Studying, whether it’s for school or university, whether it’s by choice or out of necessity, whether it’s for an assignment or an exam: it can be hard!
Even when it’s for a subject you love, preparing yourself for an exam or writing an ‘A+’ assignment takes a lot of effort and can be very demotivating. Here are some tips to help you study smarter, meaning you will learn and remember more – for less effort!
Be Happy You Are a Student
The most effective way to keep yourself motivated and studying smarter is to remember why you are studying in the first place – and to keep an eye on that light at the end of the tunnel!
The hard work you are putting in now will pay off in time. You will not be a poor student forever: you will be whatever it is you want to be.
The fact is, you don’t usually get what you wish for: you get what you work for. The work you do now will help you get what you want later.
It will also mean you can secure a good job if you get the great grades, which means you will have the money to pay off your loan and your credit card. This is important because debt recovery services are advanced and can always get back what money is owed. You want to be in a position where paying off what you owe is easy.
Study Groups
They really are worth setting up. Not only will you make new friends from working in a group or a pair, these new friends will also help to keep you motivated and on track.
Arranging a time and a place to study will force you to stay focused. It also means you can read over it each other’s work if needed. And even if in the end all you do is chat and drink coffee: at least you have made a new friend and contact!
Write a Little Everyday
You might consider yourself a “crammer”, or you feel you are a “deadline motivated” student – both very common and legitimate study methods.
However, when it comes to the amount of stress you put yourself through and the amount of information you retain: it is best to study consistently, in small doses over a long amount of time.
This means that when it comes to studying for that exam or writing that assignment, you will have to do less work to remember more.
Printing and revising your notes from classes a few nights a week, highlighting information that you think will be important later: this will all save you a lot of time and stress.
Mix It Up
Print out photos of events you need to remember, make up acronyms and post these all over your bedroom walls.
Write up posters using felt-tip pens and make them visually appealing: anything to break up the studying from simply reading from a book or computer.
You won’t feel as restless, and being surrounded by notes and posters will make recall a lot easier when you are sitting in the exam room.
Proofreading/Revising Partner
Always have someone read through your work, and make sure you return the favour.
Give yourself a deadline for when it needs to be sent to them so you have time to make changes if needed. This will help you keep control of your time.
When it comes to exams, testing each other, emailing each other questions, or even using flashcards, are all handy tactics.
You’ll find you don’t want to reveal how little you know to your partner, which will mean you study harder – the wish to avoid embarrassment can be a very effective study method!