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"Study while others are sleeping. Work while others are loafing. Prepare while others are playing and dream while others are wishing." -William Arthur Ward
To be the best and reach the stars, a lot of hard, perseverance, and diligent effort is required. Why? Nothing worthwhile and precious comes to those who sit on the couch and do nothing. Did Serena Williams become the greatest female tennis player of all time by neglecting practice? Do you think Einstein developed the theory of relativity by cutting corners? Not!
Most of those who achieved acclaim and fame in this world have done it through blood, sweat, and tears.
So, what's your excuse? You don't have one. Since everyone has the potential of doing extraordinary things, all you need is a little exertion and a push in the right direction. And, in all honesty, a successful life starts in the formative years during secondary school and Uni.
A good education unlocks the key to so many opportunities that were previously hidden. Therefore, hit the books and start studying!
In today's article, we shall examine how interested Uni students an create a revision schedule that is easy to follow and that leads to academic achievement at the most satisfactory degree.
Analyse Your Course Load
At the beginning of each academic semester, you are presented with a schedule of classes, books that require purchasing, and a list of extracurricular activities that are planned on campus.
So, the next logical thing to do is create a schedule that is personally tailored to your course load. How can this be done? Make a list of all the classes and subjects that will analyse during your fall or spring semester and determine which topics require more attention than others. Prioritising is remarkably suggested when creating a study schedule since it keeps you on track to success.
It is crucial to keep in mind that by creating a number list that ranks each class or subject by significance, you will prevent yourself from falling behind and avoid last-minute surprises that you did not plan. Remembering your academic weaknesses plays an essential part in determining the amount of time you spend on maths in comparison to English literature, for example.
Shortly after you've listed out all your classes in order of importance, determine what you need to do for each subject to ace exams that come up faster than you might expect.
Write down the approximate amount of time that needs to be dedicated to studying and add notes about if you need to read more, complete additional review sessions, finish practical training at the lab, or work on a project with another student.
Although it might take quite a long time to analyse your courseload, maybe a few hours or a day of organising, it's worth the effort since it is the first and probably most crucial step of making a revision schedule.
Create Revision Blocks in Your Schedule
After the course load analyse per semester has been completed, now comes the time to dedicating a specific amount of time on a tangible schedule per subject.
It is important to state you will have to create a personalised revision schedule every semester since your classes might change.
Before creating blocks of study time, you need to fill in all the times you are busy during the week doing essential things such as working, attending classes, seeing family, and getting a little downtime. Remember, a combination of work and play is necessary to stay sane when studying for assessments!
But, how does one schedule revision blocks? The following are a few tips from a fantastic article written by WikiHow:
- Plan to Study a Subject at the Same Time: instead of always looking back at your schedule to know what to do, it is brilliant to plan to review a specific topic or class notes at the same time every day. Why? This avoids confusion and creates a regimen that becomes too good to be broken!
- Fill All Your Blocks: instead of leaving some blocks open on your schedule without anything planned, try to fill them in with additional review sessions or leisure activities that will prevent you from burning out due to studying too much.
- Less is More: it is much better to diligently study for a short period than try and concentrate during a two or three-hour review session. Therefore, it is highly recommended to schedule blocks that last between 30-45 minutes to hone concentration skills. Also, it's easier to schedule smaller chunks in a timetable than it is longer ones.
Introduce Alternative Review Techniques
After the study/review blocks have been created in your schedule, it is time to fill them in with the course or topic that needs attention and the revision technique that is to be utilised. Come again? Well, since various review techniques make an impact and are tailored to your unique needs, it is essential to pair a method with a topic when studying.
Carefully think about your personality, learning style, strengths and weaknesses, and the most engaging learning experiences you've had in the past. Why? That will determine how you should schedule review sessions to get the most out of your upcoming exams.
What are some of the review techniques that can be used? The following list boasts a few of the most effective studying methods:
- Flashcards,
- Mini-Quizzes,
- Writing Out Notes,
- Memory Games.
All of the previously mentioned review methods are brilliant; there is no wrong choice. So, now consider the topic and your learning style to fill in the blocks with study information. How can I schedule myself effectively? For example, let's say that every day between 3:15 and 4 pm you revise chemical formulas using flashcards and on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 am you quiz yourself on historical dates for an hour.
Always trying alternative methods is necessary to avoid boredom and repetition, yet it also makes a revision timetable more engaging since you look forward to studying your class topics.
Allot Time to Revise With Classmates
Are you feeling a little bit lonely cooped up in your dorm reviewing physics for the millionth time alone? Do you crave being around other people? If so, you're not the only one to express these feelings because even the most introverted individuals require interpersonal contact.
So, to make the studying experience more enjoyable and diverse, pencil into your schedule a few group study sessions with classmates who are studying the same information as you.
Nevertheless, consider only reserving two or, maximum, three study blocks for group review since its quite apparent that group studying periods are never as productive as when you are alone.
Having a studying group is extremely encouraging since you can express concerns, share subject strengths, receive help with your academic weaknesses, and bounce new ideas off each other to pass upcoming tests successfully. And, although we are living through a worldwide pandemic where it is harshly discouraged to engage in group activities, many Uni pupils are continuing their study group through video calling services such as Google Meet, Zoom, Skype, and Slack.
When creating a study group, try to find between 3-6 participants since anything above that number is pure chaos!
Having trouble remembering important concepts? Read this article to find out how to improve memory skills.
Don't Forget About Having Fun
When creating your studying schedule, it is of the utmost importance to include time slots that are purely dedicated to leisure activities. Why? All work and no play is challenging for morale and can lead to discouragement, anxiety, and stressful periods which are like poison to students who are trying to achieve good grades.
When there is a balance with not too much studying and not too much recreation, students thrive during study sessions because they had the time to recuperate and rest during activities or downtime.
So, plan and pencil in some fun activities that you much enjoy such as going to the pub, taking a walk with a friend, reading your favourite book at a cafe, trying new dishes, etc.
We all need to have fun!
Review Your Schedule if Changes Are Necessary
In today's changing world, nothing is permanent, and everything can vary from one moment to the next, and the same can be said about your college classes.
Therefore, even after you've created your study schedule to efficiently review for exams, be ready to prepare for some changes in dedicated review blocks. A class might be cancelled for a semester, or you might decide that what you are studying isn't for you and you need change.
Modifying a study schedule is much easier on an electronic format such as Calendar, Calendly, SimplyBook, or Square Appointments. However, we much suggest using the old fashioned method and purchasing or printing out a tangible copy that you can adjust with a pen, pencil, or marker.
Need helping to create or modifying a study schedule? Look no further than the brilliant tutors available on Superprof! With a qualified and experienced tutor, students are guided in the right direction when making decisions about their review timetable and how they can get the best out of studying.
In conclusion, please do not disregard the usefulness of a review schedule; it may mean going from a regular student to the top of your class; success is around the corner!
Want additional tips and tricks to study like a boss? Click this link to read our article.
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