How to Study More Effectively in College

College and university students are busy with loads of projects and assignments. Fortunately, there are many effective study strategies that will help you in your academic routine. 

Scientifically Proven Tips for More Effective Studying at College

Staying on top of your college coursework can be tough when you have a lot of other responsibilities. Many students rely on traditional study methods when you lock yourself in a room and study a topic for hours until you master it. You just keep reading and cramming in the hope that all the necessary information will stick into your memory.

But there are some simple study methods that are based on cognitive science, and they can help you decrease the amount of time you need to study new material.  And the best thing is that you’ll retain that material for longer periods of time.

Want to learn more about this approach? Here are some study tips backed by science.

What Is a Scientifically Proven Approach to Studying?

Instead of cramming right before your test, you should start studying on the first day of your course. You should work hard every day to…

• Review the previous material – your goal is to refresh it in your mind before you start learning new information.
• Look through the next chapter/topic in your textbook to get a bigger picture – you’ll better understand its logical flow.
• Think about the questions you may need to ask your lecturer about the new topic.

This approach allows you to spend about 30 minutes reviewing daily, but it results in incredible outcomes. You will invest the necessary time in studying the course during a semester and will only have to review the material once more before the exam, paying attention to some difficult areas.

When it comes to your essays and other assignments, you should plan ahead and start working on them every day, setting deadlines for each milestone and sticking to them. Then, you are sure to complete your task on time and won’t have to search the web, trying to find an answer to the question, “Can someone do my assignment for me?”

Learn to Read and Retain Information

College instructors typically assign students certain textbook chapters that they should read before each class to prepare for it. Few students actually do that, but you should definitely take advantage of this preparation. It will help you better understand the next lecture and saves you a lot of time later.

The goal is to learn to read texts in a way so that you actually learn what you read. Wondering how you can do that? Follow these steps.

• Review notes or outline of the previous lesson to ensure critical reinforcement.
• Quickly scan over the chapter or section that will be covered in the next class.
• Ask questions that can help you fill the gaps in the understanding of the course material.
• Read the chapter once more carefully and make notes in the textbook margins to highlight important points.
• Write a brief summary of the chapter you have read – jot down key takeaways.
• Test your knowledge by answering questions at the end of the chapter or try to explain the new material to another student.

Learn to Take Good Notes

Put down all important points and you listen to the lecture. They will help quickly review the material before a test. Without notes, you will need to reread and review the entire topic in your textbook before a test. And that’s about 100-330 pages of material to be reviewed in one sitting.

Don’t worry about grammar and spelling as you write – just jot down keywords and important phrases. You should also leave spaces between different sections and fill out all the missing details later.

Then you’ll need to review and consolidate all the notes you have taken during the pre-reading stage and during the lecture. And keep in mind that you should do it within 24 hours after the lecture when you still remember the new material. You can create a “cheat sheet,” combining information from the lecture, textbook, etc., or you can transform your notes into different formats, for example, flashcards or concept maps. That will allow you to engage the higher functions of your brain – analysis and synthesis. This way, you’ll be able to further strengthen your memories.

Remember that the more you are exposed to information, the more likely you are to remember it. That’s why it’s important to make studying a daily habit. 

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