How To Study Effectively?

10 Best Study Techniques | USAHS

Set the Stage

 Get a good night’s sleep: A 2019 study found a positive relationship between
students’ grades and how much sleep they’re getting.1 However, this doesn’t only
mean getting eight hours of sleep before a big test. What matters even more is
getting enough sleep for several nights before you do most of your studying.
 Switch up your study environment: This might not seem like a promising
strategy for how to study effectively, but studies show that switching up your
environment can increase recall performance.2 Instead of studying at home every
 day, try checking out a new coffee spot each week or heading to your local library.
A change in scenery can be one of the best study methods to improve your
memory and concentration levels.
 Stick with an environment that works: If you have a good study space at home
or a café that is reliably productive, it makes sense to stick with this when you are
under pressure.
 Listen to calming music: You can listen to any music you like, but many agree
that tuning into classical, instrumental and lo-fi beats is one of the best ways to
study and can help you pay attention to the task. Songs with lyrics can be
distracting.
 Eliminate distractions: Silence your phone and annoying background noises such
as the TV or radio. Make a pact to avoid checking social media until the end of
your study session.
 Snack on smart food: Coffee and candy will give you a temporary boost, but then
you’ll have a blood sugar crash. For energy that is more focused and sustainable,
try healthy snacks such as edamame, apples or nuts.3

1. THE SQ3R STUDYING TECHNIQUE

The SQ3R method can be one of the best studying techniques to help students identify
key facts and retain information within their textbook. SQ3R (or SQRRR) is an
acronym that stands for the five steps of the reading comprehension process.4 Try
this process for a more efficient and effective study session:
  Survey: Instead of reading the entire book, start by skimming the first chapter and
taking notes on headings, subheadings, images or other standout features like
charts.
 Question: Formulate questions around the chapter’s content, such as: What is this
chapter about? What do I already know about this subject?
 Read: Begin reading the chapter and look for answers to the questions you
formulated.
 Recite: After reading a section, summarize in your own words what you just read.
Try recalling and identifying major points and answering questions from the
second step.
 Review: Once you have finished the chapter, review the material to fully
understand it. Quiz yourself on the questions you created and re-read any portions
you need to.
You can try these study techniques for college before taking your final exam.

2. Retrieval Practice

Retrieval practice is a studying technique based on remembering at a later

time.5 Recalling an answer to a question improves learning more than looking for
the answer in your textbook. Remembering and writing down the answer to a flashcard
is more effective than thinking you know the answer and flipping the card over early.

If you practice retrieval, you are more likely to remember the information later. Below
are some ways for how to study effectively by integrating the retrieval process into your
routine.
  Utilize practice tests: Use practice tests or questions to quiz yourself without
looking at your book or notes.
 Craft unique questions: Be your teacher and create questions you think would be
on a test. If you’re in a study group, encourage others to do the same and trade
questions.
 Use flashcards: Create flashcards, but practice your retrieval technique. Instead of
flipping a card over prematurely, write the answer down and check.
3. Spaced Practice

Spaced practice, or distributed practice is one of the best ways to study complex
material.6 It encourages students to study over an extended period instead of
cramming the night before. When our brains almost forget something, they work harder
to recall that information. Spacing out your studying allows your mind to make
connections between ideas and build upon the knowledge that can be easily recalled later.

To try this study technique, review your material in spaced intervals similar to the
schedule below:

 Day 1: Learn the material in class.

 Day 2: Revisit and review.
 Day 3: Revisit and review.
 After one week: Revisit and review.
 After two weeks: Revisit and review.
When figuring out how to study effectively, It’s important to start planning early. At the
beginning of each semester, schedule time each day to study and review the material.
Even if your exams are months away, this will help you hold yourself accountable.

4. The PQ4R Method

Similar to the SQ3R method, PQ4R is an acronym that stands for the six steps in the
process.7 It’s one of the best study methods because it takes an active approach to
learning. By implementing it, you can improve memorization and understanding of a
topic.

 Preview: Preview the information before you start reading to get an idea of the
subject. Skim the material and read only the headers, subheadings, and highlighted
text.
 Question: Ask yourself questions related to the topic, such as: What do I expect to
learn? What do I already know about this topic?
 Read: Read the information one section at a time and try to identify answers to
your questions.
 Reflect: Did you answer all of your questions? If not, go back and see if you can
find the answer.
 Recite: In your own words, speak or write down a summary of the information
you just read.
 Review: Look over the material again and answer any remaining questions.
5. The Feynman Technique
The Feynman Technique is one of the more effective study techniques of learning a
concept quickly by explaining it in plain and simple terms.8 It’s based on the idea, “If
you want to understand something well, try to explain it simply.” What that means is,
by attempting to explain a concept in our own words, we are likely to understand it a lot
faster.

How it works:

 Set the Stage: Write the subject or concept you are studying at the top of a sheet of
paper and jot down everything you know about it
 ELI5: Then, explain it in your own words as if you were teaching someone
without a basic understanding of it.
 Assess & Study: Review what you wrote and identify areas where you were
wrong. Then, go back to your notes or reading material and figure out the correct
answer.
 Organize, Convey & Review: Lastly, if there are any areas in your writing where
you used technical terms or complex language, go back and rewrite these sections
in simpler terms for someone who doesn’t have the educational background you
have. Review your new understanding of the subject.
6. Leitner System
The Leitner System is one of the best study techniques based on flashcards.9 Ideally, keep
your cards in several boxes to track when to study each set. Every card starts in Box 1. If
you get a card right, move it to the next box. If you get a card wrong, move it down a box
or keep it in Box 1 (if it’s already there).

