Studying is not always fun, but nevertheless it is necessary not to ruin your grade point average. If you do your homework in class, you won't have to kill yourself with work to prepare for exams. In addition, you can resort to some tricks that will allow you not to spend too many hours on books, keeping the brain in training and keeping the body healthy.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Learning in the classroom
Step 1. Think about the subjects before entering the classroom
Normally, students are aware of the topics covered in class or during a course, because the professors regularly assign tasks and exercises. As you go to school or college, think about what you will be facing that day in order to prepare yourself psychologically. You will have the right state of mind to better assimilate the lesson.
Step 2. Go to class
If you are in high school, you can't do many absences, but if you are enrolled in university, you are free to manage your time. One of the easiest ways to get good grades without killing yourself on books is to take courses and listen to the teachers' explanations. In other words, it's not enough for you to go to class, but you also need to pay attention.
In addition, many professors consider attendance and participation important requirements in the overall assessment of students. Therefore, you need to be there and show interest in getting good grades. If you accumulate a lot of absences, you risk compromising your performance
Step 3. Sit at the first desks
You will probably be tempted to take a seat in the back desks, away from the eyes and attention of the professors. However, by sitting in the front, you will be able to see what they write on the board and hear them better. Plus, you'll also be more likely to stay focused.
Step 4. Clarify your ideas
If you are confused about a topic, don't be afraid to ask a few questions. The professor will be happy to dispel all your doubts and the other students will have more elucidations.
Step 5. Show interest
It will seem difficult, especially if you are struggling with a subject you do not like, such as math. Either way, start showing interest, even if you have to pretend. Convince yourself by telling yourself how passionate you are and making an effort to discover pleasant and compelling aspects, albeit to a small extent. By showing interest in what you study, you will be able to better assimilate the concepts to learn.
Step 6. Always look for the basics
The professors will likely guide you on the most important aspects by writing the main concepts on the board or highlighting them during their explanations. They might even repeat them to make sure the whole class understands their relevance. Always ask yourself what the concepts and crucial points are in order to use the time spent in class to reflect and assimilate them.
Step 7. Take your notes well
You don't have to write everything the teachers say, word for word, otherwise you won't assimilate the essential information and you will just do an automatic job of transcription. Also, you won't be able to keep up with the rhythm unless you take notes on a computer by tapping the keyboard very quickly. Therefore, it is best to write down a few words or short sentences that condense the main points of the explanation.
- For example, if a professor says, "Today we're going to talk about verbs. The verb denotes action in a sentence. There are two main types: transitive and intransitive," you might note: "Verbs: action in the sentence. 2 types: transitive and intransitive. ".
- To write faster, you may want to use patterns or abbreviations, but make sure you always use the same system so you don't get confused.
- While you can type many more words by typing on your computer, studies have shown that taking notes manually helps you learn your notes better.
Step 8. Don't get distracted
If it's hot in the classroom or someone is talking, you may be tempted to get distracted. Maybe it's a beautiful day or you don't feel like being in class. However, try to pay attention. Isolate yourself from anything that prevents you from staying focused and just think about following the lesson.
- It happens to anyone to wander with the mind. When you find yourself losing focus, bring your attention back to what your teacher is explaining.
- If you can't concentrate at all or start to doze off, try giving yourself a break by asking the professor for permission to go to the bathroom and sprinkle some water on your face.
Step 9. Write down or review your notes after class
If you picked them up by hand, try tidying them up on your computer once you get home. This way, you will be able to memorize the information and remember it longer. If you've used a computer in class before, try reading your notes again when you get back home.
Part 2 of 6: Doing Homework
Step 1. Establish a schedule
If you have been assigned homework assignments, order them so that they are completed on time and stick to your schedule.
Step 2. Study
Homework and homework are important for getting a good grade point average, so you need to do them correctly. However, don't settle for doing them just to pass an exam. In fact, you should apply yourself because they allow you to memorize what you have learned in class. So, if you find time to study at home, you won't have to spend too much time on books later on.
