While September may be all about settling into the new term – or maybe even a new school or university – now is the time to start focusing on your study technique. Putting in a little effort now will make life easier come exam time.
HINTS AND TIPS
Take good lecture notes
It may sound a bit obvious but if you take down good notes it will save you a lot of effort come revision time.
Gather all your notes in one space
A lot of time wasting occurs when you’re busy sourcing the material you need to study. Keep everything organised together in one space.
Make it visual
Many students are visual learners which means just reading something over and over again isn’t going to cut it. Visual learners need sights, images and visual concepts to make things stick.
Get somebody to test you
Asking someone to test you is a productive break from the dreary monotonous studying routine. This will also allow you to see where you’re strengths lie and what sections you need to re-visit.
Group study
Forming a study group will make you feel less alone when you’re studying.
Find old exam papers
Using a past paper, undertake a mock exam under exam conditions. This will help you practice writing under time constraints.
Take breaks
Break up your revision schedule with short breaks. A good study break consists of an activity that allows you to take your studying.
Reward yourself
It can’t be all about study, study, study. If you have achieved a study goal, or mastered a particular tricky bit of material reward yourself with something you like doing.
Change up what you’re studying
Don’t stick to one topic; instead study a bunch of different material in one sitting. This technique will make sure your brain doesn’t go into auto-pilot