1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
    • Podcasts
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Apply
  • Chat

5 Study Tips Every Student Can Use

5 Study Tips Every Student Can Use

Dec 12, 2016

By Jessica Thiefels

Whether it’s midterm exams or finals, the occasion is often marked by all-nighters in the library, stress-inducing deadlines, and eating way too much pizza because it just seems logical in the moment. 

If you want to reduce this mental pressure and boost your GPA in the process, channel your nerves into these pointers for ensured success on all upcoming exams.

 

1) Minimize the Use of Reference Materials

If you automatically skim your lecture notes or search Google for the answer to each review question, instead of trusting your own knowledge and retention, you won’t be able to memorize the necessary information long-term. 

Rather than defaulting to those resources, complete the entire study guide with no outside assistance first, then cross-reference each answer with your textbook. This strategy will boost confidence in your aptitude for learning, while helping you remember and comprehend the material much more effectively.

 

2) Simulate a Testing Environment at Home

The temptation to flip on your favorite TV show or have Pandora humming in the background while you cram through a study session might sound appealing, but your cognitive function will decrease with noise or sensory interference. 

The most effective method of preparation is to recreate the conditions you’ll experience during the actual exam. Students perform higher academically when seated in a desk and surrounded by minimal distractions—just like in the classroom, according to USA Test Prep. 

 

3) Write Keywords and Bullet Points

Transferring information from the region of your brain that engages listening to the region that controls movement forms a link between linguistic and kinesthetic retention. When you write what you’ve heard during a lecture or read from a textbook, that physical action solidifies those facts in your memory. 

Keep index cards accessible during an exam review and take notes on points worth remembering. This underscores the crucial data, so you don’t waste time studying irrelevant or extraneous details.   

 

4) Develop a System to Jog Your Memory

When the material becomes applicable or meaningful to you outside an academic context, you’re more prone to find it thought-provoking, and therefore, easier to recall. With that in mind, make your designated study time feel like a game to harness your creativity, rather than a chore to deplete your energy by coming up with rhymes, patterns or mnemonic devices. This is much more fun and effective than just scanning page after page of tedious facts which don’t peak your interest and therefore solidify in your mind.

 

5) Repeat the Information Aloud to Yourself

If you’re an auditory learner, this tactic will prove effective, in particular, because it activates both your verbal and phonic faculties at the same time. This catches your attention and prevents the mind from wandering. 

Find a quiet area and talk yourself through everything you’ll need to know until it starts coming right off your tongue. This process of oral recitation is among the most surefire methods for promoting rapid recall because the information will echo in the forefront of your brain like a broken record—which is great, even if it is annoying at the time.

Studying is the worst, no matter how you look at it. The only thing that makes it better is finding a study tactic that helps you ace your exam, and then falling back on that every time. Give these tips a try and see if you do better than last semester.

 

Jessica Thiefels is the editor of Whooo’s Reading and an education blogger, who’s been featured on such as PBS, TeachHub and CollegeRaptor and more. She’s been out of college longer than she’d like to admit, but still uses tricks like these to stay sharp in her career. Follow her on Twitter @Jlsander07 for more tips, tricks and ideas.

 

Follow us:
Written by

Study in the USA

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the blog post titled Turn Your Vision Into Action in 2023
Turn Your Vision Into Action in 2023
Main image for the blog post titled New Year, New Me…not!
New Year, New Me…not!
Main image for the blog post titled An Open Letter to Lycoming College
An Open Letter to Lycoming College
Main image for the blog post titled Learn to Protect Our Environment for a Living
Learn to Protect Our Environment for a Living
Read more

Check Out These Schools

Gonzaga University

Gonzaga University

$45,000—$50,000 Semester

Bachelor Degree Masters
Contact
University of San Diego

University of San Diego

$1,000—$5,000 Session

English Programs Online Summer
Contact
Missouri Southern State University

Missouri Southern State University

$10,000 — $15,000 Year

Masters Certificate/Short Term Bachelor Degree
Contact

Related Stories

Happy Lunar New Year!

Main image for the article titled Happy Lunar New Year!
‪Happy New Year‬!!

Main image for the article titled ‪Happy New Year‬!!
Happy New Year!

Main image for the article titled Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!!!

Main image for the article titled Happy New Year!!!

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for IELTS for the USA

IELTS for the USA

IELTS is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. It is accepted by more than 3,400 institutions in the US. If you want to study in the US, IELTS can help you get there!

Read more
Partner service logo for The Intern Group

The Intern Group

Summer plans suspended because of COVID-19? The deadline's approaching for TheInternGroup's virtual/remote global internship program. Gain professional experience, grow your network and make your resume shine from wherever you are this summer.

Read more
Partner service logo for Collegey

Collegey

Develop the portfolio and skills you need for your future! Embrace meaningful projects while collaborating with expert mentors and expanding your professional network.

Read more

Testimonials

Quotation mark.

Thankful to Study in the USA! I wanted to be more sure of what I wanted, they helped guide me into the decision to start college in the US and where I wanted to go.

Leticia Corrêa Mendes Brazil

StudyUSA did help me a lot. Because they always try their best to answer my questions and give me great suggestions. Also, they always concern me and ask me about my application. They are the best.

Yuanju Lai Taiwan

I used Study in the USA resources mainly to get to know the details of preparing to live in the US before I came here. The information provided definitely helped me to prepare better.

Dian Puspasari Indonesia

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices
Ask StudyUSA.com

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    English

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2023 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.