Reading a textbook repeatedly in the hopes that something will stick is your current study technique. If so, are you worried that you won’t be able to memorize such a large amount of information quickly? Graduate students must develop time management and study skills to maximize their information retention. Cramming the night before is no longer sufficient in graduate school. Try some helpful study strategies below to start the New Year fresh but first, we are going to discuss quick tips on how to study.
Quick Instant Tips on How to Study
LECTURE NOTES
To make your notes stand out, condense them into brief summaries and add amusing or cheeky images.
PROCRASTINATION
Consider using “the salami technique” when procrastinating. Slice up large projects into 10–20 small pieces so you can complete them in stages.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Fill in the academic planner for the upcoming year with the modules, due dates for assignments, and revision time.
Writing skills
Spend 10 minutes preparing responses to five different questions.
PRESENTATIONS
For structure and to increase your confidence, use the four Ps: Plan, prepare, practice, and then present.
Work in a group
Apply the pyramid discussion method. Come up with a topic on your own, discuss it in pairs, develop it in four groups, and then report back to the entire group.
ESSAY WRITING
Follow this format for a simple procedure: Organize, Draft, Review, Revise, and Edit.
PROOFREADING
Reading your work out loud is one of the best ways to catch the minor errors that your eyes miss.
EXAM PREP
To prepare for your exam, create new question-and-answer cards for a board game and play them with a study partner.
CAREER PLANNING
Write a blog about the abilities and employment you acquire as a result of your education: excellent CV examples for graduates.
Effective Instant Tips on How to Study
Set the Stage:
According to a recent study, students’ grades and how much sleep they get are positively correlated. However, this goes beyond simply getting eight hours of sleep before a significant test. Before doing most of your studying, getting enough sleep for a few nights is even more necessary. Although it might not seem like a good study technique, studies have shown that altering your study environment can improve recall. Try going to a new coffee shop or the library once a week instead of studying at home daily. Your memory and concentration can both increase with a change of scenery.
When time is of the essence, it makes sense to stick with your preferred study environment, your home office, or a café where you can consistently be productive. Coffee and sweets will give you a momentary boost, but then your blood sugar will drop quickly. Try eating healthy snacks like edamame, apples, or nuts for more enduring and focused energy.
Study Techniques & Advice That Really Works
SQ3R Technique
The SQ3R reading comprehension technique aids students in locating essential information in their textbooks and helping them remember it. The acronym SQ3R (or SQRRR) stands for the five steps of reading comprehension. To make your study session more productive and efficient, try these steps:
Survey: Start by skimming the first chapter rather than reading it cover to cover, making note of any headings, subheadings, images, or other standout elements like charts.
Question: Ask questions about the chapter’s subject matter, such as What is the purpose of this chapter? What prior understanding do I have of this subject?
Read: Start by reading the entire chapter, then look for the answers to the questions you came up with.
Recite: Summarize what you just read in your own words after reading a section. Try to recall, name key points, and respond to any queries from the second step.
Review: To fully comprehend the information once you have finished the chapter, it is crucial. Test yourself using the questions you came up with, and reread any necessary passages.
Before taking your final exam, you can test out this study method.
Practice Retrieval
The idea of remembering later serves as the foundation for retrieval training. Recalling the answer rather than consulting your textbook improves learning. Additionally, recognizing and noting the answer to a flashcard is far more efficient than presuming you know the key and turning the card over early. If you get to practice with retrieval, you’ll be more likely to remember the information later. The ways listed below can help you incorporate the retrieval procedure into your studying schedule.
- Use practice tests: To quiz yourself without consulting your book or notes, use practice tests or questions.
- Create your inquiries: Create test-like questions by acting as your teacher. If you’re studying in a group, enlist the help of your peers and encourage them to exchange questions.
- Create flashcards and use them, but be sure to work on your retrieval technique. Before checking, make a note of the response rather than quickly flipping a card.
The PQ4R Technique
The dynamic nature of this method helps students retain information and comprehend it better. PQ4R is an acronym for the six steps in the process, much like the SQ3R method above.
Preview: To get a sense of the topic before you start reading, skim the information. Just scan the text and focus on the highlighted text and headers.
Question: Consider asking yourself questions about the subject, such as what do I hope to learn? What prior understanding do I have of this topic?
Read: Try to find the answers to your questions as you read through the information, one section at a time.
Reflect: Did you address all of my inquiries? If not, look again to see if you can locate the solution.
Recite: Give a brief summary of what you just read, in your own words, either orally or in writing.
Review: Review the information once more, and then respond to any queries that have not yet been addressed.
Using the Feynman Method
By putting a concept into plain and simple terms, the Feynman Technique is an effective way to learn it quickly. The foundation of it is the maxim, “If you want to understand something well, make an effort to make it simple to understand. That implies that if we try to explain something in our own words, we will understand it much more quickly.
- Write the topic or idea you are currently studying at the top of a piece of paper.
- Next, describe it in your own words as if you were instructing a student.
- Go back and review what you wrote to find any errors. Once you’ve located them, review your notes or reading materials to determine the proper response.
- Finally, rewrite any sections of your writing where you used complicated language or technical terms so that they are easier to understand for readers who lack your educational background.
Colored Notes
Remembering the key ideas from a lecture can be challenging if your notes are a mess. Writing in color is a creative way to organize your learning material. It also aids in the review and prioritization of your most crucial concepts. A recent study discovered that color could enhance one’s memory function. According to that study, ” warm colors like red and yellow “can create a learning environment.
That is encouraging and uplifting, and it can encourage students to interact and engage more with the course materials in addition to having a positive perception of the material.” The study claims that warmer colors “increase focus and elicit delight and information.”
Although writing in color may seem obvious, keep the following in mind:
- Highlight essential details in red.
- Yellow highlights important information.
- Sort topics according to color.
- You should color just the most crucial information; don’t color everything.
Nobody wants to put in more time studying than is necessary. Learning efficient study methods can help you overcome test anxiety and ensure you are entirely prepared for your exams. With the tips on how to study above, you can avoid studying the night before and maximize your study time.
