Studying isn't always fun, but you have to get good grades anyway. If you work during class, you will need less study time when it is time to take your exams. In addition, you can use some tricks to minimize study time, such as keeping your brain in the best condition while maintaining the health of your body.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Learn in class
Step 1. Reflect on the material before going to class
You will usually know what the class will be about because the teacher will have assigned some type of material in advance. When you are going to class, think about what will be covered that day and prepare yourself mentally for what is to come. This process will put you in the right frame of mind and help you better grasp the information.
Step 2. Go to class
If you are in high school, you will not have the option of not attending, but in college, you will be responsible for your own time. One of the easiest ways to get good grades without studying hard is to go to class and listen to what the teacher is saying. This means that you should not only be present, but also attentive.
Also, many teachers count attendance and participation as part of your grade. Therefore, simply by attending you will be helping your grades to be better. If you don't attend much, you will lose these points
Step 3. Sit in the front row
You may be tempted to sit last, away from the teacher's field of vision and mind. However, if you are up front, you will be able to see better what is written on the board and hear it better. You will also be less likely to let your mind be elsewhere.
Step 4. Ask questions
If something confuses you, don't be afraid to ask questions. Your teacher will be happy to clarify the issues that are confusing you and other students are likely to have the same question as you.
Step 5. Show interest
It may seem difficult to do, especially if you don't like the subject, such as math. However, if necessary, pretend to be interested to begin with. Work yourself psychologically saying how much you love math. Try to find parts of the course that interest you, even if it's a little bit. Being interested in what you are learning will help you assimilate information more effectively.
Step 6. Always look for the main points
Your teacher is likely to give you clues as to what is important by writing the main ideas on the board or by emphasizing them with his voice; You could even repeat them to make sure the class understands what is important. Constantly ask yourself what the main points and ideas are, so use class time to reflect on and absorb them.
Step 7. Take good notes
This does not mean writing down all the words your teacher says, which generally means that you are not capturing the information, but that you are just transcribing it on the sheet. Also, you won't be able to keep up unless you're taking notes on a computer and can type very fast. Therefore, it is best if your notes have few words or short sentences that capture the main points.
- For example, if your teacher tells you “Today we will talk about verbs. A verb is the action of a sentence and there are two main classes: those of state and those of action”; you could write the following: “Verbs: prayer action. 2 types: state, action”.
- It is a good idea to use shorthand or abbreviations to write faster, but be sure to be consistent so that you know what you wrote at all times.
- While you'll be able to include more information with a computer, studies have shown that taking notes by hand helps you learn more.
Step 8. Don't get distracted
It is tempting to lose interest if the classroom is very hot or people are talking. Maybe the day is beautiful or you just don't feel like being there, but commit to paying attention. Block out what is distracting you and focus solely on what the teacher is saying and the class discussion.
- We all think elsewhere at some point. When you realize that this is happening to you, return your attention to what the teacher is saying.
- If you are in no way able to concentrate and you find yourself falling asleep, go to the bathroom for a short break and splash water on your face as long as your teacher gives you permission.
Step 9. Type or review your notes after class
If you wrote them by hand, type them when you return home, which will reinforce the information in your brain and help it stay there longer. If you typed your notes in class, reread them when you get home.
Method 2 of 6: Do your homework
Step 1. Make a program
When your assignments are delivered, schedule time for each of them. Stick with your schedule so that you always have them ready on time.
Step 2. Do your homework
This counts as part of your note, so turning it in is important. However, don't just do the right thing to get through; take a good time to complete your assignments. Homework and reading are ways to reinforce what you are learning in class, and if you take the time to do them right now, you won't have to study much later.
Step 3. Read critically
Don't read your textbook lightly, rather read the sentences carefully and absorb the information. If you're having trouble paying attention, try doing it out loud for yourself or a friend. Take some time to identify what the main ideas are. It may be helpful to take notes on them so that you have a general summary. Also, writing will help you reinforce the information.
Step 4. Organize your notes, your homework, and your exams
Have a folder or folder for each course, and have your notes, assignments and tests organized into sections and dates. In this way, you will know where all the materials of a topic are and you can take them out of there to review them later.
Method 3 of 6: Study Your Best
Step 1. Get rid of the more difficult courses first
This way you will work on them when your brain is cooler, so it will be easier than if you tried when your brain is tired. On the other hand, once you get them out of the way, you'll feel like you've accomplished something important. Also, the work you have left will seem easier after what is more difficult.
Step 2. Take breaks
Studying for a long time without a break will exhaust you and you will no longer capture information as well as before. Don't forget to take frequent breaks, at least one per hour. Get up and walk from one side to the other; have a cup of tea; do jumping jacks; or talk to a friend for a few minutes. Take a mental break and you'll be more prepared to get back in the ring.
Step 3. Don't waste time
Although it is necessary to have breaks, when it is time to study, you will have to. Don't scribble or write random notes in the margins of the pages. Get to really work when you have to, and you'll cut your study time significantly.
Step 4. Go from one subject to another
Instead of studying just one for hours, switch from one to the other, especially if you're going to have to take multiple exams. For example, try changing subjects after each break. This way of studying will keep you more interested in what you are learning, which will help you grasp the topics you need to learn more quickly.
Method 4 of 6: Study for Exams More Effectively
Step 1. Use a study guide or the syllable to make a plan
If you don't have either one, you'll have to use your class notes or textbook to prepare it. In essence, you need a summary of what you have to cover for the next exam. You can create an outline with the main titles of your textbook or with the main concepts that were covered before the exam.
- Once you know what all the concepts you have to tackle are, set aside a set time for each one based on the total time you want to spend reviewing for the exam.
