Now that the academic year has started again it’s time to
put away the beer kegs and actually pretend like you haven’t been on a completely
different planet for the past couple months. We all find it very hard to adjust
back to normal life (like waking up at a socially acceptable time, haha!) but
we all have to face it and burry our heads into those text books that weigh
more than the body mass of a small elephant and go to lectures that just make
you want to jump out of that 3rd story window and suffer a few broken bones in
order to just go back to bed.
So here I have devised a list of 5 study tips that will
guarantee success and prevent cramming during exam season:
1. GET ORGANISED!! This is the first tip to help
with studies, if you don’t know where that piece of paper is with that ‘important
date when that guy did that thing’; I doubt your brain will remember it. Colour
co-ordination is very important in order to distinguish between different
subjects, perhaps keeping coloured folders or writing in different coloured
pens for each lesson will help, just figure out what’s best for you.
2. There’s no point in telling yourself that you’ll
study tomorrow as ‘tomorrow never comes’ so make a timetable and stick to it. Maybe
a 30 minute recap of each lesson a few times a week will help you retain
information and a timetable will help as you'll know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing and when.
3. Keeping a diary goes without saying. A book of
everything that needs to be done eg, homework or copying up notes all I one convenient
place? Who wouldn’t do this? I highly advise a diary in order to keep not only
your notes tidy but yourself organised.
4. Where you study is just as important as studying
at all, revising will be a lot more convenient if its done in a quiet library rather
than a dorm room with several separate parties going on all within ear shot. Also,
move around different areas in order to keep studying fun by allowing your
brain to discover new (but quiet!) environments, then you’ll be far more susceptible
to retain information.
5. Practice exam papers not only familiarise
yourself with the style of question that is asked but it allows you to improve
your performance under time constraints. Going into an exam with a head full of
knowledge but no exam skills will do you no favours, it’s a must in order to
achieve a good grade!
