You sit down, you open your textbook and you tell yourself, "I'll just study for one hour." But a few hours pass and you've just read the same page several times and ended up scrolling on your phone. We've all been there and it's absolutely normal. One reason for this might be that you just haven't found the perfect study method for you. Good news is there are plenty of strategies for you to try! Let's break it down into simple steps.
1. Find out what you actually need to know. Break it down into syllabus, learning outcomes and exam criteria!
2. Try active recall - quiz yourself whether it be through sites like Quizlet and Anki or even physical flashcards instead of simply rereading.
3. Space out your study over days or weeks rather than cramming it all which can be stressful.
4. Put your knowledge into practice rather than simply reviewing notes.
5. Identify your weak areas - highlight questions you keep getting wrong and criteria points that you struggle with.
6. Take effective breaks! Reward yourself to motivate yourself.
7. Study without distractions. Put your phone away, you can go on it after your study and you'll feel better feeling like you deserved the extra scroll time.
8. Review mistakes - keep a handy little book or doc of your mistakes to return to!
9. Sleep! There's only so much caffeine can do for you. Make sure to sleep to have a fresh mind to concentrate on your work.
10. Try block out your study time using a schedule. Consistency is so much better than stressful last-minute cramming and you'll thank yourself for this pattern.
But ultimately, there is no perfect way to study. What works for your friend might not work for you so don't be scared to experiment with all of these techniques. Always remember, it's quality over quantity. Study effectively rather than just studying for longer. So the next time you sit down at your desk to study, it's just as important to work smart as it is to work hard!
