Is your current study method rereading a textbook in the hopes that something will stick? If so, are you stressed out because you can’t memorize such a large amount of information in such a short period of time?
As a graduate student, you must learn effective time management and study techniques for MBA assignment helper you retain the most information. In graduate school, cramming the night before is no longer sufficient. Start the new year with a fresh approach and some of the effective study tips listed below.
Set the Scene
To begin, you must create the conditions—both within your body and in your external environment—for successful learning and retention. Here are some study habits to consider:
Get a good night’s sleep:
A recent study discovered a link between students’ grades and how much sleep they get. This, however, does not simply imply getting a full 8 hours of sleep before a big test. What’s more important is getting enough sleep for several nights before doing the majority of your studying.
Change your study environment:
Change your study environment: Instead of studying at home every day, try visiting a new coffee shop or going to your local library once a week. A change of scenery can help you improve your memory and concentration.
Maintain a productive environment:
If you have a good study space at home or a café that is consistently a productive place for you, it makes sense to stick with it when you are under pressure.
Listen to calming music:
Lyrics in songs can be distracting. You can listen to any slow music you like.
Eliminate distractions:
By turning off your phone and annoying background noises like the TV or radio. Make a deal with yourself not to check social media until your study session is finished.
Snack on healthy foods:
Try healthy snacks like edamame, apples, or nuts for more focused and sustainable energy.
8 Study Techniques and Tips That Actually Work
- Practice with Retrieval
Retrieval practice is based on the idea of remembering something later. Looking up an answer to a question improves learning more than looking it up in a textbook. Furthermore, remembering and writing down the answer to a flashcard is far more effective than believing you know the answer and flipping the card over too soon.
You are more likely to remember information if you practice retrieval. Here are some ideas for incorporating the retrieval process into your study routine.
Use practice tests: Without consulting your book or notes, use practice tests or questions to quiz yourself.
Create your own inquiries: Make your own test questions by acting as your own teacher. Encourage others in your study group to do the same, and trade questions.
Use flashcards: Make flashcards, but practice your retrieval technique first. Instead of flipping a card too soon, write down the answer and then check it.
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The SQ3R Approach
The SQ3R method is a reading comprehension technique that assists students in identifying key facts and remembering information from their textbooks. The acronym SQ3R (or SQRRR) stands for the five steps of the reading comprehension process. For a more efficient and effective study session, try the following steps:
Survey: Instead of reading the entire book, begin by skimming the first chapter and taking notes on any headings, subheadings, images, or other notable features such as charts.
Question: Create questions based on the chapter’s content, such as “What is the purpose of this chapter?” What am I already aware of about this topic?
Read: Begin by reading the entire chapter and looking for answers to the questions you posed.
Recite: After reading a section, summarise what you just read in your own words. Try recalling and identifying key points and answering any questions from the previous step.
Review: Once you’ve finished the chapter, go over it again to make sure you understand everything. Test yourself on the questions you created and re-read any sections that require it.
You can try this study method before your final exam.
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The Feynman Method
The Feynman Technique is a quick way to learn a concept by explaining it in plain and simple terms. It is based on the idea that “if you want to understand something well, explain it simply.” That is, if we try to explain a concept in our own words, we will most likely understand it much faster.
How it works:
- At the top of a sheet of paper, write the subject/concept you are studying.
- Then, as if you were teaching someone else, explain it in your own words.
- Examine what you wrote and identify any errors. Once you’ve identified them, consult your notes or reading material to determine the correct answer.
- Finally, if you used technical terms or complex language in your writing, go back and rewrite these sections in simpler terms for someone who does not have your educational background.
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Practice in Space
Instead of cramming the night before, spaced practice (also known as “distributed practice”) encourages students to study over a longer period of time. When our brains are on the verge of forgetting something, they work harder to recall it. Spreading out your study time allows your mind to make connections between ideas and build knowledge that can be easily recalled later.
To try this technique, review your material at regular intervals as shown below:
Day 1: Attend class and learn the material.
Day 2: Review and revisit.
Day 3: Go over your notes again.
After one week, go back and review.
Revisit and review after two weeks.
It is critical to begin planning as soon as possible. Schedule some time each day for studying and reviewing the material at the start of each semester. Even if your exams are months away, this will help you stay on track.
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Notes in Different Colors
Messy notes can make it difficult to remember key points from a lecture. Colored writing is an exciting way to organize the information you’re learning. It also aids in the review and prioritization of the most important ideas.
A recent study discovered that color can improve memory performance. The same study discovered that warm colors (red and yellow) “can create a positive and motivating learning environment that can help learners not only have a positive perception toward the content but also engage and interact more with the learning materials.” Warmer colors, according to the report, “increase attention and elicit excitement and information.”
While writing in color may appear to be a no-brainer, keep the following tips in mind:
- Highlight important points in red.
- Important information should be highlighted in yellow.
- Sort topics by color.
- Don’t color everything; only the most important details.
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The Leitner System
The Leitner System is a flashcard-based learning method. Ideally, you should keep your cards in different boxes to keep track of when you need to study each set. Each card begins in Box 1. If you guess correctly, you move the card to the next box. If you make a mistake, you either move the card down a box or keep it in Box 1 (if it’s already there).
Each box determines how much you will study each set of cards, as shown in the schedule below:
- Box 1 — Every day
- Every two days — Box 2 —
- Every four days — Box 3 —
- Every nine days — Box 4 —
- Every 14 days — Box 5
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Mind Mapping
Try mind mapping, a technique that allows you to visually organize information in a diagram if you’re a visual learner. You begin by writing a word in the center of a blank page. Then you write major ideas and keywords that are directly related to the central concept. Other related ideas will continue to emerge.
A mind map’s structure is related to how our brains store and retrieve information. Reading comprehension can be improved by mind mapping your notes rather than simply writing them down. It also aids in seeing the big picture by communicating the hierarchy and relationships between concepts and ideas.
So, how do you go about it?
- Take a blank sheet of paper (or use an online tool) and write your research topic in the centre, for example, “child development.”
- Connect one of your main ideas to the main topic, such as “developmental stages” (i.e., a chapter of your book or notes).
- Connect supporting idea sub-branches to your main branch. This is an example of idea association. “Sensorimotor,” “Preoperational,” “Concrete operational,” and “Formal operational,” for example.
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Study Before Going to Bed
Sleep is essential for proper brain function, memory formation, and learning. Reviewing flashcards or taking notes before going to bed can help improve recall. “When you are awake, you learn new things, but when you are asleep, you refine them, making it easier to retrieve and apply them correctly when you need them the most,” says Scott Cairney, a researcher at the University of York in the United Kingdom. This is important not only for how we learn but also for maintaining healthy brain functions.”
The brain organizes your memories while you sleep. Rather than pulling an all-nighter, study for a few hours before bed and then review the material in the morning.
Nobody wants to spend more time studying than is necessary. Learning effective study techniques will help you be fully prepared for your exams and will help you overcome any test anxiety. Hopefully, the techniques outlined above will help you avoid cramming the night before and make your study time more productive.