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Basic Study Skills for Students
Making the Most of Your Study Time
Believe it or not, no one is born knowing how to study! Your classmates who
make it look easy have just spent many years sharpening their learning skills.
You can do it, too. We've collected some basic study tips for you to get you
started; if you want to know more
go here.
Managing Your Time
 | Use a calendar to keep track of projects, assignments, meetings, exams,
and events. Plan ahead so you can spread out your work and avoid "crunch
time." |
| Every Sunday evening, look at what's coming in the next week and plan your
schedule so you have time to do everything you need to do. |
| Keep a "to-do" list with everything ranked in order of importance. Don't
put off the difficult or important things. If a task looks overwhelming, break
it down into smaller pieces and prioritize those, too. |
| Use small chunks of time, like the 15 minutes between classes, to
accomplish small tasks like reviewing your notes. |
Tackling Textbooks
| Scan the title of the chapter and think about what you already know about
the subject. |
| Read the introductory paragraph and note what the main idea of the chapter
is. |
| Pay special attention to subheads, anything in bold or italic
print, any illustrations and their captions, and the summary and/or
conclusions. These will alert you to main themes and important concepts. |
| Read any questions at the end of the chapter before you read the chapter
itself. These will tip you off to the major points of your reading. |
| Now read through the chapter, taking notes either in a separate notebook
or by using a highlighter and writing notes in the margin. Taking notes helps
you focus on the material. |
No-Cram Exams
| Study with exams in mind from the very first day of class. Learn the
instructor's objectives and keep an eye on the syllabus. |
| As you study, be aware of key concepts and overall patterns that pop up
throughout the material. |
| Find relationships between readings, lectures, and projects. Know what
you're supposed to be learning! |
| Know what kind of test you'll be taking -- essay, multiple choice,
true/false, fill-in-the-blank, etc. -- and what material will be covered. |
| Start reviewing about a week before the exam, not the night before! First,
remind yourself of the syllabus and brush up on key concepts and
relationships. Then work on memorizing specific facts in your notes and
readings, focusing on the newest or most unfamiliar material first. |
| Based on what the exam will cover, make a list of ten questions you think
could be on it and practice coming up with possible answers. |
Additional Study Skill Resources
© 1997,1998 Center for Psychiatric
Rehabilitation, Boston University
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