What Should I DO When I Study?

This is a question many students have!  You know you need to “study” and you may even have heard the rule of thumb about studying 2 hours for every hour in class.  When I am working with students on probation they say they are going to study “more” or “harder” but they often don’t know what to actually DO.

Remember that to learn something you need to be exposed to it in a variety of ways, at several different study sessions, and spread over some extended time period.

Here are some ideas for different, concrete things to DO when you are studying:

• Of course you are going to “review” your lecture notes.   While doing that be sure you understand everything and that all of the information is clear.  If there is something you are not sure of, check back in the textbook.  This should be done as soon after class as possible - definitely before the next lecture.
• Break down the information in your notes into logical sections or chunks.  Read that section, then close your notebook and restate the information in your own words.  Check yourself and do it again if you are not 100% correct.
• Take important terms, people and events from your notes and put them on study cards – term on front and definition and additional information on the back.  You can add more information from your textbook.  Then quiz yourself.  Remember to restate the information before checking the back of the card.
• Create study guides from the information.
• Form a study group and either teach the information to the others or take turns quizzing each other.
• Take advantage of any online study guides or practice tests.
• Make your own practice test and take it a few days later or switch with a friend.

Remember, you need to do several of these strategies and they need to be spread out over the time period leading up to the exam.  They will not work during an all-nighter before the exam!

 So – pick one strategy and get started!