Step 3. Read critically
It is not enough for you to browse textbooks. Read each sentence carefully, assimilating the information well. If you have trouble concentrating, try reading aloud alone or with a friend. Give yourself some time to go through the main concepts. You can also write them down so that you have an overview of the topic and memorize the information acquired.
Step 4. Organize notes, homework and exercises
Keep a folder or binder for each subject and system for dates and sections, notes, homework and exercises. This way, you will know where you have put all the material on a certain topic and can easily find it when you have to repeat.
Part 3 of 6: Studying the Best Way
Step 1. Study the hardest subjects first
When a task requires a strong mental commitment, you have to work with a fresh mind, otherwise if you are tired you will struggle more. Also, you will feel much more satisfied once you are able to assimilate the most abstruse and complicated concepts and everything else will seem easier to you.
Step 2. Give yourself a few breaks
If you study without any interruption, you will exhaust yourself and you will also stop assimilating information. So, try to give yourself a respite at least every hour. Get up and walk, have a cup of tea, jump around on the spot or talk to a friend for a few minutes. All you need is a mental break and you will be ready to get back to work.
Step 3. Don't delay
Even if it is okay to allow yourself some breaks, when it comes to studying you have to apply yourself. Don't scribble and write random notes on the margins of books. If you get to work when you need to, your study time will be short and profitable.
Step 4. Don't focus on just one subject
Instead of working on a single subject for hours, switch to another subject, especially if you have several exams to prepare. For example, try changing the subject after taking a break. In this way, you will develop a greater interest in what you are learning, memorizing it faster.
Part 4 of 6: Study More Effectively for Exams
Step 1. Use a guide or a program to establish a plan
If not, you will need to use class notes or textbooks to outline a study plan. Basically, you need to build an overview of all the aspects to consider to prepare for the exam. You can do it using the main textbook entries or the fundamental concepts analyzed in the classroom.
- Once you have all the important concepts, take the time to go through them one by one, based on the overall time you need to prepare.
- You don't have to spend the same time on every concept. If you are more familiar with a topic, pay more attention to the ones you know less. If a concept is more complex, it will probably cost you more time than other simpler ones.
Step 2. Review your notes
One of the best ways to study for an exam is to review class notes. Read them and review the paragraph headings to make sure you don't leave out any important aspects. However, don't re-read all the chapters, or you will waste too much time, more than you need to prepare.
Step 3. Create a discussion group
To study better, collaborate with your classmates. It is more fun to work in a group and can be very effective as long as you don't lose focus. By comparing your views with those of others, you will be able to better understand the subject and assimilate concepts more easily.
- For example, if you are studying a novel for the exam, try using an online guide to start a discussion among your peers. You can find questions on almost any literary work.
- If it's math, try creating small challenges. Take an exercise and see who can solve it first. If someone is having difficulty, go through all the steps together and help them understand them. Whether you explain or need an explanation, you will acquire information faster.
Step 4. Make links between the various concepts
Most everyone tries to learn by using their memory skills. In other words, they read a text several times until the various information is fixed in their memory. A more effective way is to link the study topics to something you already know. By integrating these concepts into a network of notions, you will learn faster.
For example, suppose you need to study the circulatory system of an animal. You can compare the parts of the body to a train: the main train station is the heart, the most important tracks that depart from the station are the arteries, and those that go to the station are the veins
Step 5. Test the flashcards
If you feel that mental associations are not a good method, try studying using flashcards. They allow you to learn a concept because they force you to repeat it several times and, in addition, they help you practice.
- Just write a word or notion on one side and the definition or information related to it on the other. They work best with concepts that can be split into two parts, such as words and definitions, events and dates, or the name of an equation and the equation.
- Flashcards can also help you study what you don't know. Once you have fully learned a concept or word, you can use it to focus your efforts and time on the unclear topics.
