The following question and answer comes from my book Success for Life: Answers to the 77 Questions College Students Ask. I received over 1000 questions from students looking for answers, wondering about the best path in life. If you like what you read here, you can pick up your copy AT AN ALL-NEW LOW PRICE to read all of this helpful advice.
How do I improve my study skills?
Obviously part of the answer depends on what subject you are dealing with. Some topics are very dependent upon reading while others are very kinesthetic. However, some basic principles hold true across all topics.
To start with, keep your schedule organized as I suggested in Question #13. I still do this as a professor. I have one master calendar that is on my desk where I record all of the assessments, tests, papers and quizzes that will come up over the semester. At the start of the semester, you should do the same. Perhaps use different colors for each class or maybe a different color for each type of assignment regardless of class. In any case, keeping a master schedule allows you to know where to properly put your time.
Secondly, the famous “rule of thumb” for classes holds true—for every hour you are in class, you should spend two hours out of class each week. For my classes in history, that meant two hours reading. For my fraternity brothers who were in engineering, that meant time working on problems, using calculators, slide rules and graph paper. The point here is to never back yourself into a corner before some assessment is due, trying to cram 2-3 weeks of material into your brain. Not only is it likely that you won’t learn it all, it is more likely that you will forget it the moment the test is over. While that may not matter for a class out of your field, for most majors, the classes build upon one another.
Thirdly, give yourself a chance to really study, not just flip pages or waste time with your calculator. You need a place to study that is free from distractions, is somewhat comfortable, and has good lighting. Make sure you have the resources that you need, and that wherever you study is basically quiet. For me, I needed music on to help me concentrate; others need complete silence. However, though I could study with music on to concentrate, it should not be so loud as to be distracting. Further, regardless of what people say, it is impossible to really study, to really grapple with the material, while you are watching TV, a movie or in a conversation with someone else (in person, on the phone, email or IM). Don’t cheat yourself.