Study Strategies
It is always best to study in the morning.
False: It is best to schedule study sessions during the time of day when you are 'at your best.'
You should begin with the section of the exam that you feel least confident with to get it out of the way.
False: To build confidence, start with what you know.
Procrastination is delaying what needs to be done in order to avoid an internal state (like feeling overwhelmed).
True: Procrastination often comes from avoiding stress or anxiety.
While studying, it is best to primarily focus on specific facts.
False: If you only pay attention to the facts, you may miss the big picture. You want to see how the facts explain the ideas, principles, and arguments.
You learn the most in the first 30 minutes you start studying.
True: This is the phenomenon of the 'learning curve.' After 30 minutes, retention progressively deteriorates.
During an exam, you should skip questions you can't answer and return to them later if time allows.
True: First show what you know and then go back to the complicated questions.
Study breaks are allowed because they help maintain focus and reward yourself.
True: It is important to plan breaks into your study time.
Re-reading notes multiple times is the best way to memorize information.
Active recall, such as self-testing, is more effective for long-term retention than passive re-reading.
One helpful study technique is to predict possible questions (either essay or completion type), then write out some answers.
True: Predicting possible questions enhances your learning and test performance.
Say it is the night before an exam and you have not looked at any of your notes or reading for months. At this point, it is better to try to relax than cram as much material as you can.
False: Cramming is undesirable but better than nothing if studying has been neglected during the semester.
It is better to take one long break (like two hours) than several short 10-minute breaks.
False: Too long of a break can be counterproductive.
The more you cram information in a short period, the better you will remember it.
False: Spacing out study sessions over time (spaced repetition) is more effective than cramming.
It can be helpful to spend some time studying in the same room as the exam.
True: Studying in the room where you take the exam helps remind you of what you studied.
It is usually a waste of time to go over former tests given by the instructor.
False: Going over old exams can be the best way to understand what an instructor is looking for and how the test may be formatted.
After studying for an hour, it is a good idea to either change subjects or change the method of studying (for example, switching from reading to flashcards).
True: You can study for several hours at once, but make sure you switch subjects or switch study methods, such as taking a self-made practice test, then reviewing lecture materials. After hours of studying the same material in the same way, you are learning virtually nothing.
Teaching what you’ve learned to someone else is a good way to reinforce memory.
The Feynman Technique suggests that explaining concepts to others strengthens understanding and recall.