These study tips, if actively practiced, will help you in achieving good grades.
Build a strong foundation
Learning is cumulative: what you learn today builds on what you learned yesterday. That's why it's so important to have a solid foundation of knowledge. If you don't understand the basics, you're setting yourself up for failure later on. To build a strong foundation, do the following:
- Ask questions when you don't understand something
- Read your notes and texts every day, even if you don't have any homework or an exam coming up
- Review notes and texts as soon as possible after class
Study regularly
Don't cram for exams! Instead, study regularly, even when there are no exams on the horizon. When you spread out your study sessions over many days or weeks, you give your brain time to process new information and make connections between different ideas.
The best way to study regularly is to set up a regular study schedule and stick to it. If possible, try to get into the habit of studying at the same time each day. For example, if you're studying for two hours every afternoon from Monday to Friday and one hour on Sunday afternoon, try to schedule your study sessions at roughly the same time each day. This will help you get into a study routine more quickly.
Identify your most productive study time and place and get into the habit of studying at these times each day. This can help your mind to associate that time and place with learning, which will, in turn, make it easier to concentrate on studying when you are there. Try not to study in your room if you find this makes you too relaxed! Instead, create a dedicated study space where you can shut out distractions, such as noise and clutter, and knuckle down.
Use Your Time Effectively
Create a detailed study timetable so that you can see exactly what needs to be done each week. Make sure that you consider all aspects of your life when creating this timetable as, for example, it is no use scheduling in big chunks of study time if you have work or other external commitments at these times. Remember to factor in breaks!
Learn Actively
Learning actively is more effective than passive learning as it helps you engage more deeply with the material and understand the connections between different ideas. Learning actively also means testing yourself on what you know - by making flashcards or doing practice questions – rather than just reading your notes over and over again.
Get enough sleep
If you’re getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night and still feel tired or like you ‘can’t be bothered' to study, it might be time to speak with a doctor. Lack of concentration is often the result of physical problems, not laziness.
Have a good meal
Because brain cells need all the nutrients and vitamins to function properly, eating regular meals is essential for academic success. If you’re feeling hungry while studying, try snacking on fruit or vegetables rather than junk food which may leave you feeling sluggish and unable to concentrate.
Regular exercise
Exercise is just as important as food when it comes to keeping your brain healthy and functioning at its best. A simple 30 minute walk each day can make a huge difference to how well you perform academically – so get outside and enjoy the fresh air!
Make friends with the library
If you want to get better grades, the first step is to stop thinking of yourself as a student and start thinking of yourself as a scholar. By this I mean that your main task at university isn’t to earn credits and obtain a degree; rather, it’s to acquire knowledge and refine your skills. The best way to develop as a scholar is to spend plenty of time in the library reading books, journals, reports, and other materials.
