Study tips
You slowly open your eyes. Ah, another beautiful morning. You think to yourself, "It's great not to have anything to worry about." Worry about. That thought starts to bother you. Is there something? OH NO! Today is exam day and you haven't studied enough.
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How
can you avoid a situation like this?
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How
can you deal with the mountains of stress study can create?
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How
can you make sure you get your assignments in on time?
Read on to find out some useful study tips.
There are many things in life that cause us
stress. Simple things like finding a car park, or choosing what to wear when
you go out, all cause us stress. There is a small amount of stress in most
activities. Stress is a normal reaction to external stimuli, ie. to
what's going on around us. We use stress to push us to make decisions.
Some things in life are more
stress-inducing than others. One of the most stressful can be sitting exams or keeping up
with study.
Ever wondered why so many people seem to have that dream about going to school
and realising they forgot to put any clothes on?
The pressure to be successful at school and
Uni. is very strong.
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All
through life we hear messages about how important it is to get good grades.
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It
can seem like your whole life will be decided by how you do in your studies.
This is when the stress can become a
problem. You want to do well but you are feeling so much pressure, it seems you
can barely think. See our article on stress and relaxation for some tips about general stress.
Where
to study
Where you study can be as important as what
you study. It is best to set up a study space. This will become your quiet
place for study, and once it takes on that meaning you will find it easier to
study there.
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It
is no good trying to study in front of the TV or on your bed. You may even find
it hard to get to sleep if you get in the habit of studying in bed. Bed is your
sleeping area; find a study area.
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Clear
off the desk. It is best to have the bare minimum in your study area. You do
not need any distractions while studying.
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Choose
who you study with. It is usually best to study alone, but if you need to go
over notes with someone, choose them carefully. If you think your friends will
not take it seriously, don't invite them.
Get
in a routine
If you get started early enough before your
exams, you will find you don't need to put in any all-nighters.
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One
good hour of study is better than a whole night of trying to keep awake.
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Find
the time of day that you study best. Pick a couple of hours and stick to this
study time.
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Get
to know how you learn the best. Your parents or caregiver may not agree with
it, but work out if you study better on the floor or outside, with friends or
alone, in short bursts or over long hours, then do it that way.
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However,
studies have shown that 'multi-tasking' is not a good idea when studying.
Multi-tasking is where you do different things at once, like watching TV,
texting, surfing the web, and listening to music. Different parts of the brain
get used and information is not stored well - so you might have trouble
remembering what you studied.
Plan
ahead
Getting in a routine early and sticking to
it is the best way to maximize your chances of good grades. It may be the case,
however, that you have only limited time to study. In this case, you need to
make a schedule.
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Make
a list of the most important topics to study for exams, or the assignments that
will be due first. Work out how much time you can spend on each.
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Don't
get overwhelmed by the workload. If you stick to a schedule it will start to
seem manageable.
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Make
sure you have the syllabus for each subject or course. If you follow the
syllabus there will not be any nasty surprises.
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Take
it one step at a time. Remember: one calm hour of study is usually better than
6 panicking hours of study. Check out our topic Goals for more on this.
What
to study
We all have subjects we like and ones we
can't stand. It is very tempting to study the ones we like and leave the ugly
ones for another time. This is a mistake. If you study the subjects you hate
first, you will better your chances.
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When
you first sit down you generally do your best study. This time should be used
for subjects you struggle with.
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Putting
more time into your weaknesses will improve your overall score.
Coffee
and drugs
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Coffee is a stimulant and
can make you feel more alert, but it can reduce your concentration and make you
irritable if you drink too much. If you normally feel brighter in the morning
after a cup of coffee, then have what you would normally drink. Another around
lunchtime would probably be OK as well. But do not suddenly increase the amount
of coffee you drink. It is important to try and be in a similar frame of mind
during study and when sitting exams. Drinking a lot of coffee at night to help
you stay awake to study does not help you to remember what you are trying to
learn. Lack of sleep will catch up with you.
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Energy
drinks with lots of caffeine in them also can make it very hard to think
clearly.
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Street
drugs will not improve your ability to study or sit exams. As with coffee,
experimenting with stimulants around exam time will reduce your ability to
concentrate.
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Depressants
like alcohol will only reduce your normal ability.
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A balanced diet is an important part of
being in control of your study habits.
o
Fresh
fruit and vegetables will give you reserves of energy and increase your ability
to concentrate.
o
Avoid
junk food and foods high in sugar.
