6 Study Tips for Students
By: Dr. Lynn Fontana
Tests, and the studying that is needed to prepare for tests, can be very stressful and overwhelming for students. Most of the time, students don’t know where to start with all their class materials or how to study the materials in an effective manner.
But with our 6 study tips for students, they can learn effective habits, strategies and how to do their best on tests!
1. Begin studying now
Studying begins on the first day of any class and should be an ongoing process. Set aside a few minutes every night to review what you learned in class that day, regardless of whether you have a homework assignment or not. Choose a different topic or area to study each night. For example, one night you might study vocabulary, while on another, you might study key dates. Reviewing the material on an ongoing basis will help you learn the information, take the pressure off the test preparation process and help you perform better on test day.
2. Note-taking skills
As we discussed, preparing for a test starts much earlier than the week of the test. To have the right materials to study for the test, students must learn good note-taking strategies to implement during class and while reading school textbooks. Students should use different types of graphic organizers and outlines to help organize the information in meaningful ways. This will help students identify the key points and make connections between ideas. This, in turn, will help students synthesize, process and then recall information. Teachers will sometimes help students with taking notes by emphasizing points that should be written down during classroom lectures. However, knowing how to independently apply active listening and reading strategies to take notes is a skill that is critical for lifelong academic success.
3. Know what to expect
When you know you have a test coming up and want to know how to study for it, make sure you understand your teacher’s expectations. This means knowing what concepts will be tested and how they will be assessed. For example, will the test include all multiple-choice items or will it contain essay items or both? Different question types will require you to use different test-taking strategies. Pay attention when your teacher discusses expectations, and always ask questions if anything is unclear.