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| Effective Study Techniques |
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USE A PATTERN WHEN YOU READ When you read your textbook, take advantage of the organization. Read the table of contents for your assignment first, then read the introduction and conclusion. Next, read the core assignment, paying attention to sidebars and items in bold. Review any questions at the end of each section. OUTLINE, OUTLINE, OUTLINE Looking at a textbook’s page can be intimidating. The hundreds of letters, words, and punctuation marks can overwhelm you. Relax. Outline the main ideas. Think of it as a map. Take a sheet of paper and “sketch” the map by creating an outline of your reading. Arrange your outline in tiers, and soon you’ll have your “map” to a better grade. REWRITE YOUR NOTES After class, rewrite your notes. Fill in any blanks, and prepare a list of the items you don’t understand. Meet with the instructor before or after class, and see if he or she can help you with these questions. USE MNEMONICS Mnemonics are a way to memorize complex items. The trick is to take something complicated (like a list of state capitals or the essential elements in chemistry) and create silly sentences, words, or phrases that prompt you for the answers. For example, the first 20 essential elements can be recalled by memorizing this silly sentence: “Howard Hughes Liked Being a Billionaire, but He Could Not Often Fly Near Nebraska, so He Made an Amazing Super Plane Sturdy Enough to Carry Him Across Kentucky and Connecticut.” This mnemonic represents the elements hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, sodium (Na), magnesium, aluminum, silicon, phosphorous, sulfur, chlorine, argon, potassium (k), and calcium. STUDY IN GROUPS Gather a small group of classmates and commit to studying together. When you study in groups, you can answer each other’s questions, share memorization tips, and challenge each other for answers. USE FLASH CARDS Flash cards are great for reinforcing information, but only if there are fewer than 100 terms. if you try to use too many, you’ll just be overwhelmed. REVIEW AND PRACTICE If your teacher offers practice sessions or review periods for big exams, take advantage. If there’s more than one, take advantage. in fact, take advantage of every opportunity you have to go over complicated material. If you repeat the information over and over, it will soon become second nature. TEN TIPS FOR TAKING TESTS 1) Read the instructions carefully. 2) Read the entire test through before starting. 3) Answer the easiest questions first, then the ones with the highest point value. 4) Keep busy. If you get stuck on a question, come back to it later. 5) If you aren’t sure how to answer a question fully, try to answer at least part of it. 6) Need to guess on a multiple-choice test? First, eliminate the answers you know are wrong. Then take a guess. 7) On an essay test, take a moment to plan your writing. 8) Keep it neat. if your teacher can’t read your writing, you might lose points. 9) Don’t waste time doing things for which you will not receive credit, such as rewriting test questions. 10) Leave time at the end to look over your work. |