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A regular sleeping pattern and some
relaxation
is important.
o
You
may find you nearly fall asleep every time you sit down to study.
o
Don't
stay awake all night trying to study. Get a good night's sleep and try to study
in the morning when you are fresh.
o
If
you are finding it hard to sleep, wait until you have calmed down before going
to bed. Wind down after study and try some relaxation exercises.
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Having regular exercise will keep your mind
active, help you to sleep at night and is a great way to have a break when you
find your concentration is dropping.
o
Just
jump on the bike, run around the block or take the dog for a walk.
It can't be all about study, study, study.
If you have achieved a goal, lets say two hours of study, reward yourself with
something you like doing. It may be an hour in front of the box, a trip to the
beach, or simply a healthy snack.
Learning
from others
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Your
lecturers and teachers are some of the best resources you have.
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They
are there to help you and will usually be more than happy to meet with you
outside of class times. Make appointments to meet with them as much a possible
during the year.
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Don't
waste their time, however. Plan what you want to discuss and have some
questions written down.
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Discussing
topics can be the best way to learn about them.
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You
should also make use of all the other available resources. See if there are any
past exam papers for you to practise on, but don't rely solely on them. There
is no such thing as a short cut when it comes to study.
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Free
online tutoring is available in different countries. Many libraries and some
schools are linked to this service, you can check out a list on the site.
Helping your parents cope
Parents find it hard to accept that they
cannot help you with your study, and often will try to pressure you to do more,
turn off the radio, stop watching TV, stop playing games, etc.
Things that might help them get off your
back include:
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showing
them that you have a plan, and that you will manage your plan
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letting
them know that you will be taking breaks such as watching TV, but this is in
your plan
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eating
regularly
·
getting
out of the house for a bit of exercise
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cutting
down on late night phone calls or gaming
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taking
some time out to be with friends, and then getting back to work.
Often the only thing parents can think of
doing to help you is to nag. If you can feel sorry for them rather than angry,
this can lighten the whole thing up.
Know
what to expect on exam day
Find out if the test or exam is going to be
multiple choice, short answer or essay length.
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If
the questions are mainly multiple choice:
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Answer
all the questions.
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Try
to notice the slight variations in the answers. Often they will seem very
similar. The lecturer will often want a very specific answer.
o
Your
first instincts might be right, but always read the question fully.
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If
the questions are mainly short answer or essay style:
o
Plan
each question before writing your answer. A few minutes to make an essay plan
can save a lot of time overall. Make use of the reading time at the start. If
you are in the middle of planning an essay, don't stop just because the reading
time is over. Keep your train of thought and finish the plan.
o
Clear
and simple writing is best. If you try and fill empty space with unnecessary
'padding', it will take away from the main points you want to get across.
o
Know
what sort of questions will be asked. Ask your lecturers before hand, if it is
allowed.
o
Find
out if past exam papers are available. They should not be used instead of
actual study, but can give you an idea of the way the questions will be
presented.
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Don't try to cram in the half hour before
the exam. This time should be used to get your head ready. Try some relaxation
techniques.
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Be positive. If you have stuck to a
good routine, then chances are you do know the facts. There is nothing more you
can do. All the hard work is actually behind you. Now you get the chance to
show off all the knowledge you have built up.
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Read all of the instructions. It is amazing the number
of people who answer too many or the wrong questions in exams. Check both sides
of the exam paper!
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Stay calm. Read the questions
slowly so that you don't misinterpret any of them. Some people find they have
to write the questions out onto their exam paper so that they do answer the
right question.
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Answer the questions you feel most
confident with first.
This will give you more time for the harder ones later. But be very strict with
yourself about time. Don't spend more time on the easy questions, and then run
out of time to finish the exam.
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Take some water and a snack in with you if it is allowed. They
can provide a way to regain your concentration with a quick break.
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Stay for the whole exam. Some people may think
it's cool to walk out early. How cool will that person look when the exam
results are in? Go over your answers a couple of times. There may be something
you missed.
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Stay calm after the exam. You may worry about how
you did, or if everyone else answered the questions the same as you. Worrying
after an exam is natural, but you have to remember: you did your best.
Remember, planning is the key. The work you
do long before work is due, and before exam day, is the most important. Stick
to a routine and you will be able to go celebrate with a light heart after the
study year is finished.
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