Learning to study smarter, not harder, is the key to becoming an effective student. An hour or two of studying a day is usually sufficient to make it through school with satisfactory grades, but when College arrives, now's the time to learn how to study smarter.
The large proportion of successful students achieve their success by developing and applying effective study habits. The following are the top 10 study habits employed by those students who achieve their potential. To become successful, don't get discouraged, don't give up, just work to develop each of the study habits below and you'll see your grades go up, your knowledge increase, and your ability to learn and process information improve.
1. Study at the same time each day.
Not only is it important that you plan when you're going to study, it's important you create a consistent, daily study routine. When you study at the same time each day and each week, your studying will become a regular part of your life. You'll be mentally and emotionally more prepared for each study session and so will become more productive. If you have to change your schedule from time to time due to unexpected events, that's okay, but get back on your routine as soon as the event has passed.
2. Don't cram all your studying into one session.
Often find yourself up late at night expending more energy trying to keep your eyelids open than you are studying? If so, it's time to change. Successful students typically space their work out over shorter periods of time and rarely try to cram all of their studying into just one or two sessions. If you want to become a successful student then you need to learn to be consistent in your studies and to have regular, yet shorter, study periods.
3. Plan exactly when you're going to study.
Successful students schedule specific times throughout the week when they are going to study - and then they stick with their schedule. Students who study without set times typically do not perform as well as students who have a set study schedule. Setting aside a period of time a few days a week, will ensure you develop habits enabling you to succeed in your education long term.
4. Never put off your planned study session.
It's very easy, and common, to put off your study session because of a lack of interest in the subject, because you have other things you need to get done, or just because the revision is hard. If you cancel your study session, your studying will become much less effective and you may not get everything accomplished that you need to. Cancelling also leads to rushing, and rushing is the number one cause of errors.
5. Have a specific goal for each revision session.
Simply studying without direction is not effective. You need to know exactly what you need to accomplish during each study session. Before you start studying, set a study session goal that supports your overall academic goal.
6. Start with the most difficult subject first.
As your most difficult subject will require the most effort and mental energy, you should start with it first. Once you've completed the most difficult work, it will be much easier to complete the rest of your work. Believe it or not, starting with the most difficult subject will greatly improve the effectiveness of your study sessions, and your academic performance.
7. Become targeted and effective by always reviewing your notes.
Always make sure to take good notes in class. Reviewing your notes before each study session will help you remember important subject matter learned during the day, and make sure your studying is targeted and effective.
8. Make sure you're not distracted while you're studying.
Some people study better with a little background noise. Everyone gets distracted by something. Maybe it's the TV. Or maybe it's your family. Or maybe it's just too quiet. When you're distracted while studying you can lose your train of thought and become unable to focus - both of which will lead to very ineffective studying. Before you start studying find a place where you won't be disturbed or distracted.
9. Use study groups or working with friends effectively.
Ever heard the phrase "two heads are better than one?" Well this can be especially true when it comes to studying. Working in groups enables you to get help from others when you're struggling to understand a concept. However, study groups can become very ineffective if they're not structured and if groups members come unprepared.
10. Review your notes and class materials over the weekend.
Successful students review what they've learned during the week over the weekend. This way they're well prepared to continue learning new concepts that build upon previous coursework and knowledge acquired the previous week.
We're confident that if you'll develop the habits outlined above that you'll see a major improvement in your academic success. Put what you learn into practice with our diverse range of study programmes. Alternatively, use your successful studying techniques to help others by selecting a teacher training education course.