- You don't have to allot the same time to each concept. If you know one more than the other, focus more time on the one you don't know. If one is more complex, it may take more time than others.
Step 2. Review your notes
One of the best ways to study for a test is to review your class material. Review the notes you took in class. Also, quickly read the chapter titles you studied before the exam to make sure you cover everything you need. However, don't try to reread the chapters as this will take more time than you have to study for the test.
Step 3. Have discussion groups
Work with your friends to make the review more effective. It is more fun to study in a group and can be very successful as long as you stay on topic. Discussing ideas will engage you with the material, making it easier to grasp the information.
- For example, if you're trying to study a book for a test, try an Internet study guide to start a discussion with your friends. You can find discussion questions for the most classic works of literature.
- For a topic like math, try small skills. Pick a problem to see who can solve it the fastest. If someone is having difficulties, go over it with this person or help them understand it. Whether you are explaining or you are the one who needs the explanation, the information will be settling more quickly.
Step 4. Relate your ideas
Most people try to learn by memorization, that is, they read something over and over again until it sticks in their memory. However, a more effective way is to relate what you are learning to what you already know. If you weave the new knowledge into your network of ideas, you will be able to remember it more quickly.
For example, let's say you are trying to learn about an animal's circulatory system. You can buy the body parts with a train system, where the main station would be the heart; the major railways that lead away from it, the arteries; and those that go to her, the veins
Step 5. Try the flashcards
If matching ideas isn't working for you, try flashcards to help you memorize. These instruments make you learn faster because they force you to repeat a concept over and over again; In addition, they allow you to take the lesson of the subject yourself.
- Write a word or something that you have to learn on one side and its definition or information that is related to that concept, on the other. Flashcards work best for two-part concepts, such as a word and its definition, an event and its date, or the name of an equation and its expression.
- Another way these flashcards can help you is that they allow you to study only what you don't know. Once you have definitely learned a concept or a word, you can take it out of the group of cards and spend the time you have to learn the ones you don't know.
Step 6. Focus your study on the type of exam you will have
For example, if you have to remember dates, flashcards will do better. If you are trying to learn to solve problems, working with practice problems will probably be the most effective way to study. On the other hand, if you want to learn concepts or study literature for an exam that includes an essay, working in a group discussion might be the best way to go.
Method 5 of 6: Better Test Your Exams
Step 1. Record the data
If you have to remember any information for the exam, write it at the top of the page as soon as it is handed to you; In this way, you will not forget it when solving.
Step 2. Always read the instructions
These could tell you how long your answers have to be or even how many questions you will have to answer. It is important that you read them carefully or you could lose simple points.
Step 3. Control your time
Make sure you have the time to complete all parts of the exam. Take a moment at the beginning to review everything and consider what to expect. If you have an essay to do, make sure you don't spend so much time on the other sections that you don't have time for it. Throughout the exam, continually check the time.
Step 4. Advance based on your strengths
If you know that you are better at answering short questions, start with them. In this way, you will know that you have answered the questions that you solve the best and that they will give you the most points.
Step 5. Read the questions carefully
Sometimes your teacher will phrase questions in especially confusing ways. Make sure you know exactly what the question is asking of you before answering it. In other words, don't be too quick to answer it when you've only read a few words from it.
Step 6. Check to see if you will lose additional points for wrong answers
In some tests, if you answer wrong, you simply will not score points; but in others, it will be like that if you don't answer, but if you do it wrong, they will take additional points from you. In the first case, guessing on a multiple-choice question won't hurt you at all and could help you. However, in the second case, you could lose more points than you win by guessing.
Step 7. Learn to solve multiple choice questions
These might be easier to answer because you don't have to write an answer itself, it is already in one of the options. However, sometimes this type of question can be difficult when two of the answers are apparently very similar.
- Once you have read the question well, determine what you would answer without looking at the options; This way, you won't be confused by other answers before reaching a conclusion. If your answer is there, select it and move on to the next question. Otherwise, read the question again to make sure you didn't misread it.
- If you have a hard time deciding, eliminate the silly or ridiculous options. Often one or two of the answers will be blatantly wrong. Cross them out with a line so you don't consider them again.
- If you still can't decide between the other answers, choose one and move on to the next question, as long as no points are taken from you for guessing.
Step 8. Write a quick outline to develop longer questions
If you have to answer a question that asks for an essay, first come up with a quick outline. You should know what main ideas you will include in it and how you will organize them, so that your writing will be more fluid.
Step 9. Check your answers at the end
If you have time to finish, go back and check what you have answered. If you're taking a math test, check your development to make sure you haven't made silly mistakes. Also, check that you have not forgotten a question, as this is a frequent way to lose points.
Method 6 of 6: Take Care of Yourself
Step 1. Get enough sleep
When you are rested, you will retain more information than when you are tired. So just getting enough sleep every night will retain more information, reducing the time you have to study.
Step 2. Eat the right foods
Your body will be able to function better if you give it the best foods. Avoid eating sugary junk food and stick to a diet of good foods that contain protein, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Your brain will work better when you feed it better.
Step 3. Drink water
Just like the rest of your body, the brain needs water to function properly. Staying hydrated will keep this organ working in the best possible way, so drink enough water every day.
- You can count tea, coffee, and juices as part of your water intake. Just remember that the latter are sugary, so don't drink too much. Try adding fruit to the water to flavor it and make it more teasing.
- Although the general rule of thumb is to drink eight glasses of water a day, you may need more. Women generally need about 9 cups and men need about 13.
Step 4. Exercise regularly
Just as exercise energizes your body, it also energizes your mind. This circulates your blood, so more of it will reach your brain, so try to do a little exercise every day. For example, take a short walk or jog during your breaks. In this way, you will return energized and ready to get to work.