It is getting to be about that time on campus, you yourself are probably preparing for midterms. Knowing that tests and midterms usually make up the bulk of your final grade, studying for these tests is something that you probably already do. However, what you probably did not know is that there is a way to study effectively versus ineffectively. Chances are that if you have not been doing well on your tests, you are not studying the right way. If you follow my six simple steps, you will be able to study effectively for any test. And with better studying habits you will surely see a marked improvement in your tests grades. These are the steps that I use when studying and I do not remember the last time I failed or came close to failing a test. …show more content…
That’s right, you are not even going to crack open your textbook yet. Most people are doomed at studying before they even begin because they do not know HOW they learn. If you attempt to study solely based on how your instructor teaches or how you see the people who get good grade in your class study, it may just end up frustrating you. Everyone has a different learning style and knowing what works best for you as an individual is the foundation for effective study habits. There is something called the VARK questionnaire that will help you figure this out through a series of multiple choice questions. VARK stands for visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic, which are all different methods of learning. A visual person learns best by seeing things, an auditory person needs to hear things out loud, someone who prefers to read and write will learn best by doing just that, and a kinesthetic person learns best by physically doing things or while active. However, it is more common than not to be a combination of these things. I, for example, primarily learn by reading and writing, but I am also slightly visual and auditory. This is reflected in the fact that I prefer to read chapters before class and write my own notes, yet I also like to learn and draw diagrams and can absorb information during a lecture. You can access a VARK type questionnaire easily by searching for it in a search engine or visiting …show more content…
This is where you will take what you discovered about how you learn best and put it into use. Maybe previously you had been relying on your professor’s notes when you are a visual learner. This means that you will align your teacher’s notes to diagrams and pictures in your textbook. Or if none are found take the extra step and use a search engine to find related pictures or even YouTube that can provide you with videos that explain concepts and ideas related to your studies. If you are an auditory learner this might mean that you read the information out loud to yourself. If you are a kinesthetic learner perhaps reading while standing will you remember more readily or putting into practice what your book is describing. As mentioned previously, as someone who learns best by reading and writing, I hand write my own notes even if the professor has provided me with theirs, and later on I compare and contrast both sets of
One thing I can do to help me study is to ask one of my older siblings to quiz me on the topic and/or chapter. Another thing I can do is make flash cards so I am able to quiz myself when I am unable to get help from another person. Essentially, these flash cards would have vocabulary terms and their definitions on them, or maybe even a math problem and its correct answer.
During my last semester at college, I postponed thinking about preparing for my tests. As each test day came closer, I got worried and desperately started cramming. I drank enough coffee to keep the whole city awake and woke up thinking that I would get a low grade. Eventually, I realized that students who always earned A's on their tests were not just lucky, but they really studied hard all through the semester. There are different ways to prepare for a specific test, and each individual must perfect his or her own style. I have developed a process that involves five steps to prepare for a test.
I find it easier expressing myself through words and understanding other individual 's thoughts and actions through speech and writing. By studying a piece of text I am able to retrieve a lot of relevant information from it, I find this an easy way to learn because I reflect back by making notes so I am able to look back on notes for situations such as assignments and revision for exams. This is why I find reading techniques such as skim and scan reading difficult because I need to read a piece of text, highlight the important information and make notes to ensure that I have gained a good understanding. I could possibly improve an approach for my reading by looking at step by step guides to skim and scan reading online. This could help for large amounts of reading which I have to read quickly in seminars and lectures and to draw only the important information
This one being your first year in college, you may have trouble concentrating while you study. Some techniques that can help your concentration are being selective, relaxing, and over learning. Being selective means to make choices about what is most important to learn. When you are studying, you should be able to know what may or may not be on the test, your notes for the week can be helpful. In addition, pay attention to charts, tables, and illustrations that you think may appear on the test. Relaxing is a good technique to use because when you are relaxed you are able to absorb more information. One way to relax is to use a breathing technique (inhale, count from one to ten, and exhale, and count from one to ten, and so on). Over learning can help you fight mental vagueness. When you are struggling in a class, it is best for you to learn more than you need to know about the subject. You can use these techniques every time you are studying or when you cannot concentrate.
Test taking is one of the most important things to have good skills at. Test usually have a significant effect on your grade. The more you are used to test and are prepared for different types of test, the better your grade will be. I know that when I take test, I get vary nervous and I cant concentrate, but when I have the feeling of being prepared for the test, I notice that I am not so nervous when I come to take it. You should always find time to improve your test taking methods, personally I try to devote one whole hour the night before a big test so I can remember a lot the next day. In school you will have various test that some will be easy and some will be vary difficult, you should always be mentally prepared to take whatever test they give you.