Step 6. Just focus on the exam
For example, if you have to remember dates, flashcards are very effective. If you have to learn how to solve math problems, you probably want to solve problems and do exercises. If you have to learn concepts or study literature, it is best to work in a group.
Part 5 of 6: Pass the Exam Brilliantly
Step 1. Write down the facts
If you need to remember a series of events to take a written exam, write them down on the test sheet as soon as it is given to you. That way, you can be sure you don't forget them.
Step 2. Always read the directions
They can specify how much time you have to answer or even how many questions you need to answer. It is important to read the instructions carefully, otherwise you risk losing stitches easily.
Step 3. Calculate the time
Make sure you have enough time for each part of the test. At first take a moment to examine what it consists of and realize what is in front of you. If you have to answer open-ended questions, don't dwell too much on the tests that could take away valuable time. Keep an eye on the clock during the exam.
Step 4. Leverage your strengths
If you know you are good at articulating short answers, start with the questions. In this way, you will have the guarantee that you have successfully completed this part of the exam, ensuring maximum points.
Step 5. Read the questions carefully
Sometimes professors ask questions in an unclear way. Make sure you know exactly what a question is asking before answering. Basically, you don't have to rush to give an answer after reading just a few words.
Step 6. Check if you lose any points in case of wrong answers
In some exams, if you answer incorrectly, you have no points. In others, the score does not change if you skip the questions, but if you make a mistake, you are deducted points. So, in the first case, if you guess the answer between different options, you don't risk much, in fact you might be lucky. In the second, however, this attempt could cost you more points than you earn.
Step 7. Learn to answer multiple choice questions
They allow you to give the answer more easily. In reality, you don't even have to provide it, as it is already present among the options you are facing. However, it can be difficult to choose the correct one if two answers are very similar.
- Once you've read the question, think about how you would answer it before looking at the options you have available. That way, you won't be fooled between two answers before coming to a conclusion. If there is your answer, select it and move on. If not, re-read the question to see if you understand it correctly.
- If you can't decide, eliminate the most absurd or ridiculous choices. Often, one or two answers are explicitly wrong. Tick the ones you don't have to take into consideration.
- If you're still undecided, pick one and move on, as long as it's not an exam where you could be penalized for guessing.
Step 8. Write a quick outline for the longer questions
If you need to answer open-ended questions, work out a small outline first. Just identify the main concepts to include and how to organize them. By doing this, you will make your speech easier to articulate.
Step 9. Check the answers at the end
If you still have some time at the end of the exam, go back and check what you wrote. If you're taking a math exam, review how you did a problem or exercise to make sure you didn't make any trivial mistakes. Also, make sure you haven't missed any questions, otherwise you risk losing points.
Part 6 of 6: Take care of yourself
Step 1. Get enough sleep
When you are rested, you can remember what you have learned better than when you are tired. Therefore, by resting properly every night, you will memorize the concepts and information, and as a result, you will spend less time on the books.
Step 2. Eat the right foods
The body is able to function better when you feed it properly. Avoid sugar-rich foods and eat lean protein dishes, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The brain has more energy when you feed it better.
Step 3. Drink water
Like the body, the brain also needs water to function properly. By keeping yourself hydrated, you'll work better mentally, so make sure you're consuming enough water throughout the day.
- You can calculate tea, coffee, and fruit juices as part of your water intake. Just remember that juices contain sugar, so don't drink large quantities. Try flavoring the water with a little fruit in order to flavor it and make it more pleasant.
- While the general rule of thumb is to drink eight glasses of water a day, your requirements are likely to be higher. Typically, women need to consume about 9 glasses of water a day, while men about 13.
Step 4. Train regularly
Physical activity is as good for the body as it is for the mind. It allows you to have good blood circulation and, consequently, increase the blood supply to the brain. Try practicing a few exercises every day. For example, you can take a short walk or run between breaks. You will come back more charged and you will be ready to get back to work.
