The key to becoming an effective student is learning how to study smarter, not harder. This becomes more and more true as you advance in your education. An hour or two of studying a day is usually sufficient to make it through high school with satisfactory grades, but when college arrives, there aren’t enough hours in the day to get all your studying in if you don’t know how to study smarter.
Being an effective student means being able to establish effective study habits to instill discipline and focus to every young student of today. Education Corner, Education that Matters suggested ten study habits for every student to study smart rather than study hard:
1. CRAMMING is not an option.
Studying at 3am? Opening your books and your notes, 10minutes before the exam? Scanning your seat mate’s lectures on the spot? This are some attitudes that will result to danger and trouble. Successful students typically space their work out over shorter periods of time and rarely try to cram all of their studying into just one or two sessions. If you want to become a successful student then you need to learn to be consistent in your studies and to have regular, yet shorter, study periods.
2. PLAN ahead. PLAN to be successful.
Successful students schedule specific times throughout the week when they are going to study — and then they stick with their schedule. Plan your study time and limits. Plan what to study and do not try to compress subject matters at a certain time. Learnings could just mixed up.
3. SAME study Time.
Not only is it important that you plan when you’re going to study, it’s important you create a consistent, daily study routine. When you study at the same time each day and each week, you’re studying will become a regular part of your life. You’ll be mentally and emotionally more prepared for each study session and each study session will become more productive. If you have to change your schedule from time to time due to unexpected events, that’s okay, but get back on your routine as soon as the event has passed.
4. SET a SPECIFIC Goal during study periods.
Simply studying without direction is not effective. You need to know exactly what you need to accomplish during each study session. Before you start studying, set a study session goal that supports your overall academic goal (i.e. memorize 30 vocabulary words in order to ace the vocabulary section on an upcoming Spanish test.)
5. NEVER violate your study rules.
It’s very easy, and common, to put off your study session because of lack of interest in the subject, because you have other things you need to get done, or just because the assignment is hard. Successful students DO NOT procrastinate studying. If you procrastinate your study session, your studying will become much less effective and you may not get everything accomplished that you need to. Procrastination also leads to rushing, and rushing is the number one cause of errors.
6. Difficult subjects FIRST.
As your most difficult assignment or subject will require the most effort and mental energy, you should start with it first. Once you’ve completed the most difficult work, it will be much easier to complete the rest of your work. Believe it or not, starting with the most difficult subject will greatly improve the effectiveness of your study sessions, and your academic performance.
E7. REVIEW your notes First, before doing an Assignment.
Obviously, before you can review your notes you must first have notes to review. Always make sure to take good notes in class. Before you start each study session, and before you start a particular assignment, review your notes thoroughly to make sure you know how to complete the assignment correctly. Reviewing your notes before each study session will help you remember important subject matter learned during the day, and make sure studying targeted and effective.
8. NO distractions!
Everyone gets distracted by something. Maybe it’s the TV. Or your family. Or maybe it’s too quite. Some people actually study better with a little background noise. When you’re distracted while you’re studying you (1) loose your train of thought and (2) you’re unable to focus — both of which will lead to very ineffective studying. Before you start studying find a place where you won’t be disturbed or distracted. Some people this is a quite cubical in the recesses of the library.
9. EFFECTIVE GROUP Studies can help
Ever heard the phrase “two heads are better than one”? Well this can be especially true when it comes to studying. Working in groups enables you to
(1) get help from others when you’re struggling to understand a concept,
(2) complete assignments more quickly, and
(3) teach others whereby helping both the other students and yourself to internalize the subject matter. However, study groups can become very ineffective if they’re not structured and if groups members come unprepared. Effective students use study groups effectively.
10. UTILIZE your weekend properly.
Successful students review what they’ve learned during the week over the weekend. This way they’re well prepared to continue learning new concepts that build upon previous coursework and knowledge acquired the previous week.
Studying to become successful is an enduring journey, not everyone who is able to study can really study effectively. After all, the quest for education is never an easy road, it entails sacrifices in every phase of education. Sacrifice and being able to stick to your plan gets you through with the hurdles of learning. To become effective, remember to PLAN, if you don’t “you plan to fail.”
By: Aileen L. Lumaban | Teacher III | Limay Nationahl High School | Limay, Bataan