To determine the best way I learn, I carried out two different learning styles questionnaires online. One may find that they are not always categorised in a specific type rather they may have more than one learning preference. Firstly, the most commonly used Neil Fleming’s VARK model. Fleming believes that there are four different types of learner: Visual, Auditory, Reading/writing and Kinesthetic learners. The second model I tried out was Soloman-Felder Learning Styles and Strategies.
This is my method of retaining information. For instance, I go over the information with my friends if they are in the same class because it will help me compare what I already know and what I don’t. Most importantly, I look for interesting things to take away from every learning
This will be difficult for me because there are 1,000 things I would rather do than study. I feel that If I can stretch out my studying, then I will be able to fully understand the material, and be able to apply the information to the tests. I will adjust the study time each night to the amount of material I am required to learn, an example would be an hour for math and two hours for biology. On my first two exams I just filled out the study guides and studied a few notes. On my next exam, I am going to take more time on my assignments and then review the questions
I seem to learn better when I constantly read over the material I am studying. This allows the material to constantly be running in my mind. I am a person who will read or hear something and it usually sticks with me. I really haven 't had to study for long periods of time, because I usually remember the topic of what were being tested on pretty easily. I have also learned that I am more of a hands on person. I can learn things very quickly by putting them into action. Somehow that makes it click in my mind and helps me learn it. Mainly the study habits I can improve on is procrastination. This is usually hurts me the most. I will wait
An important question to address when attempting to identify effective study strategies and their relationship with academic performance is, “What are study skills?” The term “study skills” can be defined as proficiency in identifying, organizing, memorizing, and using information in order to succeed academically (Proctor, Prevatt, Adams, Hurst, & Petscher, 2006). Activities identified as study skills include “time management, setting appropriate goals, selecting an appropriate study environment, employing appropriate note-taking strategies, concentrating, selecting main ideas, self-testing, organization, and managing anxiety,” (Proctor et al., 2006). When studying, college students employ a variety of these study strategies that they believe
As a student, I have the worse studying method. Studying for a test is one of my fears. You know how some student can sit in one spot and study the brain out and never get bored. Well I’m nothing like that. I’m that type of student that can seated in one spot for just a few moment and then get lazy and wanted to give up. That something that I want to change about myself. I want to change the way I study so that I can improve my grade and go further on my education. In order for me to change my studying habits I know that I have to make some change in my life and my surrounding. If I’m going to change my habit. I have to have a purpose, activities, and goals. Recourse and barriers.
Personal learning styles are highly complex and unique to specific individuals. It is often difficult to pinpoint an exact learning style. Though there are different categories, we often fine tune them to our own abilities. By examining our traits and tendencies we create a clearer understanding of how we process and learn information. With careful review, I have developed a specific analysis of my learning characteristics, including an evaluation of skill levels. Based on what I have recently learned and know from experience, I have also devised a structured plan for improvement of time management and study skills.
Everyone has different learning styles. Learning styles are important because they help you better understand materials in classes. They are there to guide you and become a better student. Learning styles help you better grasp the material and better process it through your brain. When learning you want to do what is most beneficial for you. That is why there is many different learning styles to suit every person. There is three different types of learning styles categorized. The first learning style is auditory. Auditory is meant for individuals that enjoy asking questions, talking and listening, as well as like to read out loud. Visual learners are more interested in charts, graphs, neat surroundings, seeing rather than hearing, and are pictured to be timid as they read to themselves rather than out loud. Finally there is the kinesthetic learning style. Kinesthetic is to touch, to feel, and usually learn by doing.
The new year begins and Learning Strategies is on your schedule. Truly, you are probably not knowing what to expect and you think that this class is not for you. Boy, are you wrong. This class will save you plenty of time, so you better listen closely. At the end, you will leave the class wondering why no one ever showed me this. So listen up! The three most useful things that I learned in this class are: my learning style, how to take notes when reading a textbook, and how to be a more successful student at college.
Finding a good place to study will help a bunch, by making sure the spot is free of distractions (Dartmouth). Setting up study groups and using the library will also help when it is time to study (Hansen). Make a plan to study two hours for every hour that is spent in class, but just make sure that 30 minutes breaks are taken often and do not study the same subject after the break (Berkeley and Hansen). Knowing a good way to learn also helps. Some students learn better in the day time or better in the nighttime. Just figure out the best way to learn and then use that time to study (Dartmouth).