Study Tips and Techniques to Maximise your Learning

08/09/23

The prospect of starting university can be daunting, especially when it comes to studying for the numerous assignments and examinations you’ll undertake. The good news is that with the right studying techniques in your toolkit, you’ll be able to maximise your learning and ace anything that comes your way! From note-taking to time management, we’ll cover all the essential strategies that you need to succeed. So, let’s get started!

Note-taking methods

Many students sat down whilst listening to a tutor in a lecture Note-taking is one of the most important study strategies. Good notes can make all the difference in understanding and retaining information. As such, taking effective notes is a skill that every student should master. There are no right or wrong techniques when it comes to taking notes but you should aim to keep your notes brief and concise. There’s no benefit from trying to write every word down, your notes should contain the main themes and parts you identify as important. Many people find it effective to write down the main points taken and then go back to expand and summarise them later.

Time management

Time management is another crucial skill that can make or break your academic success. With a full workload, managing your time effectively is essential. Try using the Pomodoro Technique when you next take study time. It involves working for 25 minutes and then taking a short five-minute break. After four work sessions, take a further extended break of around 15 minutes. You can stay focused and alert by breaking your study sessions into manageable time slots. As well, it can help to reduce stress and increase productivity.

Active studying

Active studying is about engaging with the material, rather than passively reading it over. It’s essential to understand that learning is a process, and active studying is a crucial part of retaining information. One effective active studying technique is to read the material over once, then cover it and try to recall as much information as possible. This recall technique helps with long-term retention and is proven to be effective.

Memorisation techniques

Memorisation is often necessary, especially when it comes to certain subjects with lots of content. However, memorisation is not just about memorising content blindly; it’s about understanding and retaining it. One memorisation technique that may be useful is the mnemonic device. These involve creating associations between new information and a memorable phrase or image. For example, utilising acronyms to recall the colours of the rainbow, ROYGIBIV – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. By doing so, it can make remembering information more accessible and more engaging.

Group studying

Group of three people sat collaborating and studying Studying with others can be an excellent way to learn and retain information better. It can also bring new perspectives and insights that you might not have considered. Group studying is not about relying on others to do the work for you. Instead, it’s about sharing ideas and collaborating to solve shared problems. To make a group study session more productive, it might be a good idea to assign roles to each other. For example, assigning someone as the note-taker who can share them at the end of the session.

If you have any queries or concerns for the upcoming academic year, please do not hesitate to contact us for an informal chat. You can contact us via 0114 3240041 or marc.cooper@nicholasassociates.co.uk.

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