Pre-Study Tips

One common study misconception is that studying begins when you crack open your notes and start reviewing. However, there are a few pre-study considerations you should make before you even start! This section will focus on the importance of taking good notes, choosing what to focus on, and planning your study schedule.

Take Good Notes

Good notes are an essential part of studying effectively. This involves both in-class note-taking and note-taking during your readings – long before your studying actually begins.

• The Cornell method is a great method for notetaking. When it’s time to review, you can cover up the notes section and use the cues (main ideas, keywords, questions) to jog your memory. Click here for a template! (ADD LINK LATER!!!)

Develop the discipline of reviewing your notes and text summaries within 24 hours after first reading them, as well as regularly throughout the term. This is a great study strategy that will help you transfer knowledge from short-term to long-term memory and avoid cramming right before an exam. 

• Refer to our “Reading Strategy” resource page (ADD LINK LATER!!!) for more information on this, such as the SQ4R method. 

Choose What to Focus On

It is quite possible that when preparing for a test or exam, you will not have time to review everything you read, discussed, and wrote during the whole semester. This is where deciding what to focus on, or prioritize, in your studying is important.

• For example, you may try to narrow down what areas you found most difficult throughout the course and will require the most attention to study. Consider prioritizing these concepts or lessons to maximize your understanding.
• Consider also your course objectives found in your syllabus. These objectives often outline what you should be able to do by the end of the course. Do you feel you can answer “yes” to each of these objectives? That shows you have a good understanding of the content and why the content is important to understand.
• You can also anticipate questions you think might be asked on the test or exam and practice writing out answers to them. This is especially effective if there is an essay component to your test/exam.
  • E.g. Ask yourself: What is one theme/topic evident in your reading/text, and how is it supported?
  • E.g. For a philosophy course you might ask yourself: Who are two philosophers looked at in the course, and what are their approaches to philosophy?
• Pay careful attention to cues in class as well. What your instructor emphasizes through intonation and repetition is often something important to be mindful of!

Plan your Study Schedule

Your study schedule is another integral part of the study process. It is important to schedule your studying time strategically so that you have ample time and can review more challenging material when you are most alert. Ask:

• Do I work best in the morning, or can I focus better after the sun sets?
• Do I have to schedule around my classes, utilizing my time between them?
• Do I have to do my readings in the evening, such as after my kids are asleep or I’m home from work?

Once you’ve created a schedule, it’s important to remember to pace yourself. We suggest studying in segments of 25-40 minutes with short (5-minute) breaks in between. One format that is well-used is the Pomodoro method for creating a study schedule:

• Work hard and without interruptions for 25 minutes
• Break for 5 minutes
• Every third or fourth break, reward yourself with a 20-minute break instead of 5 minutes

NOTE: On your study breaks and before an exam, try to do something active such as taking a walk. This can boost your mood, memory, and brain processing speed.

The Study Environment

The effectiveness of your studying isn’t just about the strategies you use; it’s also about the environment you put yourself in! This section will focus on your study space, managing distractions, and the role of music in creating a study environment that works best for you.

The Study Space

Where you study is arguably just as important as any other strategy you use. In fact, different study spaces work better for different people. You may need to study around other people, by yourself, with music, at home, in a library, or in a café. Consider what environment suits you best by asking yourself questions like:

• Do I rely on a lot of background noise to get in the study mood?
• Do I want to be around lots of people or to be on my own?
• Do I need the silence of a library or my own room?

Whatever you choose, ensure that any space you select is well-lit, comfortable, and properly equipped.

Managing Your Distractions

Managing your distractions is another integral part of your study environment. The most notable of these distractions is your phone.

If you need (or are tempted) to use a computer or smartphone while studying, try an app such as ScreenZen to block the internet for a set period of time, or leave your phone in a separate room or space.

The Role of Music

Studies have shown that music can be a helpful tool in your study environment. Music has the ability to help you stay calm, alert, and motivated.

Just like your study space, however, it’s important to choose the right kind of music – something that works for you!

• Some suggestions include classical, ambient instrumental, and movie scores at a moderate volume.
• Consider also selecting or creating your playlists in advance to avoid wasting time searching for the right music in the middle of a study session.
• Whatever you choose, make sure it aids your focus, and doesn’t keep you from it.

Practical Study Strategies

You’ve planned your study schedule and found the perfect study space... Now, how exactly do you study well? This section will provide you with some practical study strategies to aid in your preparation.

Speak Out Loud

Rehearse course material verbally, and not just in your mind. Studies show that you are 50% more likely to remember something if you say it aloud.

• You may even consider “teaching” the subject or concepts to a friend or classmate. Not only will this help you iterate the content verbally, but it will solidify what you do know and help to reveal what you need to keep working on!

Create Mnemonics

Mnemonics are memory devices that help you recall more complex pieces of information. These can take many forms, including the following: 

• Expressions or Words: The most well-known type of mnemonics, this involves taking the first letter of each item to be remembered and using those letters to form a phrase or word. (e.g. Coordinating conjunctions in English can be remembered as FANBOYS – For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.)
• Music: Make a song or jingle to any tune you like. This type of mnemonic works especially well for long lists that need to be remembered.
• Names: Use the first letter of each word in a list, rearranging those letters as necessary, to make a name (e.g. Roy G. Biv = colours Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).
• Rhymes: Put the information you need to remember in the form of a poem (e.g. in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue).
• Notes: Try flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other, outlines to categorize ideas, or the Cornell method noted earlier.
• Images: Create an unusual mental or actual image – the sillier the better – to remember important information. For example, to recall that a numismatist is a coin collector, you might picture a new mist coming in onto a beach covered in coins.

NOTE: Information about mnemonics and examples here were borrowed largely from Dennis Congo and The Learning Center Exchange at http://www.learningassistance.com/.)

Form or Join a Study Group

Study groups are another great tool if you find you work best with others. This may be a space where members can take turns “teaching” others what they know, or you can quiz each other on concepts that require memorization.

• Note: If you are the one forming your own study group, be sure to delegate members to fulfill tasks (e.g. having someone bring snacks to fuel your studies, someone to set goals for each meet, etc.).

Final Advice: Stick to the Basics

Amidst this process, always remember, it’s best to stick to the basics! When you are stressed and time-pressed, avoid the temptation to sacrifice sleep, neglect nutrition, and avoid exercise – these tendencies will only diminish your capacity to perform well. Keep healthy habits for a healthier mind and better exam grades.