way, I read some of your answers and I want to commend you on your wisdom which seems to me to be beyond most college students.

Answer 6

Everyone learns differently, and there are many different ways to learn. So it is unlikely to find only one best way. It's probably better to find the right combination of ways to fit you.

There are a number of keys to learning, but they are all grounded in good self-knowledge and require good self-discipline to implement.

1) Know what kind of learner you are: For info on this, visit
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005704/co...
Everyone learns in different ways. Once you know the kind of learner you are (which can be mainly 1 or more "modes"), that points the way to different study methods that can help you to improve.

2) Become a pro-active learner: For info on this, visit http://faculty.clintoncc.suny.edu/facult...
The key point to remember is that your education is largely determined by you, not the school, the teachers, or the books. If you have access to good schools, teachers, and books, it helps...but don't be limited if you don't have them.

3) Hone your study skills. For a free download of some concise study skill notes, visit http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/public/c...
There are a variety of study skills in this free publication. Try them. The ones that work for you, use them to the fullest. Those that don't, well, at least you tried to find out ways to improve your grades...which is what you asked for, right?

OK, I hope this helps you. Best wishes in your studies,

Answer 7

I highlighted my text, then underlined the "key" ideas w/pen and then wrote notes in the margin, all this repetitiveness helped me retain everything at least long enough to graduate- BTW I made almost straight A's (got 3 B's)