How do you study?

[thespeakerbox]

Do you break things up ...read everyday.....wait till the day before.

Do you have to study in the same place /certain room?

Are you easily distracted by a computer? I am.

 

[fredhe12]

Not in school anymore, but when I was, there was only one way: CRAM!

 

[lozina]

In school I barely ever studied. I just can't sit there trying to cram stuff into my head. I'd just make sure I attended classes and pay attention and I'd usually do very well on tests.

 

[Legend]

Create a list each day of every subject and objectives for each one. Don't just do what's required, but keep up with the material, and review at least a couple times a week.

The first two weeks or so are the hardest, because you have to do everything that's possible that the professor could nail you on. It's a good idea to speak with friends that have already taken the course to figure out how that particular class will evaluate you.


I live in an efficiency apartment, so I'm alone. Tea/coffee can be helpful. Never eat ****** before you study, it will exhaust you.

 

[Lucius]

When I was in school I usually crammed a day before the exam. I found that studying for several days in advance was more productive. Unfortunately I had no discipline and only did this when I knew I was no where close to being prepared.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Originally posted by: Lucius
When I was in school I usually crammed a day before the exam. I found that studying for several days in advance was more productive. Unfortunately I had no discipline and only did this when I knew I was no where close to being prepared.

yup..

I usually pull an all nighter before a test. My thing is that I may procrastinate like crazy but when it comes to getting my ****** done..I get it done..no matter what.

 

[arcenite]

i study every day. Cramming sucks and is pointless

 

[JasonE4]

Originally posted by: lozina
In school I barely ever studied. I just can't sit there trying to cram stuff into my head. I'd just make sure I attended classes and pay attention and I'd usually do very well on tests.

Yup, all I do is pay attention in class and then review for maybe 30 minutes the night before.

 

[fredhe12]

Originally posted by: arcenite
i study every day. Cramming sucks and is pointless

For you maybe.

Cramming got me all the way through Grad school with flying colors. Works for some

And another thing, cramming is an essential skill in the real world. I work in a fast paced, deadline driven environment. Everything is last minute and if you don't have that skill you'll find yourself on Monster pretty quick.

 

[Tiamat]

If you have something on your mind, get rid of it before trying to study. IE, games, sex etc.

 

[Axoliien]

The best way to study has been shown to have a specific place you use for studying regularly and not for fun. I used our kitchen table all the time so I could have some sunlight but could not play on the computer. Interweb FTL

Personally though, you have to find out your own way of learning. Some people learn by listening, some by seeing, and some by doing. There's lots of ways to learn, but a combination of them will change the way you retain. I found that my personal way to learn was to
1) Read before the class (right before, such as the night before an AM or after lunch for PM) then
2) Listen and only take important notes, not notes that are in the book or examples worked in the book, then
3) Make my own notes that same day from the reading and listening comprehension

Usually if I did these 3 steps, I would retain enough that just looking over the notes the night before an exam kept me clear and my grades went waaay waaay up. Before I had been taking tons of notes in class, doing homework the night before, and then cramming the day before an exam and my grades were low. I spent less time making my own notes and reading then I did cramming, and got more out of it.

You will have to experiment, but if you do different things you should be able to see which ones actually affect your learning and retention.

 

[Siddhartha]

1. Preview the matieral before class.
2. As soon as possible after the class, rewrite the notes, clearing up any questions with the textbook.
3. For problem oriented classes, do all the problems as soon as possible after the class.
4. Take a minium of of two days before the exam to study.

I use to cram for tests and get by with Bs and a couple of Cs with a lot of anxiety and stress. The process above almost guarantees As and maybe a couple of Bs with alot less stress. Actually one could do well with one day of studying because you are only reviewing not learning the material.

When I lived in the dorms or had roommates, I would go to a secuded place in the library. When I had my own apartment, I bought a card table and set it up in my bedroom.

 

[NaOH]

GO TO CLASS EVERYDAY FOR ONE (I sometimes didn't go to class because it was pointless, sucky Prof.). When a test is coming up, I usually start studying 2-3 days ahead of time. Go over EVERYTHING possible, but stick to what you think is important. I don't know how, but I am pretty good at focusing on the stuff that will end up on the test. Going to class helps on that one since you get a feel for how the Prof thinks.