Effective studying is like exercise. The best way to reach a big workout goal is over a longer stretch of time, so you don’t overexert yourself or pull a muscle.
Studying is just the same: the best way to commit something to your long-term memory is to pace yourself and set a series of learning goals.
Despite this, most students admit to last-minute cramming before an exam. And while it might work for some people, cramming can often lead to poor sleep, high-stress levels and poor exam performance.
If you’ve got an exam coming up and you’re looking to boost your study skills, give these four proven methods a try.
1. The Leitner system: helps you memorize information
In 1885, Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered that we have a ‘forgetting curve’, where we lose what we’ve learnt if we don’t use it regularly.[1]
This system encourages you to revisit what you’ve learned on a regular basis. Invented by Sebastian Leitner Who was a German science journalist in the 1970s, the system focuses on spaced repetition.
You start with one pile of flashcards. Pick a card up and try to answer the question in front of you. If you find it right, send the card to the next group. If you find it wrong, send the card back to the first group.
The pile the card is in determines how often you’ll review it. You should revisit the cards in the first pile every day, the cards in the second pile every two days, the cards in the third pile every four days, the cards in the fourth pile every nine days, and the cards in the fifth and final pile every fourteen days.
Following this technique will help you to keep on top of your revision and encourage you to revisit the information you’re not as comfortable with more often.
2. Stoplight technique: helps you organise information
Research studies have shown that colour can help with memorising and retrieving information.[2]
The stoplight technique is based on this approach. To try it, you’ll need 3 highlighter colours: red, yellow and green. As you’re reading through your notes you should use the red pen to highlight the areas you’re unsure of or need to clarify with a lecturer or tutor.
The yellow pen should be used to highlight information that you need to review a few more times to solidify your understanding. Meanwhile, the green pen is used to highlight the information you feel most confident with.
This technique helps you clearly see how much material you still need to learn. It can also be used with flashcards – place your cards into red, yellow, or green piles and revisit the ones in the red and yellow piles more often.
3. Try online tools to help with revision
AI-powered online tools such as Scholarcy can be used to aid your revision – especially when you have a lot of reading material to cover first.
Scholarcy takes your book chapter, article or report and automatically highlights the main points and key findings, presenting them in an easy-to-read Summary Flashcard. It also lets you export your summary flashcards to Word, Excel, your reference manager, or new tools such as Notion, helping you to structure your revision and easily revisit important points.
4. Exercising before studying: to boost motivation
No matter which studying technique you plump for, why not try some exercise beforehand to boost your energy levels and help with motivation and concentration?
It doesn’t have to be an intense gym workout: even a walk around the block or working out to a YouTube video in your lounge can do the trick.
Research has shown that exercise improves your brain’s ‘executive function’. This is a set of mental skills that covers everything from flexible thinking to working memory and response speed.[3] It can also help you focus and manage your emotions – which is handy when you’re studying.
Final thoughts
These effective methods prove that studying for an exam doesn’t have to be stressful. By adopting just one of these techniques, you can get more organised, stay motivated and achieve your goals.
References
[1] Psychestudy.com 2017. Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve. [online] Available at: <https://www.psychestudy.com/cognitive/memory/ebbinghaus-forgetting-curve> [Accessed 13 January 2022]
[2] Campuswell.com 2021. Try this color coding strategy to study for your next exam. [online] Available at: <https://www.campuswell.com/color-coding-notes/> [Accessed 11 January 2022]
[3] Nytimes.com 2007. Exercise on the brain [online]. Available at: <https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/opinion/08aamodt.html> [Accessed 12 January 2022]
