Top 10 Get studying tips

Ask questions and never be ashamed if you do not understand

While attending college we might notice that almost all the students have different levels and capacities of hearing and understanding. Not everyone can grasp and understand everything after one lecture. Such listening skills come by habit for many. If you feel that you are lost and you are struggling to understand the concept of the lesson, then do not hesitate to ask questions and doubts to the lecturer. Always keep in mind that it is better to ask help from lecturers rather than being ignorant about your doubts. Try not to ignore important doubts as these doubts may prove to be a problem for you in the future, especially while studying for exams. Make sure that you ask as much as you can from your lecturer and clarify and learn from those doubts, if possible.

Stick to a schedule that works for you

Don’t add unnecessary stress to your life by cramming study time in whenever possible or by putting it off until the last minute. Be deliberate and work significant chunks of study time into your daily or weekly routine. Then, repeat. Eventually, you’ll reach a point where it feels natural to study at a certain time and unnatural to skip it. With a regular and frequent study schedule, you’ll find it’s actually easier to learn in the moment and recall memorized information later on. We’ve even created study guides for some of our exam so you know exactly how much time to dedicate to each section depending on how much time you have to study! You can check those out here:

  • GRE Study Schedules
  • TOEFL Study Schedules

Assignments are serious job and not for lecturers

Most of the students have a habit of finishing their assignments a day before the submission date and also considers it as a piece of material for marks. Be it a small assignment or big one, it is something which shows your individual contribution. It does not only gain you marks but also helps you to realize your potential. Never postpone doing it or do not do it in a rush. Do not postpone your assignments until the day before they are due submission date. Try to start writing your assignment as soon as possible: Take your time, do some research work and present it at your best. Remember your content will speak for you only if you present it a neat manner. Use proper font size and spacing or if you have been asked to write make sure you keep it legible to understand. Also, if you fail to submit your assignment after the due date, most lecturers won’t even bother to take a look. Make sure that your assignments and assigned work are perfect and they meet the standards and requirement set by the lecturer. This will also create a good impression about you to the professor and can help you earn a good image.

Listen to the Correct Type of Music

In our blog post “Music for Studying: 10 Tips to Pick the Best Study Music” we looked into the area of how the correct types of music can lead to more productive studying by elevating your mood. Have you made your Mozart Spotify playlist yet?

Use practice questions for content review

Students often wonder if they should focus more on content review than answer practice questions. The thing is, you can review content and practice at the same time by using those same practice questions for content review. To score high on the MCAT, it’s best that you have a good mix of content review and familiarity with the actual test. It’s highly recommended that you spend a lot of time on practice questions and just a little on content review. The latter will help improve your performance accuracy and efficiency during the actual admissions exam. This is why you can’t exclude it when preparing for the MCAT. The advantage of answering practice questions on your content review is that it will help you see what you’re missing out. Using practice questions during the content review will help you ensure that the concepts you are studying are actually asked on the MCAT.

Use Background Sounds

Turning off the television, talk radio and your favorite pop song doesn’t mean that you have to study in total silence. Soft background sounds are a great alternative. Some people enjoy listening to nature sounds, such as ocean waves or cracks of thunder. Others prefer the whir of a fan.

Use To-Do Lists

Using a to-do list will help you keep track of the work you need to get done, and will keep you from getting distracted by trivial tasks. It will also help you avoid those times where you spend hours trying to figure out what to do.

Know When to Call It a Day

Yes, you really can get too much of a good thing. Although your studies are important, they shouldn’t be the only thing in your life. It’s also important to have a social life, get plenty of exercise, and take care of your non-school responsibilities. Studies show that too much time with your nose in the books can elevate your stress level, which can have a negative effect on your school performance and your personal relationships. Too much studying may also keep you from getting enough exercise. This could lower your bone density or increase your percentage of body fat.

Take Regular Breaks

Study sessions will be more productive if you allow yourself to take planned breaks. Consider a schedule of 50 minutes spent working followed by a 10-minute break. Your downtime provides a good chance to stand up and stretch your legs. You can also use this as an opportunity to check your phone or respond to emails. When your 10 minutes are up, however, it’s time to get back to work. At the end of a long study session, try to allow yourself a longer break — half an hour, perhaps — before you move on to other responsibilities.

Look over your notes each night to make sure you've got it.

Fill in details, edit the parts that don’t make sense, and star or highlight the bits of information that you know are most important. Interacting with your notes will help you remember them. You can also use Homework Help to get your questions answered 24/7.