Each box determines how much you will study each set of cards, similar to the following
schedule:

 Every day: Box 1

 Every two days: Box 2
 Every four days: Box 3
 Every nine days: Box 4
 Every 14 days: Box 5
7. Color-Coded Noted

Messy notes can make it hard to recall the critical points of a lecture. Writing in color is
one of the best study methods because it’s a dynamic way to organize new information. It
also helps you review and prioritize the most important ideas.

 Write down key points in red.

 Highlight important information in yellow.
 Organize topics by color.
 Don’t color everything—just the key information.
8. Mind Mapping
  Grab a blank sheet of paper or use an online tool and write your study topic in the
center, such as “child development.”12
 Connect one of your main ideas (i.e., a chapter of your book or notes) to the main
topic, such as “developmental stages.”
 Connect sub-branches of supporting ideas to your main branch. This is the
association of ideas. For example, “Sensorimotor,” “Preoperational,” “Concrete
operational,” and “Formal operational.”
 TIP: Use different colors for each branch and draw pictures if it helps.
9. Exercise Before Studying

Exercise fights fatigue and can increase energy levels.13 If you’re struggling with how to
study effectively, consider adding an exercise routine to your day. It doesn’t have to be a
full hour at the gym. It can be a 20-minute workout at home or a brisk walk around your
neighborhood. Anything to get your heart rate pumping. Exercising before you study:

 Kickstarts brain function and can help improve memory and cognitive
performance.14
15
 Releases endorphins, which can improve your mood and reduce stress levels.
10. Study Before Bed

Sleep is crucial for brain function, memory formation, and learning. Studying before
you sleep, whether it is reviewing flashcards or notes, can help improve
recall.16 According to Scott Cairney, a researcher from the University of York in the
United Kingdom:

“When you are awake, you learn new things, but when you are asleep, you refine them,
making it easier to retrieve them and apply them correctly when you need them most.
This is important for how we learn but also for how we might help retain healthy brain
functions.”

When you’re asleep, the brain organizes your memories. Instead of pulling an all-nighter,
study a few hours before bed and review the information in the morning.
 MA TRẬN EISENHOWER

Cấp độ 1 (P1): Quan trọng, khẩn cấp

Ở cấp độ này, công việc được ưu tiên số 1, phải làm ngay. Gồm 3 loại việc:

 Xảy ra không đoán trước được: Bệnh tật, cuộc họp khẩn cấp, nhiệm vụ bất ngờ,
các cuộc điện thoại quan trọng, email công việc…
 Đoán trước được: Cuộc họp đã lên kế hoạch trước, họp định kỳ, sinh nhật người
thân, đám cưới bạn bè…
 Do trì hoãn để tới sát hạn chót: Làm báo cáo, làm bài thuyết trình, kiểm tra…

Chúng ta thường không tránh được loại 1, 2. Nhưng với loại thứ 3, hoàn toàn có
thể giảm thiểu chúng bằng cách chuyển thành việc P2. Và nếu các bạn không
muốn gánh nhiều áp lực thì hãy tập thói quen để xóa sổ loai việc này trong P1.

Cấp độ 2 (P2): Quan trọng, không khẩn cấp

Để quản lý thời gian tốt, bạn hãy dành nhiều thời gian cho ô này. Chúng thường
không khẩn cấp, nhưng sẽ tích lũy dần để giúp bạn đạt được thành tựu mong
muốn.

Nếu bạn đang làm việc P2 và có việc P1 xuất hiện thì hãy hoàn thành việc P1
trước. Sau khi bạn giải quyết xong các việc P1, bạn tiếp tục hoàn thành việc P2.
Nên để việc P2 hình thành như một thói quen!

Cấp độ 3 (P3): Không quan trọng, khẩn cấp

Những việc này chẳng có gì quan trọng, nhưng chúng lại đột ngột xuất hiện
khiến bạn không thể kiểm soát được. Bạn phải tìm cách giải quyết những việc
này càng nhanh càng tốt. Nếu không, hãy học cách từ chối và kết thúc chúng
một cách lịch sự.

Cấp độ 4 (P4): Không quan trọng, không khẩn cấp

Bạn nên cắt giảm tối đa thời gian cho ô này, chỉ nên dành dưới 5% thời gian của
bạn cho P4. Chúng tiêu tốn thời gian của bạn mà không đem lại lợi ích gì đáng
kể.
Khi bạn chuẩn bị làm 1 việc thuộc nhóm P4 hãy tự hỏi những câu như: Xem cái
này để được gì? Xem cái này có giúp mình chinh phục được mục tiêu không?
Chơi game này có giúp mình học giỏi hơn không? Mình có nhất thiết phải xem
phim này không?

Cách phân bổ thời gian phù hợp với các cấp độ của ma trận Eisenhower

P1: ~15% – 20%

P2: ~60% – 65%
P3: ~10% – 15%
P4: < 5%