5 Effective Studying Techniques That Are Backed by Research

I’ve sat hundreds of exams, learned thousands of new concepts in five years of medical school and had to study smarter, not harder for postgraduate surgical exams during my time as a doctor. Many students use learning techniques that are time consuming and give the illusion of mastery. They become familiar with ideas and information in preparation for a test, but forget it a week later because their learning techniques never led to long-term learning. Too often people imagine that long hours of studying are the best path to being a model, straight-A student. Yet research shows that highly successful students actually spend less time studying than their peers do—they just study more effectively.

Practice Makes Perfect

Lack of interaction leads to a poor personalized learning experience, which leads to an absolute waste of time, energy, and money. Active learning is scientifically proven to result in insignificantly increased message retention. An active learner definition based on Dale’s Cone of Experience reveals that learners take in more information through “action-learning” because of its direct and purposeful nature. Since learners can participate and actively do things, they retain at least 90% of the learning materials. In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of these techniques for learning and retention and how to be a better student. You’ll also learn how AI tools like YouLearn’s personal AI tutor can help you reach your academic goals.

The Feynman method is ideal for using analogies to further illustrate your concept (e.g., a bonsai tree is just like a big tree, but smaller). Create an organised system for note-taking and summarising, and practice effective studying methods to digest information effectively. Prioritise essential material and seek help from instructors or Teacher Prep Tech peers when needed.

#6. Make Your Notes Work for You

Slip them in your bag, so you can pull them out whenever you have a spare minute. This is a fantastic way to squeeze in extra practice time outside of your regularly scheduled study sessions. Experts argue that the difference between “slow learners” and “quick studiers” is the way they study; for example, instead of memorizing, “quick learners” make connections between ideas. Some students find that recording all information visually in one place (such as on a sheet of paper or chalkboard) can help to paint a fuller picture and aid their connections within the learning process. Named for its originator, German scientist Sebastian Leitner, the study method forces students to learn, through repetition, the material they know least well.

• These can be small rewards, such as a square of chocolate for each paragraph you write or watching an episode of your favorite Netflix series when you’ve mastered revising a specific topic.
• Having other people to study with means you can explain the material to one another, quiz each other, and build a network you can rely on throughout the rest of the class—and beyond.
• While you might think late-night study sessions are disadvantageous to your academic success, research suggests they are not necessarily a bad idea.
• When you’re preparing for a test, begin your studies by reviewing your highlighted sections and the notes you wrote down.
• You’re engaging your eyes as you read the words, your mouth as you say them, and your ears as you hear yourself.

Ask a parent, friend, housemate, or study buddy to quiz you using your flashcards. Creating them alone will help you better retain information and is a practical study technique. Learning effective study techniques for graduate school can ensure you are fully prepared for your exams and will help curve any looming test anxiety. Hopefully, with the techniques above, you can avoid cramming the night before and make your study time more effective. For more tips on the best ways to study, download the infographic below.

Effective Studying Methods for Every Kind of Student

Too often, students find themselves absent-mindedly scanning pages of text, with the ability to recall very little to almost none of the information they have read. Then, you incorporate the ‘boxes’ into your study schedule, remembering to test each box within the time daily time bracket that’s recommended. Active learning is a process that puts you at the centre of everything you learn. Rather than focusing on what you learn, it works on the premise of how you learn – encouraging you to think about the material you’re learning, rather than passively receiving it from a teacher or textbook.

Although you shouldn’t pull all-nighters, studying right before bedtime can be a great idea. This can be extra helpful when prepping for an entrance exam like the GRE, though there are a growing number of schools that don’t require GRE scores for admission. This time, however, your goal is to condense them down to only the most important material. Ideally, you want your rewritten notes to fit on just one or two sheets of paper. After each class, you should have fleshed out your notes and rewritten them in a neat, organized format. Now, it’s time to take your re-done notes and write them once again.