Successful Study Strategies

We're just about at the end of Week 5 of the Fall 'B' Module and finals are quickly approaching.  Use these "Successful Study Strategies" to enhance your learning, retention and test taking ability. 

Listening in Class

ü  Concentrate on your teacher you should review study notes and your textbook before class

ü  Tune out noise and talking

ü  Listen for the main ideas

ü  Focus on the What? Why? Where? When? Who? And How?

ü  If you miss class arrange to get notes from another student

Taking Notes in Class

ü  Don’t write down everything

ü  Record the main ideas and supporting facts

ü  Use your own words

ü  Keep your notes organized

ü  Use a highlighter--- paying attention to bold printed items in the text and any information given in margins

Remembering

ü  After school, quickly review your notes while they are still fresh

ü  Highlight important notes or add explanations

ü  Apply what you’re learning as soon as possible

ü  Study with a friend. Answer each other’s questions

ü  Study more regularly for shorter periods. This often works better than one long cram session.

ü  Questions should be written down and brought up for clarification in class

Studying

ü  Get motivated --Assignments that seem overwhelming can be much more easily handled if they are broken up into manageable parts

ü  If possible, find your own quiet space to study

ü  Keep your workplace clean and uncluttered

ü  Make sure you have good lighting and a comfortable chair

ü  Have all of your materials ready for study, Textbooks, paper pens and pencils including colored highlighters, computer

ü  Don’t do your homework in front of the TV. Minimize distractions use soft background music to tune out other distracting noises in your environment.

ü  Study in 30 minute periods followed by a 10 minute break

ü  If your mind wanders bring yourself back to your task

ü  Repeatedly review the material to be remembered .Stop occasionally and recall what you are learning

ü  In your own words--- say aloud what you want to remember

ü  Use sketches or diagrams to increase your retention

ü  Associate new information with old information

ü  Form a study group especially before exams for reviews

Test Taking

ü  Write your own study questions Pick out important points

ü  Make a list of the facts that are hard to recall

ü  Put the information on Study cards or sheets of paper carry it around with you and periodically glance at it for a few seconds. Repetition is essential to retention.

ü  The night before the exam,spend a short time going over the main ideas and concepts one last time

ü  Get a good night’s rest before the exam

ü  First scan through the entire test

ü  Read the Directions

ü  Choose an Answer

ü  If you are not sure of an Answer move on to the next question. Studies have shown that other questions may lead you to an answer for the question you did not answer

ü  Before turning in the finish test make sure you have provided an answer for every question