Have you ever worked really hard for a test, but didn’t get the results you wanted? You’re not the only one. Many students throughout high school realize that their way of studying is not cutting it, so, I went around asking teachers for their tips on how to study. Here are their responses.
What’s the best way to study?
Practice, practice, practice. Study actively, in sessions where you are aware and are remembering what you are studying. Study 2-3 subjects a day, giving each subject 2 study sessions (35-45 minutes) with a break in between the two sessions and each subject. Do 2 subjects in the morning, then take a longish break and do two more subjects in the afternoon. Don’t just read and highlight a textbook, do past papers, and then review and correct them. Ask yourself questions, forget and try to remember. Collect all your notes, rewrite them in your own words, and read through them multiple times. For technical subjects, have an overarching concept map that you can create yourself from your notes and memory, with definitions and examples of the concepts along with your planning out and outline of your answers. If you have to memorize things, flashcards are the key! Take them with you wherever you go, and if you’re bored or have a few minutes to kill, you can whip them out and quiz yourself. Avoid listening to music with lyrics, because it interferes with the path in your cognitive processing used for recalling information.
How often should one study?
Persistently. Review fresh material within 48 hours, then at the end of the week, then a review within a month, and then three months. This will help you retain the information. Make sure you are comfortable with the topic and can answer any question with certitude without looking at the answer.
Where should one study?
Whatever works for you. Wherever you can get the work done and get rid of your anxiety. Try and create the same calm environment when you go in for an exam.
How long before an exam should one study?
It depends on the volume of material that you are being assessed on. Make sure to give yourself enough time to summarize each topic, solve practice questions and review. Study as much as you can.
For IB students, year 12’s should be working for 10-15 hours completing homework and reviewing notes outside of class every week. During the holiday, they should be studying 2-4 hours a day in preparation for their end of year exams. Year 13’s should be studying 4-6 hours throughout their exam leave before their finals.
For more tips, you can also check out a website Mrs. Shibaru created: https://sites.google.com/a/ecolint.ch/study-skills/home
