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Our Top 10 Study Tips

November 15, 2016 | Students  

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1)      Pick a place and time

It is essential that you study in a place and at a time that best suits you. Whether it’s in your bedroom when your roommates have hit the town or the impressively quiet library, choosing a comfortable and productive study space is essential to your success. Also, choose a time when you are at your most productive – whether you’re an early bird or a night owl – make sure you stick to that time daily. 

2)      Create a revision timetable

A well planned revision timetable will help you to plan out your time and the topics that you will cover so that by the day of the exam you have everything covered. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to relax as taking care of yourself in the lead up to exams is important

3)      Plan your time

As well as creating a revision timetable, you could set alarms, make to-do lists and set time limits. Alarms help you to stay on track and remind you of your study plans. The average person’s concentration span is 40 minutes so make sure you take a break after 40 minutes. To-do lists break tasks down into manageable chunks. Lists break tasks down into manageable chunks. At the start of the week, make a list of the things that you need to have done by the end of the week. Make a to-do list at the start of each study session too, so that you’re clear about what you need to be doing with your time. It’s always satisfying to be able to tick off a task from your list. Before you start your study session, have a look at your to-do list and give yourself a set time to spend on each task.

4)      Discover your learning style

Everyone learns in different ways- it’s all about finding the method that works best for you.

  • Auditory learners learn by listening. If you’re an auditory learner you could try reading your notes aloud and discussing them with other people. You might like to record key points and play them back.
  • Visual learners learn by seeing. If you’re a visual learner you could use colours in your notes and draw diagrams to help represent key points. You could try to remember some ideas as images.
  • Tactile/kinesthetic learners learn by doing. If you’re a tactile/kinesthetic learner you could use methods like role-playing or building models to revise key points.

5)      Review and revise

At least once a week you should go back over the things you’ve studied previously. You could quiz yourself to test your knowledge. Ask a friend or family member to test you on key concepts. Quizzes are great ways to get confident about what you know and find out what you still need to learn. You could also make your own study materials. For example, write some practice exam questions or create your own flash cards to help you study. This way you learn it all twice: once when you make the study materials and once when you use them to revise.

6)      Take regular breaks

It’s important to take regular breaks while you’re studying. Working too long on a task can actually decrease your performance.

When you take a break, make sure you get away from your desk or study space. Breaks give you something to look forward to, an incentive to work hard and a chance to refresh yourself.

7)      Ask for help

If you’re struggling with a particular point you can always ask for help. Talk to your teachers or lecturers about the things you don’t understand. You can also talk to your friends and fellow students too as they may be struggling with the same point.

8)      Stay motivated

When you’re studying it helps to keep in mind your reasons for doing all this hard work, like a course or career you’re working towards. It can help to have something in your study space to remind you of your goals.

You could also decorate your study space with inspirational quotes or photos of people you admire and family members you want to make proud of you. It is important to maintain a positive mentality.

9)      Find a study app

There are a range of revision apps available to download. These can help to keep your revision interesting. Some good apps include Coursera, Brainscape and Quizlet.

10)    Look after yourself

You’ll study better if you take care of yourself. Make sure you eat well and get enough sleep and physical exercise. Don’t reward yourself with too many sugary or fatty snacks or push yourself to study late into the night. It’s also a good idea to make sure you drink lots of water when you’re studying.

Let Leeds wishes all students the best of luck in their studies and exams.

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