Study Strategies

Melissa Brulotte (CHEM PAL), class of 2012

What are some of your study strategies?

Do you have a study process?

Find a Place• Set aside a place where you go to study– Replicate test taking conditions

• Only study in that place– No Facebook– No email– Turn off your phone– No TV

• Music okay as long as it doesn’t distract– No lyrics

Find a Time

• Schedule study time like you do class time– You don’t skip class to hang out with friends; say

NO if they ask during study time• Make a schedule– Google calendar. FREE!

• If you make a schedule, you will actually have MORE free time to spend with friends

Study Session: Get Organized• Make a list– What is due– When it’s due

• Prioritize your list– By date– By impact on your grade

• Set a goal and a reward for reaching your goal• Do something every day

Study Session: Get Started• This is the hardest part!• Start by reviewing your notes from last class– Helps refresh your memory, which will help with

assignments or studying– Fill in/clarify what you might have missed

• Begin the assignment– Even if the first thing you do is wrong, at least you

started!

Study Session: Finishing

• Finishing assignments isn’t the last part!• Set aside at least 5 mins to review all notes

from the beginning of class to present• Reward yourself, but only if you reached your

goal

Other Study Tips

• Stay organized!– Notebook– Study space

• Make studying active– Re-write notes– Draw diagrams– Recite out loud– Act things out– Teach a friend– Work with a study group

Exam Strategies

Before The Exam

• Make sure you have all the materials– Calculator– More than one pen and more than one pencil– Erasers

• Eat before you take your exam• Sleep at least 6 hours the night before– Do not cram!

During The Exam

• Skip questions you don’t immediately understand– Do everything you know first– This will build your confidence for the tough questions

• Focus on the higher point questions• Take a break if you are frustrated– Look up and away from the test, and take a deep breath

• If you do all these things, you do NOT need to rush– Rushing = mistakes

Good luck!