What do you studying

Re-reading leads to quick forgetting. Think of reading as an important part of pre-studying, but learning information requires actively engaging in the material Edwards, Active engagement is the process of constructing meaning from text that involves making connections to lectures, forming examples, and regulating your own learning Davis, Active studying does not mean highlighting or underlining text, re-reading, or rote memorization.

Though these activities may help to keep you engaged in the task, they are not considered active studying techniques and are weakly related to improved learning Mackenzie, Organization and planning will help you to actively study for your courses.

When studying for a test, organize your materials first and then begin your active reviewing by topic Newport, Often professors provide subtopics on the syllabi. Use them as a guide to help organize your materials. For example, gather all of the materials for one topic e. Label each pile with the topic and study by topics. For more information on the principle behind active studying, check out our tipsheet on metacognition. The Study Cycle , developed by Frank Christ, breaks down the different parts of studying: previewing, attending class, reviewing, studying, and checking your understanding.

Although each step may seem obvious at a glance, all too often students try to take shortcuts and miss opportunities for good learning. The most effective practice is to work a short time on each class every day. The total amount of time spent studying will be the same or less than one or two marathon library sessions, but you will learn the information more deeply and retain much more for the long term—which will help get you an A on the final.

The important thing is how you use your study time, not how long you study. Long study sessions lead to a lack of concentration and thus a lack of learning and retention. In order to spread out studying over short periods of time across several days and weeks, you need control over your schedule. Keeping a list of tasks to complete on a daily basis will help you to include regular active studying sessions for each class.

Try to do something for each class each day. Be specific and realistic regarding how long you plan to spend on each task—you should not have more tasks on your list than you can reasonably complete during the day. For example, you may do a few problems per day in math rather than all of them the hour before class.

In history, you can spend minutes each day actively studying your class notes. Thus, your studying time may still be the same length, but rather than only preparing for one class, you will be preparing for all of your classes in short stretches. This will help focus, stay on top of your work, and retain information. In addition to learning the material more deeply, spacing out your work helps stave off procrastination.

Rather than having to face the dreaded project for four hours on Monday, you can face the dreaded project for 30 minutes each day. The shorter, more consistent time to work on a dreaded project is likely to be more acceptable and less likely to be delayed to the last minute. Finally, if you have to memorize material for class names, dates, formulas , it is best to make flashcards for this material and review periodically throughout the day rather than one long, memorization session Wissman and Rawson, Not all studying is equal.

You will accomplish more if you study intensively. Intensive study sessions are short and will allow you to get work done with minimal wasted effort. Shorter, intensive study times are more effective than drawn out studying. In fact, one of the most impactful study strategies is distributing studying over multiple sessions Newport, Intensive study sessions can last 30 or minute sessions and include active studying strategies.

For example, self-testing is an active study strategy that improves the intensity of studying and efficiency of learning. However, planning to spend hours on end self-testing is likely to cause you to become distracted and lose your attention. On the other hand, if you plan to quiz yourself on the course material for 45 minutes and then take a break, you are much more likely to maintain your attention and retain the information. Furthermore, the shorter, more intense sessions will likely put the pressure on that is needed to prevent procrastination.

Know where you study best. The silence of a library may not be the best place for you. You might find that you concentrate better with some background noise. Some people find that listening to classical music while studying helps them concentrate, while others find this highly distracting. Why is a direct answer better communication? That is why only a little added information is suitable for this answer after you first say which you are, a working person or a student. Stress the first word, not the second.

Other possible ways to say that you are not exactly a student now are:. I just finished high school this year. I just graduated from university last year. Of course, any of these replies could be preceded by the word, 'Well, If you are one of these candidates, between high school and university don't feel that it is a little unfair because your answer seems a little more difficult to speak correctly than other candidates.

Both of these are equally clear and that is the main thing, to communicate your meaning clearly. Examiners know that students are exposed to a mixture of British and American English and they don't mind if you use a mixture of American and British English, as long as they can understand what you mean.

But using mixed forms of English might sometimes confuse the listener momentarily. For example, if you speak British English most of the time and suddenly use an American English word or pronunciation, the listener might be confused for a split second because he or she was expecting to hear British English from you.

Talk to teachers Teachers are there to help you do your best. Talk to your teacher and ask for clarification or extra help if you need it before your test. Taking the initiative to ask for help goes a long way with teachers! Designate a study area The best study spot is one that is quiet, well-lit, and in a low-traffic area. Make sure there is a clear workspace to study and write on.

Study in short bursts For every 30 minutes you study, take a short minute break to recharge. Short study sessions are more effective and help you make the most of your study time. Find out more about taking a study break that works. Simplify study notes Make studying less overwhelming by condensing notes from class.

Underline or highlight key words. Create visual aids like charts, story webs, mind maps, or outlines to organize and simplify information and help you remember better. Study with a group Working with classmates encourages an interactive environment to keep you engaged.

Study Smart, Not Hard Knowing how to study effectively is a skill that will benefit you for life. Developing effective study skills requires lots of time and patience. Find more study tips by watching our video below. Need some extra help?