Have you ever felt like you are studying for hours but nothing seem to be sticking? There are many of the students who face this feeling during their exam sessions. However, they are always in search for effective study methods this leads to frustration and poor exam performance. But have you ever thought if you could get the key to unlock the secrets to successful study? What if you could get surprising study tips and tools that are going to boost your exam success and reduce your stress levels?
With this blog, we are going to explore some of the unconventional study techniques and tools that are going to help you to stay focused, retain information better and achieve your academic success.
Surprising Study Tip 1: Use the Pomodoro Technique
This is technique that involves studying straight for 25 minutes and get a break of 5 minutes. Once you have completed four cycle of this pattern, you can take longer break of 15-30 minutes. This technique is very useful to help you stay focused and avoid burn out.
Surprising Study Tip 2: Teach Someone Else
The other effective tip to achieve success in exam is to teach someone. It is an effective way to learn, you just have teach someone what you are learning. This helps to reinforce your own understanding and retain information better. You can find a study buddy or teach a family member what you have learned today.
Surprising Study Tip 3: Colour -code your notes
There are different advantages of colour coded notes. As highlighted notes can help you to recall and retain more information, associate information visually and recall key points better. Science has proven that our brain memorize in image or visual form. So, if you highlight your notes it can trigger visual to the brain, you will remember it.
Surprising Study Tool 1: Flashcard Apps
One of the best apps that would help you in your studies would be Flashcard apps such as Quizlet and Anki. These will help you to prepare flashcards and study more efficiently. However, these apps sometimes have features like spaced repetition and gamification which helps to make study session more interesting.
Surprising Study Tool 2: Mind Mapping Software
There are different mind mapping software such as MindMeister and XMind which helps you to visually organize information and create concept maps. This tool can be really beneficial for those students who want to brainstorm and study complex topics.
Surprising Study Tool 3: Pomodoro Timers
The next up effective tool is Pomodoro times apps are like Tomato timer and PomoFocus. These apps can help you to stay focused and on track. Not only this, but these apps offer features such as customisable intervals and alerts to help you stay motivated.
Surprising Study Tip 4: Get Moving
Exercise is one of the essential part of any student’s routine. It has shown to improve cognitive function and boost memory. So you can consider to add some physical activities in your study routine. You can simply take a short walk or a trip to gym.
Surprising Study Tip 5: Practice Active Recall
Make sure to dedicate some time for recalling information from your memory avoid re-reading them. Not only this, but you can try to take practice test or quizzes that helps to reinforce your learning.
Once you have incorporated these tips for your routine, then you need to move forward and take good care of your notes.
Staying Organized: Tips to Keep Your Study Materials Organized
It is really important that you find the right study materials at the right time. This is why it is important to organize your notes effectively. Here are some of the tips to help you keep your study materials organized:
- Create a designated study space- You can find a spot in your home, where it is distractions and clutter free. This can help you to study with calm mind.
- Use planner or calendar – You can simply keep a track of assignments, deadline and study schedule.
- Organize digital files- You can even create folder and labels for digital notes, readings and assignment.
- Use a binder or folder system – Make sure to keep printed notes handy such as notes and handouts.
Now, that you have organised your study materials, it is important to avoid procrastination and get moving with your studies.
Tips to Overcome Procrastination: Strategies for Staying Motivated
Procrastination is one of the biggest enemy of your academic success. Here are some of the tips that would help you avoid procrastination and stay motivated:
- Break tasks into smaller chunks this can help you to create a sense of victory even for smaller tasks.
- Set specific goals and deadline and make sure to stick to it.
- Group study can be really beneficial as it helps you to take accountability.
When you are studying for exam, it doesn’t have to be a tedious task. By applying these tips into your routine, you can see a big difference. However, it is important to stay flexible and experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you.