A Student’s Guide to Serious Study Skills

Posted on 14/10/12 10:49 AM by Amelia

Successful students understand the importance of serious study skills. Studying involves the act of reviewing information learned in the classroom; however, students neglect to consider other factors that separate outstanding academic performers from the rest. Studying means knowing when and where to make the best use of time. Many students fool themselves by half-studying and half-socializing, eating, watching TV, or listening to music. This can cause many problems for students when it comes time to take quizzes, tests, and final exams.

Students who commit themselves to studying will still need to manage their time wisely. Students can become distracted by loud noises in the evening. In addition, students may lose concentration if they decide to study late at night. Students should study when their body feels most alert, usually right after school in a quiet, secluded room. To avoid cramming or feeling fatigued from extended study periods, students should reward themselves with five-minute breaks every half hour. This will give them time to stretch and get their blood flowing to their brain by walking around. Students can choose to study in short intervals right before bed to promote unconscious “studying” while asleep. If this causes the student to fixate on studying, then he or she should discontinue this practice.

Studying hinges on the student’s ability to choose the right venue. For instance, if the student chooses a dark, noisy, cramped and uncomfortable spot to review learned material, then he or she will likely not retain any information during their study session. Instead, students should choose a well-lit, quiet, spacious, distraction-free, and comfortable study environment. Many times students choose a work desk located in their room, because it grants them control over their environment. However, this also means that students can succumb to the temptations of using their cell phone, lap top, TV, computer, or bed. Other drawbacks to studying at home may include distractions from friends, noisy roommates, or siblings. Many committed students choose the library.

Students may feel motivated to study if they bring a partner. Bringing a friend can prove advantageous if both students remain committed to studying. For instance, both friends can encourage each other to study when one feels unmotivated or distracted by external stimuli. In addition, a study partner can help test retained knowledge without the temptation of deceiving one’s self. However, students should not falter to only studying with friends. The sole purpose of studying revolves around independent dedication to learning the course material. Students who become dependent on their friends to study have a harder time adjusting to future classes without their friends. In addition, group study becomes more effective when students study at home and arrive prepared to reinforce information learned while in private seclusion. As a result, friends who grasp the information more than others can explain certain key points. This merges unique perspectives on the core curriculum and makes it easier to understand the subject matter.

Follow these links to learn more about effective study habits:

A Student’s Guide to Serious Study Skills

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