Effective Study Strategies

The sad truth is, if good study skills are not instilled in students at a young age, most will continue the pattern of procrastination, cramming, and exhaustion because they haven't been taught better methods. Of course, students have to be motivated to put these suggestions to work, but if successful, these skills will provide them with an arsenal of effective tactics for tackling many difficult problems faced at school, home, and work.
Academictips.org suggests the following study strategies:

  • Effective Time Management - Most students have to contend with sports practice, music lessons, church activities, and a whole host of other things on top of school and homework. The best way to prepare for an exam is to start prepping early and to set aside two to three hours per day for reviewing material. This method allows time to cover all the important material, but doesn't cut into the other activities vying for students' attention.
  • Establish Study Groups - While many students feel that a study group will just add one more thing to their already full schedule, reviewing class material with a buddy or a group allows for social interaction, verbal review of material, and a commitment to studying. Learning from and teaching peers is a great way to explore concepts further and think about them in ways you hadn't though of.
  • Set A Comfortable Pace - Students who make a study schedule are more likely to stick to it. Be sure to give enough time to thoroughly review all concepts, but don't schedule so far in advance that facts and ideas become murky during recall.

For more study tips and the effects of sleep deprivation and caffeine overload on exam performance visit Suite101!

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