How to Study Effectively

Many dislike the end of the holiday season, but students dread this time of year as they prepare to take final exams. Who could possibly enjoy devoting all of their time and energy to studying for multiple cumulative tests in one week? However, finals are inevitable and often a crucial component of our final grades, so we might as well prepare as best as possible. Read further if you are interested in learning how to ace these exams.

Use Printed Materials

In the digital age today, students commonly study from online textbooks. Even though many prefer this option over lugging around heavy textbooks, printed materials are superior when it comes to studying. In fact, British psychologists found that students studying from printed mediums read more quickly and better comprehended the information compared to those using a computer (1). So if you want to spend less time studying and get better grades, ditch the computer and crack open the old-fashioned textbook. Your GPA will thank you!

Study Over Many Sessions

It’s the night before an exam, and you haven’t even started to study. You decide to stay up all night, trying to memorize a huge quantity of information in a short period of time. However, research has established that “cramming” is an extremely ineffective method compared to studying over multiple sessions: a study from the Journal of Marketing Education found that students who regularly “crammed” had a lower GPA compared to their counterparts (2). Thus, study a little each day to allow for optimum retention of the material and As on your exams.

Do practice tests

If you study without quizzing yourself, are you going to remember the material in a week? Researchers say that the answer is no: Karpicke and Blunt from Purdue University found that students who answered questions regarding a passage they read remembered 50% more information than those who repeatedly read the material or drew diagrams (3). If your teachers give you practice tests, use them! However, don’t fear if this option is unavailable to you; you can instead make up your own practice questions to answer or ask one of your classmates to quiz you. Any of these strategies will lead you on the path to success!

Study in a Quiet Environment

When you walk into a high school library, what do you usually see? Often, the library is filled with students sitting at desks studying with headphones in their ears. Although some students swear that listening to music while studying helps them focus, researchers believe that students are better off without the headphones. For example, a study in Applied Cognitive Psychology found that students who read an article in silent or noisy conditions and took a comprehension test in matched conditions (i.e. read in silent conditions and took the test in silent conditions) performed better than those in mismatched conditions (4). So unless your teacher will play music during the exam, study in a quiet environment that mimics your classroom environment. In other words, practice like you play!

1. https://www.princeton.edu/~sswang/Noyesa_Garland_computer_vs_paper.pdf

2. https://www.academia.edu/29598716/Exploring_Cramming_Student_Behaviors_Beliefs_and_Learning_Retention_in_the_Principles_of_Marketing_Course

3. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/331/6018/772.abstract

4. https://www.ernweb.com/educational-research-articles/memory-and-the-learning-environment/