7 Tips to Improve Your Studying

Ian Sutliff, Staff Writer

When it comes to studying, there are a lot of important measures to take to make sure you receive the best grade possible. The sooner you get into a good study habits, the easier everything will be, and the chance of getting good grades will improve. Here are seven helpful tips to help you study better.

Organize Your Study Space— It is much easier to study when your study space is organized, as you can easily spread out your notes and work that will be needed during your study session. In being organized, it is good to find a place without any distractions such as a phone or television. When studying, it is important to know if you like to have music on or if you like to work in complete silence. Another factor to help better your studying is to find a spot with good lighting and a comfortable chair and desk.

Make a Study Plan— Thinking that there will be no problem at all if they try to study on the day before the test, many students wait until the last minute. It is better to think ahead and create a plan for studying throughout the week or coming weeks. For instance, you can make a calendar and plan out the amount of time you want to study on days leading up to the test. This will help ensure that there is no cramming on the last day.

Practice on Old Exams— Looking at old tests is a great way to study because it can help you prepare with previous versions of the same material. You can also prepare for what the format of the test might be and it might indicate how much time you should study for each section.

Teach Others about the Subject— Teaching people about the subject that you are learning is one of the most important ways to study, as you can prove to yourself and others just how much you have learned about the subject. It will also keep the topic clear in your head, and it may also highlight the areas where you need more work. By teaching someone about your knowledge on a subject, it shows how much prior knowledge you have when it comes to the certain subject.

Take Regular Breaks— Even though studying for as many hours as possible is usually cheered upon, it may not be the best idea. Studying something for too long may create frustration and tire you out. It is better to study for smaller periods of time instead of studying nonstop for hours, as doing so for long amounts of time can actually become counterproductive. This is because you can start to overthink the subject, and you can start to lose track of what you were trying to learn.

Sleep When You’re Tired— though this sounds more counterproductive when compared to studying all day, it can actually help. During sleep, the brain can reinforce new memories and there’s a good chance that you can remember what you studied right before going to sleep. While you sleep, your brain is constantly working, and it can be very beneficial to study before bed because your brain is still working to solve problems.

Study on a Regular Basis— By studying every day, you will be constantly reviewing content that ispotentially on the next test. It may also help you understand concepts at a deeper level and it can help you avoid the stress of waiting until the last minute. Reviewing each day keeps the subject fresh in your mind.

One of the most difficult things is to study and plan out your ideas. If you remember these seven helpful study skills, your grades will rise with your hard work.