Studying efficiently can be extremely difficult. While doing well on a test is pertinent to maintain good grades, sometimes studying for a test can be ineffective when bad study habits creep up. If you struggle with staying focused and motivated, try these four study techniques that are sure to get you that A+ you’ve always dreamed of.
1) Put your phone away
Cell phones are a huge distraction when you’re trying to study. You are always connected to your friends via your iPhone, and nothing changes when your sitting in the library reading for a test. One quick glance at your phone can turn into 20 minutes of scrolling through your Twitter feed and returning the dozens of group text messages you’ve received in the last ten minutes.
2) Don’t cram
College students love to pull all-night cramming sessions for tests and memorizing every last bit of information they can. According to Andrew J. Fuligni, a UCLA professor of psychiatry, “sacrificing sleep for extra study time…is actually counterproductive.” The study reports that students who go with less sleep to study more are “likely to have more academic problems, not less, the following day.” Try studying in advance; that way you won’t have to stay up all night reviewing way more information than your brain can handle.
3) Try studying with others
While some people don’t like group studying, you’d be surprised at how much talking over concepts and problems can actually help memorization. Your peers may also be able to explain concepts you don’t understand and vice versa. Group study also helps to pass the time, so try and make some friends in your classes and start a study group.
4) Stay organized and motivated
The most important thing is to remember to stay organized and motivated. Don’t let anything sneak up on you. Use a planner to write down all your assignments, and plan out your study time accordingly.
Via Flickr/Petr Dosek
