Study skills

Write only consonants instead of learning shorthand to increase speed.

You can still decipher what you wrote later using context, and you get faster the more you do it.

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Jot down only the main points of a lecture to maintain focus on listening and absorbing information.

If you forget details, you can just research on your own.

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• Record meetings or lectures if speakers talk too fast or if you miss key details, to review later.1

Explain the subject simply, as if to a layperson like a grandmother or young relative.

If you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it well enough.

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• If you cannot explain your work to non-experts, assume you do not understand it well enough and study further.1

Mark true/false questions as false if they contain absolute words like 'always' or 'never'.

These words almost always make the statement false.

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Cram specific, small items like definitions immediately before the exam if you don't feel fully prepared.

You can get questions correct because of this short-term retention.

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Try the SQ3R method for studying, as studies suggest it is effective.

Studies say it is quite effective.

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Search for images of the topic your professor is discussing to improve recall and understanding.

Images are stored in long-term memory tied to facts, engaging another sense.

• This approach does not work for all classes.
• Some schools prohibit electronic devices in class.

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Write your notes as if you are being paid to provide them for someone else, such as a student with a disability, to raise their quality and clarity.

Notes written to this standard were better than previous personal notes.

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If you are a student, try using mind maps to visualize connections between ideas.

It may help you understand lessons better and improve memory.

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Type out study material in great detail as if teaching a clueless friend, without looking at class resources.

Typing it out drills the information into your mind; walls or documents are better than friends because they cannot distract you.

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Use Wikipedia to connect concepts and add depth to your understanding of class material.

It helps connect things and give depth.

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Retype class notes with a textbook handy to clarify fuzzy points.

You can look up unclear details for clarification.

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Summarize notes in steps and create flashcards from them for quick reference, keeping the full pages for longer study sessions.

Flashcards allow for quick reference while the full pages support longer study times.

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Before a test, write as much course material as possible on an index card while pretending you are allowed to use it during the exam.

This forces you to summarize and identify the most important information for review.

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Focus on understanding what you are writing rather than just transcribing words.

Understanding the content is key to effective note-taking.

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Take photos of your handwritten notes to study anywhere without carrying physical papers.

Allows for easy studying on the go.

• May cause issues in middle school due to strict phone policies.
• For students who rarely refer to notes, writing helps retain some information.

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When asked if you have questions during training, summarize what you heard instead of saying 'no' to demonstrate understanding.

It demonstrates that you are smart and listened correctly.

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Draw graphs, illustrations, or random shapes in your notes to represent concepts, especially if you are a visual learner.

Making graphs or illustrations helps encode information better, aiding long-term memory.

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Consider whether to write down everything during class based on your study goals.

Writing everything creates a detailed record but is hard to study from for exams; however, writing everything can also prevent true understanding because you are too busy copying.

• Do NOT write down EVERYTHING if you want to truly understand concepts, as you will be too busy copying.

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Take notes primarily because the act of writing improves listening and comprehension in the moment, even if you do not plan to review them later.

You listen better when you are also writing it down; this approach made the notes actually helpful later.

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Draw a simple line through Scantron bubbles instead of filling them completely.

The machine reads graphite samples, so complete filling is unnecessary and pen ink will not work.

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Avoid typing notes on a laptop during class; if you must use a computer, switch off your WiFi.

Typing reduces information retention and increases the likelihood of getting distracted by social media or distracting classmates.

• Requires discipline to switch off WiFi.

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Take annotated notes by writing down obvious details, professor quips, or specific clarifications in the margins while taking standard notes.

It helps retain information that seems obvious in class but is easily forgotten later, leading to better performance.

• One user noted they did not apply this method to other classes.

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If note-taking distracts you from absorbing material, focus on active listening instead.

One person found that taking notes during undergraduate, graduate, and licensure studies distracted them from listening and absorbing the presentation.

• Based on one person's experience across multiple study phases.

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Write down paraphrases of what you hear rather than verbatim strings of words to better retain the meaning and context of the material.

Writing by hand helps retention, and focusing on meaning prevents bombing exams that require applying concepts rather than just recalling exact phrases.

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Recopy shorthand notes into longhand after class.

It serves as an excellent review session.

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Highlight text with two colors: use one for broad context and a second to isolate the most critical parts.

This preserves context around key information without losing focus.

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List assignments arranged by priority on a dry erase board placed on the refrigerator.

You will see it every day.

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Take physical notes on paper rather than typing to improve information retention.

Studies show this helps retain information better than typing.

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Write the name associated with any phone number you record.

to avoid confusion about who owns a random number

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When studying with a group or tutor, ensure you can answer questions independently without notes afterward.

This simulates actual test or exam conditions.

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Explain concepts to a pet; treat their lack of reaction as confusion and refine your explanation.

It helps tremendously to articulate thoughts clearly when faced with a silent listener.

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Teach material to a pet or stuffed animal to practice explanation without judgment.

It is very helpful.

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Record yourself explaining concepts and solving problems, then watch the recordings before exams instead of traditional studying.

This allows you to enjoy weekends while others cram, as the recording process ensures mastery.

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When feeling like procrastinating, think about your future goals and scholarship plans.

This usually provides more motivation.

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Add sticky flags to notebooks to mark pages separating chapters or sections.

makes life easier

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Identify and note bolded words in textbooks, as they indicate important concepts.

Bold words are probably important later.

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Bracket the entire paragraph around important information to provide context.

Some authors hide important details without explicitly calling them out.

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Explain complex concepts in excruciating detail to someone else to trigger understanding.

Explaining how something worked in excruciating detail helped it click after struggling for semesters.

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Use brackets [] instead of underlining to highlight important text in books.

It makes highlighting important concepts faster and easier.

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Create custom shorthand, abbreviations, and symbols to save time while writing.

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Organize cheat sheets by the use of equations or concepts rather than just listing everything.

Organizing by use minimizes scanning time.

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Type notes on a computer if handwriting is illegible or too slow, to ensure you can read and absorb the information later.

typing allows you to type faster and read what you wrote, whereas fast writing makes poor handwriting illegible and reduces absorption

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Note the time marker or timestamp in your notes when watching videos or attending live lectures to save time when reviewing important points later.

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After a unit test, review your notes and emphasize topics that appeared on it for final exam preparation.

This material is most likely to appear on the final exam.

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Study pretest questions thoroughly.

Exam problems often reuse the exact structure of pretest problems with different numbers.

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