GOOD STUDYING

 Use recall. When you look at a passage and try to study it, look away and recall the main ideas. Try recalling
concepts when you are walking to class or in a different room from where you originally learned it. An ability
to recall—to generate the ideas from inside yourself—is one of the key indicators of good learning.
 Test yourself. On everything. All the time. Flashcards are your best friend. Use quizlet if you don’t want to
hand-make flashcards. Get somebody to test you on your notes.
 Space your repetition. Spread out your learning in any subject a little every day, just like an athlete. Don’t sit
and study one subject for 2 hours, do half an hour every day.
 Take breaks. It is common to be unable to solve problems or figure out concepts in math or science the first
time you encounter them. This is why a little study every day is much better than a lot of studying all at once.
When you get frustrated, take a break so that another part of your mind can take over and work in the
background. You need breaks in order for your brain to retain the information. Try the Pomodoro method if
you have trouble timing breaks!
 Use simple analogies. Whenever you are struggling with a concept, think to yourself, How can I explain this
so that a ten-year-old could understand it? Using an analogy really helps. Say it out loud, like you’re teaching
it, whether it’s to an imaginary class or your sister who couldn’t care less. The additional effort of teaching
out loud allows you to more deeply encode.
 Focus. Turn off your phone / iPad / any distractions and clear your desk of everything you do not need. Use
apps like Forest if you can’t stay off them!
 Do the hardest thing earliest in the day, when you’re wide awake and less likely to push it aside.