March  2024                   Issue 15

Creative Study Tips To Help You Earn An A+

By Mazu Rakhsha

Are you sick of spending endless hours studying only for your dream test results to elude you? Does even a single moment spent at your desk suck your energy away? The problem most likely is not coming from you; it is derived from the strategies you are using to study. So here are (insert the number of strategies) unique, helpful (and maybe even enjoyable) study tips to experiment with if you still need to find your study style.

Set Up Your Surroundings

While some students may claim this is a waste of time because it does not involve directly getting work done, it benefits an unmotivated student. Place candles on your desk, find your favorite pen, or make a comforting drink such as tea or hot cocoa. At the same time, you practice habits that can bring you into a productive mindset and effectively initiate the study session. By jumping into studying immediately without feeling prepared and calm, you could be setting yourself up to lose focus and cling to an unmotivated attitude. However, taking even just a few moments to set up a relaxing outside environment can, in the same way, prepare your mind as well.

Use little moments of free time to study

You may be too busy with at-home responsibilities or extracurricular activities to spend hours reviewing flashcards and taking notes. Nevertheless, you may be taking the little breaks in your day for granted. If you find even ten or fifteen minutes in your day to study, such as during drives from home to school or the minutes before you go to sleep, it can provide ample studying time if done consistently.

Study before you go to bed

Although this seems counterintuitive since many find themselves most exhausted at nighttime, studies have shown that studying through active recall (flashcards, quizzing yourself on notes, and more) before sleep can improve memory of the material studied. According to chronobiology.com, "people who study before bedtime, regardless of the material they are trying to learn. . . have better memory and recall." The article explains a study where half of the participants studied before sleeping for eight hours while the others reviewed in the morning. Later, "the participants who studied before bedtime were able to match names to faces at a higher rate and felt more confident about their answers compared to those who studied in the morning." So, while you may have been ignoring nighttime studying opportunities, they can be very beneficial.

Write down your studying methods over time

You may still be experimenting with different methods of studying. It can be beneficial to write down the time you spend researching before necessary tests when you study most, and what strategies or resources you use for learning. Over time, you will have both your test results and the plan you used to achieve those results, making it easier to determine what type of studying is most effective for you based on the outcome of each method.

Study for five minutes a day

Often, the most challenging part of studying or getting work done in general is getting started. Telling yourself to "study only for 5 minutes" can motivate you to begin studying and potentially even continue for a more extended period as you adjust to a focused headspace.

In summary, studying can feel complicated and tedious if not done effectively. However, the key to success is experimenting with different methods and finding what works best for you; the tips above can help you start strong.