Although most of us think we know how to study, the truth is that we were never truly taught any learning methods and strategies in the traditional educational setting. Reading and rereading the given material was all we’ve ever known. And while that might be a great tactic that works for some, most students need more effective strategies that allow them to retain information more easily and achieve better results. If that is the case with you as well, here are some excellent tips that could help you study more efficiently and ace your exams:

Take better notes during class

Whether you are writing assignments or studying for an exam, learning always begins in the classroom. That is why you should pay close attention and take better, more relevant notes that will allow you to retain important information during the class itself. That way, you will be able to review and revise information during your study sessions, rather than learning it all over again. If possible in your school and area, recording lectures to complement your notes can also be quite an efficient studying technique, especially when it comes to auditory learners who retain information more efficiently when they are listening to it.

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Space out your study sessions

Cramming all of your studying into the night before an exam might be a common practice, but it’s not an efficient one. While studying the day before a test is still advised, it’s important not to make this the only study session. Instead, space them out over several days, if not weeks before an important test. Even though you might forget some of the material during the study breaks you make, it will be incomparably simpler to relearn it and learn even more during the following study session. Not only will this allow you to retain more information necessary for the exam, but it might also be helpful for long-term retention.

Utilize beneficial study notes

Whenever they need additional study material, Australian students, for instance, turn to online resources for help. Here, students at the University of Sydney often utilize the help of beneficial USYD notes they can access anytime and from anywhere. Offering an extensive collection of study guides and past papers and assignments, these notes provide Aussie students with additional resources relevant to their respective subjects, helping them to understand the given material more clearly. If you are a more logical learner that values access to important information, using such notes might be of help to you as well.

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Use the help of visual aids

In many European countries, on the other hand, students are often encouraged to use pictures during their study sessions. Whether that means utilizing existing illustrations or making their own drawings and diagrams, visual aids can help them create clearer and more complete mental images in either case. They can allow students to make connections more easily, recognize concepts more quickly, and simply help with retaining information in the long term. Of course, visual aids can be particularly helpful for visual learners who require additional context and descriptive images for simpler knowledge retention.

Attempt to test your knowledge

Also known as the retrieval practice, quizzing yourself on the given study material can be an incredibly helpful strategy as well. This could mean testing yourself the way a teacher asks questions and checking the validity of your answer later, creating flashcards with questions in the front and answers in the back, or even finding a study buddy with whom you could test your knowledge. Regardless of the method you choose, testing yourself and saying the answers out loud has been shown to be quite an efficient way of retaining new information, especially when it comes to audio learners and students with attention disorders.

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Construct an effective routine

Some students might already know that spacing out studies, quizzing themselves, and using learning aids are all effective methods, but still aren’t using them to their full potential. In most instances, the reason is simply the fact that they failed to plan ahead. It’s recommended to get a calendar that works for you, either a physical or digital one, and try to stick to a regular routine. Dedicate a specific time and place for studying and other important schoolwork, and don’t forget to schedule in regular breaks during your sessions. While it might seem odd at first, it will quickly become a regular routine that will allow you to create more efficient study plans and actually stick to them in the long run.

Final thoughts

Although it might be easy to stress yourself out while learning, turning studying into a more enjoyable experience is even simpler. As long as you adhere to the tips mentioned above and remain confident in your knowledge and abilities, acing your exams will truly be a piece of cake.