Chapters
- 01. Create a Study Schedule
- 02. Write Out Your Study Notes
- 03. Have Different Coloured Pens
- 04. Successfully Plan Your Exam Day
- 05. Take a Lot of Short Breaks
- 06. Create a Study Group
- 07. Set Aside Time to Enjoy Life
- 08. Have a Dedicated and Organised Study Space
- 09. Find Helpful Online Articles
- 10. Make Effective Use of Visual Aids
- 11. Watch Youtube Videos
- 12. Say Goodbye to Your Cellphone
- 13. Eat Healthy Foods
- 14. Drink Plenty of Water
- 15. Get Enough Rest
"Never regard study as a duty, but as the enviable opportunity to learn." -Albert Einstein
If Einstein, one of the most brilliant minds of all time, said it, we should wholeheartedly agree and view studying as a constant learning experience and not a tedious chore. However, that's much easier said than done! Why's that? Well, there are not a lot of people I know that would trade-in exciting nights at the pub with your mates for sleepless nights cramming for exams.
It's human nature, especially among Millennials to want to have fun, find engaging experiences, and at all costs avoid moments of boredom.
But what if I told you that there was a way to make studying for primary school, secondary school, and Uni exams more engaging? Would you be curious? Of course! I don't want to make a general assumption, but I think it's safe to say that everyone in their right mind wants to acquire more knowledge while at the same time being engaged.
We have searched far and wide to find 15 study tips that are proven to help pupils ace assessments and make review sessions much more productive.
Trust that, after reading our informative article and putting into practice, you'll no longer be a grumpy Uni student who is continuously burning through the midnight oil to succeed during exams! Let's get started.
Create a Study Schedule
The most common mistake that is experienced by studying "rookies" is leaving things for last-minute thinking that you will have enough time to review. How can that be avoided? A study schedule!
While it is true that some students seem to thrive on last-minute cramming, most do not and; therefore, a structured schedule is needed to sort out time management.
We recommend writing down on a schedule your upcoming exams and the days that they will be on. Then you can organise your schedule accordingly and dedicate specific study sessions that are balanced, and you feel comfortable with.
Hot tip: use the Calendar app on your phone!
Can I include flashcards in my study schedule? Of course, you can! Read our article to find out more.
Write Out Your Study Notes
When I used to be young and study for exams in my formative years, feels like ages ago, I would review the textbooks and write down with a pen and paper the key points that I wanted to remember. Did it help? Drastically. The best exam results I received were thanks to the method of writing down my notes.
While typing things out on a computer may help, I highly recommended using the vintage method of pen and paper.
Have Different Coloured Pens
When reviewing or studying, you will take a lot of notes, that is inevitable. Nonetheless, be sure to write down your thoughts in different colours to visually separate them and make them easier to remember come exam time.
Sounds a little infantile? If it does, you've been spending way too much time with boring adults!
Successfully Plan Your Exam Day
Putting things off to the last minute is one of the worst things that can be done when preparing for exams; therefore, effective planning far in advance is needed to ensure success and avoid last-minute stress.
Please don't leave it to the day before to suddenly realise that you don't know how to get to the exam room, aren't sure about the regulations, etc. If you live far away from campus and need to take public transport of your car, plan on arriving much earlier than you would on other days.
The last thing you want is to miss out on your exam because you didn't effectively study how to get there.
Take a Lot of Short Breaks
There is simply nothing worse for the morale than constant study without any breaks. Why? Because your head gets overwhelmed with too much information, and it starts to recognise studying as hostile activity.
However, we're not suggesting that you should take hour-long breaks and only study for 10-minutes, that would be entirely counterproductive. Nevertheless, we are mentioning that for every 60 minutes of studying scheduled, 10 minutes should be dedicated to letting your brain rest and do something else. Why? Breaks are a highly recommended way to make study sessions more efficient and engaging.
Put an alarm to remind you to take a break and chill out a little bit since you might forget.
So, drop the books, grab a snack, and watch a funny video to lighten the mood; trust us, it'll work!
Create a Study Group
What comes to mind when you hear the words "study group?" Is it a group of misfits that somewhat resembles the cast of Community? If so, you have a brilliant imagination, and we salute you!
