Studying Efficiently How to Study for Finals

1. You should study in short 20-50 minute chunks. Long periods of studying can cause fatigue and make it difficult to concentrate. Studying for long periods will cause fatigue and make it difficult to focus.

• • Take a break after spending 20-50 minutes on a topic. Then, move on to the next topic. You will be able to retain the information and not get bored.
  • This method of studying requires you to break down your study material into small, digestible chunks. You will struggle to understand the material if you have too much material.

2. Make frequent breaks. It is important to take frequent, brief breaks. A break allows your brain time to process the information and recharge before starting again. Between every 20-50-minute study session, you should take five to ten-minute breaks and a 30-minute break once every four hours.

• • Your break time should not be spent scrolling through social media or watching TV. It is better to use that break time to have a healthy snack.
  • To get fresh air, you should take a walk outside. The brain is kept in peak condition by oxygen stimulating blood flow. To loosen your muscles and limbs, if you cannot go outside, do some stretching.

3. Divide large sections into manageable pieces. It can be daunting when you set yourself the goal to learn an entire topic in a single study session. Making the task easier by breaking down the topic into smaller, more manageable sections is possible. 

• • If you’re studying Shakespearean texts and have set yourself the goal to know “The Tempest” from beginning to end, it may seem impossible. It will be easier to break down your study into smaller tasks. You can spend 40 minutes studying Caliban’s character, 40 on the major themes and 40 on the most important quotes.
  • If you are studying biology or another science subject, don’t learn the entire chapter at once. It can be broken down into smaller, more digestible pieces. It takes 20 minutes to master key terms or memorize important diagrams or experiments.

4. Take effective notes. Effective studying requires you to create your notes. A well-structured and organized study plan will help you learn more quickly. Instead of scouring large books, use your customized notes to find specific information. Making your notes will help you highlight the most important information and eliminate unnecessary material in textbooks. 

• • Make sure you combine the most useful and easy-to-understand information from as many textbooks as possible, including professor’s handouts or class notes. You can create notes with more content by changing the source material. This will allow you to stand out among your peers during exams and increase your chances of doing well.
  • Find a way to make notes that you like. Students use flashcards, some use different coloured pens for writing, and others use shorthand. You can do what you feel is best for you. Just make sure that the notes are clear and well-organized.

5. Strategically use textbooks. Many college students find reading textbooks overwhelming and dreadful. Reading your textbooks doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Learning how to read your textbooks more efficiently and effectively is the key.

• • Before you start to dive into the content, take a moment to review the material. This can be done by skimming through the chapters you are planning to read. Look at the title of each chapter to determine if it contains an outline that summarizes the contents. Check for headings, subheadings and bold text. Before you start reading, have a rough idea of what you’ll be reading.
  • Ask yourself which topics and concepts are the most important in this chapter. It may be helpful to turn each heading into questions. You can ask questions such as Who?, How?, When? and Where? While you read.
  • After you have a good understanding of the contents of each chapter, it’s time to begin reading. It is important to be able to identify any key terms and concepts. It’s a good idea also to highlight or underline any important information that you feel is important and which you wish to revisit later.
  • Once you have completed reading the text, you can recite it. This will allow you to verify that you truly understood the material. After you have mastered the material, you can recite the main topics and terms. Memorizing concepts can be made easier by putting them in your own words.
  • Note down the information you have just read. Include any definitions, key terms, and anything else you find important. Your notes shouldn’t be too long, but they should also be concise enough to help you recall the most important concepts later.
  • After you have finished reading the material and taken notes on it, you can review what you have learned. To recall important topics covered in the chapter, look through your notes. Practice answering questions your professor might ask you. You should have a solid understanding of the material you’ve just read. You should have a solid understanding of what you just read.

6. Explain the material to another person. If you feel you understand the material well, you might ask a family member or friend to help you explain it. It is a good sign that you are knowledgeable about the topic if you can communicate it so that another person can understand.

• • You can help memorize the information by speaking in your own words and not using notes.
  • It is a sign that you can communicate the information to others and not just rote learning.

Try it. After you’ve covered the most important material for the final exam, it is time to take some practice tests. Practice tests are a great way to assess your understanding and knowledge of the material.

• • Ask your professor for a sample paper, or use class quizzes, end-of-term exams and past exam papers. You can also use past exam papers or samples to help you feel more comfortable with the format and structure of the exam. This will be helpful when it comes time for the actual exam.
  • Don’t be discouraged if the practice test goes as smoothly as you expected. Doing a practice test helps you identify your weak points to study them more.