Six Ways to Study Smarter

How did you learn biking? You undoubtedly took some classes and practiced a lot. You may develop study skills similarly. No one is born a student. Learn and practice study techniques.

Why practice study skills? It will make learning and doing well in class simpler, particularly in middle and high school.

Here are six wiser study tips:

• Concentrate in class.
• Take excellent notes
• Prepare for exams and projects.
• Reduce it. Break up large amounts of information to learn.
• Ask for assistance if stuck.
• Sleep well!

1. Focus: Good Studying Begins in Class
Riddle for you: Did you know you start studying before you start? Huh? See what we mean. Learning and studying begin when you pay attention in class and take appropriate notes.

Have difficulties paying attention in class? Sitting next to a noisy person? Is the board hard to see? Get a decent seat that allows you focus. Tell your instructor or parents about any issues keeping you from paying attention and taking excellent notes.

2. Good Notes = Easy Studying
Not sure how to take notes? Start by jotting down class data your instructor says or writes on the board. Write well so you can read your notes later. Also, arrange notes, quizzes, and papers by topic.

3. Plan ahead—you’ll thank yourself
Studying for Friday’s exam on Thursday night will make homework night miserable! It also hinders performance. We’ve all procrastinated. One way to avoid it is to prepare beforehand.

Write down your exam and assignment due dates on a nice calendar you can put at your desk or study space. You may plan what to do after school each day and how long to spend on each subject. Do classes or extracurriculars make studying difficult? Ask your parents how to schedule things.

4. Split Up!
When studying a lot, chunking may assist. Say you have a 20-word spelling exam. Try splitting the words into five-word pieces and working on one or two each night instead of thinking about them all at once.

Don’t worry if you forget anything on the first time. This requires practice. More days of review increase memory retention. Mnemonic (say: new-MON-ik) gadgets may also help you recall. Make up a sentence using each item’s initial letter to remember it. Are you studying the eight planets and their sequence from the sun? Think: My Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nachos to recall Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. You may get suggestions from your instructor.

Studies weekly instead than the night before might break it up. You may always reread your notes and chapters. Math and science students should practice problems.

How much nightly studying is recommended? Your instructor can assist you. Most minds can only focus for 45 minutes. If you’re having trouble focusing after a long day, take a break for water or a house walk. Resist the urge to watch TV or quit!

5. Stop Confusing—Ask for Help
To study successfully, you must comprehend the content. If you’re confused, ask your instructor. Review your notes to verify. Does everything make sense? If not, ask your instructor to explain. If the uncertainty arises at home, your parents may aid.

6. Rest Well!
After following your study plan, you can’t remember anything, not even 2+2. The exam is tomorrow! Fear not. Your brain requires time to process your input. If you sleep well, you’ll be amazed by what you remember.