The key responsibility of a student is to study effectively to perform well in school and ace all their tests. However, unlike physical work, studying for a set period of time does not guarantee success. You can spend hours of your precious time preparing for a test, only to get a mediocre score just because the time you spent studying was not effective. This is a universal problem among students around the world. So as an expert in this field, we compiled some basic tips for effective and efficient studying that can help you perform well in your exams.
- Multitasking doesn’t always work
Some individuals are naturally better at multitasking than others. Some people are comfortable solving complex math problems while listening to music, but most research shows that multitasking does not improve efficiency and actually negatively affects your ability to focus.
So for most individuals, effective and efficient studying involves eliminating any distractions during study sessions. Social media, web browsing, playing games, texting your friends, etc., can shift your focus, decrease efficiency, and negatively impact study sessions. So try turning your phone off when you study and restrict yourself from using a computer only if you need it.
- Don’t forget to take breaks
Breaks during long study sessions are more important than you might think. Research has found that taking 5 mins breaks after an hour of study helps improve productivity and your overall ability to retain information from study materials. Therefore it is better to separate your study sessions into small blocks and take a short break after each session to maximize efficiency.
- Find effective study materials and study notes
If you do not find effective study materials or notes, you will go round and round in circles without making much progress. This is especially true if you study in a large college or university with no fixed books or materials to follow. For example, you can check Arizona State University documents here, which is significantly more effective than studying alone or finding information online. Study materials are also compact and contain practice questions, which help you be more effective and efficient in your study.
- Explain what you learned to your friends
The most effective way to learn anything is to explain it to others. When you learn a new topic and try to briefly explain the main gist of it to your friends, and tend to address any confusion that you may have, resulting in a much-improved study session. So, do not hesitate to help your friend who may need your assistance. If you do not have anyone to discuss the topic with, try explaining loudly to an imaginary audience, it doesn’t matter who you explain it to; what matters is your ability to explain.
Some final thoughts
We hope the above tips will help you to be more effective and efficient in your study. Remember, studying involves your mind, so working hard alone will not be enough. Use the right study materials, avoid distractions, and most importantly, give yourself plenty of rest if you want your long study sessions to be productive.