However, the idea of creating a study group is a stroke of genius. Why? It has been proven that well-organised study sessions with like-minded friends analysing the same material are a great way to give and receive feedback to help the learning process.
Although probably not the most productive, creating a study group and scheduling sessions to work towards is an undeniable alternative for extroverts, who need to study for their exams and receive much-needed association with others.
Set Aside Time to Enjoy Life
You don't want to be known as someone who is all work and no play; therefore, it's much suggested to leave the library and have some fun once and awhile. Do something that you love and please don't try to feel guilty about it since it can be viewed as a reward that you are giving yourself for your hard work.
How can that be done?
At the beginning of the week, try to think of something that you really would like to do on the weekend. It could be rock climbing, a pub-crawl, a short road trip with your mates, or a visit to Mum and Dad's to enjoy some comfort food. Then schedule it. Why is that effective? Organising your time to enjoy a future reward makes you work harder knowing that something better is to come.
You're only young and in Uni once, so go and enjoy the world; it's much too beautiful of a place to be ignored!
Have a Dedicated and Organised Study Space
It's been said that a messy house or bedroom subtly explains a person's state of mind; therefore, the same can be said about a dorm or dedicated study area. It's simple; a disorganised desk is a cluttered mind.
So, to avoid being overwhelmed from the get-go, it is essential to have a place of study that is comfortable, well-organised, well-lit, and distraction-free.
For some, a distraction-free zone may signify complete silence, whereas others prefer a little background music to better concentrate on their impending examinations. The most important thing to keep in mind is finding a solution that works best for you and to have a workspace that is dedicated to studying.
Find Helpful Online Articles
The internet is a wonderfully weird place with so many resources; almost a little too much!
Therefore, to effectively study for exams, we highly recommend finding a few online resources that are tailormade to the subject that you are reviewing at Uni. Try using everything you can from blogs to websites and podcasts to e-books; the internet is a student's best friend.
However, make sure to use recommended and trusted resources to avoid false information that is rapidly spread.
Make Effective Use of Visual Aids
Do you want to review effectively without having to look back at boring notes or textbooks? Then take advantage of visual aids and create diagrams that fit on one-page to jog your memory and make studying more engaging.
Also, a helpful suggestion is colouring the diagram with vivid colours to make it look more appealing to the eye!
Watch Youtube Videos
While it may seem a little counterproductive to suggest watching Youtube videos when studying, it is essential to mention that there are plenty of short clips that relate to your exam topic.
And, watching short informative videos makes the study experience more enjoyable by taking you away from only reading and giving the student an outlet to review in an alternative way.
Say Goodbye to Your Cellphone
There is nothing more distracting than a cellphone when studying for exams, so to improve the quality of your study sessions, we highly recommend turning off your phone and putting it in a drawer where you can no longer see it. Why that severe? Because even a slight glance at the phone when it lights up may distract you from your study routine and set you back hours.
Please keep it simple and remember that no phones equal better exam grades.
Eat Healthy Foods
When I think about a college or Uni student's diet, pizza, instant noodles, a lot of coffee, and way too many alcoholic beverages come to mind. Am I wrong? Not at all. There is no denying the fact that college students eat complete garbage. But that needs to change because a healthy diet with nutritious food items is essential for fueling the brain and increasing energy levels, focus, and memory skills.
We know that college students don't have much time to cook, but it's important to state that purchasing healthy snacks such as berries, seeds, nuts, and yogurt take practically no time; so there is no excuse not to eat well!
Drink Plenty of Water
A lot of new Uni students think that indulging in sugary sodas and energy drinks will improve their performance and keep them studying for longer hours, but that couldn't be farther from the truth since they are damaging and a crash is imminent.
So instead of having the habit of drinking Coca-Cola and Red Bull, grab a glass of water that will keep you hydrated and healthy!
Get Enough Rest
While it may seem almost impossible for university students to get enough rest, it is vital since it helps students remember critical concepts and hone their memory skills. Therefore, try to go to bed and wake up at a reasonable hour to avoid disrupting REM sleep that is essential for memory.
Try to have the goal of getting between 6-7 hours of sleep a night; it seems complicated, but it can be done.
There you have it, folks, 15 fantastic tips and tricks to make studying for exams a breeze or at least a little easier. All of them are proven to help, so, for what are you waiting? Try them out today to ace your assessments!
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