101 Study Tips PDF
101 Study Tips PDF
101 Study Tips PDF
daniel-wong.com/2019/04/09/study-tips-for-students/
Saying to yourself: “Today, I have to work on this assignment” will produce feelings of
stress and frustration.
Instead, try saying to yourself: “Today, I get to work on this assignment.” Saying this
will remind you that education is a privilege.
1/25
This simple change in attitude will give you more motivation and focus to get the task
done.
One way to bring about a change in this area is to ask yourself: “If I’m not responsible
for my learning, then who is?”
Asking yourself this question will help you to realise that no one else is responsible for
your learning – not your teachers, and not your parents.
Instead of doing the bare minimum to meet the requirements, do more than what
others are willing to do.
This might mean doing two or three more questions than the ones that your teacher
assigned.
But remember that grades are just a form of feedback; they aren’t an end in themselves.
Don’t allow a focus on grades to cause you to forget that it’s the process of learning that
counts in the long run.
2/25
When you’re learning
something new, you’re likely to
feel overwhelmed.
After all, the more challenges you take on, the more you’ll learn.
As Jim Rohn once said: “If you have enough reasons, you can do the most incredible
things.”
Write down 3 to 5 reasons why you want to perform well in school, and read the list
daily.
By volunteering and serving others, you’ll start to see that your life isn’t mainly about
you. It’s about using your skills and knowledge to make the world a better place.
In turn, this will give you the willpower to persevere in the midst of obstacles.
A lack of focus is often the result of trying to do too many things at the same time.
When you find yourself unable to focus, these two questions will bring you back to the
present.
Students who perform well attribute their success not to lofty goals, but to their daily
systems and processes.
The problem with focusing too much on goals is that this doesn’t enable you to connect
your goals with the effort required.
Success involves committing to a discipline and a routine, even when the going gets
tough.
It’s been shown that students who develop a sense of gratitude are able to harness
positive thinking to improve their grades and quality of life.
You can develop your “gratitude muscle” by writing down one thing each day that you’re
thankful for.
Remember that the purpose of education is less about you and more about the
4/25
contribution you can make to society.
This is one of the most crucial study tips for students that will always be relevant.
If things go wrong, remind yourself that your academics are your responsibility, not
anyone else’s.
This study found that saying information out loud helps to move it to your long-term
memory.
Condensing each chapter into a handful of key points will make it easier for you to
consolidate your learning.
Even if it’s a break of just a few minutes, your concentration will improve.
5/25
If you can’t focus for 30 to 45
minutes straight, try the
Pomodoro Technique instead.
This not only enables you to consolidate the new information, but it also ensures that
you’re mastering the material.
By doing this, you’ll feel more motivated, and you’ll be less likely to feel discouraged or
anxious.
Keeping a “done” list will give you a sense of accomplishment. As such, you’ll feel more
productive, which will lead to you getting more done in the long run.
This serves as a reminder that you’re making progress. This will enable you to sustain
your focus over the weeks and months.
6/25
22. Keep a list of the doubts and questions you have
Keep a running list of any doubts or questions that arise during your study sessions.
By noting them down, you won’t feel as if you have to remember them. This will free up
your mind and allow you to concentrate better on the material you’re studying.
Once you have a chance, clarify your doubts with your teacher.
If your teacher isn’t available, then look for a suitable online resource instead.
The objective is to get started, which is always the hardest part of getting the work done.
For example, your goal for the next 15 minutes might be to read and summarise one
page of a textbook (instead of the whole chapter).
In terms of the study tips for students that I recommend, this is an exceptionally
practical one.
I use the app every time I write articles, and it has enabled me to correct many of my
bad writing habits.
7/25
The human brain is designed
to process information, not to
store information like it’s a
hard drive.
If you don’t understand the material after reading through it several times, don’t be
afraid to ask for assistance.
By taking the tests under test conditions, it will also prepare you for the exam stress that
you’ll face.
Through the act of explaining the topic to another person, you’ll get a better
understanding of the topic.
If you can’t explain the concept in a simple way, it means that you probably haven’t
mastered the concept yet.
Don’t assume that you know the syllabus based on what material your teacher has been
covering.
Read the syllabus for yourself so that you know exactly what topics will be tested.
This will make it easier for you to be well prepared for every test and exam.
Having this information will allow you to be more specific in the way you prepare. In
turn, this will enable you to get better grades.
This will deepen your interest in the topic and allow you to learn the concepts more
effectively.
Focus for 5 minutes, then take a 3-minute break. Repeat this until the class ends.
The following week, focus for 7 minutes at a go before taking a 3-minute break. As the
weeks go by, increase the “focus” periods gradually.
This may not seem ideal, but it’s better than not paying attention at all.
9/25
Over time, you’ll be able to focus for longer stretches, even if your teacher is boring.
The outline doesn’t have to be that detailed; just list the bullet points that summarise
what you want to write about.
36. Write down every single resource you could use to prepare for a
test or exam
By doing this, you’ll ensure that you don’t overlook any vital resources that will facilitate
your preparation for the test or exam.
37. After you finish studying a set of notes, write down the date when
you studied it
This will allow you to keep track of when you studied a particular topic.
As such, you’ll know when you ought to do a more thorough review of the topic, and
when a more cursory review will suffice.
39. To improve your writing, ask your teachers if you can submit
additional essays
Most teachers will agree to this request.
10/25
By submitting additional essays, you’ll have more practice and more opportunities for
feedback.
This will enable you to stay on task and ensure that a 10-minute break doesn’t turn into
a 2-hour break.
Firstly, it gets you in the mindset where you’re not hiding from your challenges. Instead,
you’re facing them head-on.
Secondly, having dealt with the unpleasant tasks first, they’ll no longer be hanging over
your head. This means that you’ll maintain your levels of productivity.
42. When taking notes, write down only the key points
When taking notes during class, never try to write down everything the teacher says –
you won’t be able to.
Instead, write down keywords or key points. By summarising the concepts in your own
words, you’ll deepen your understanding of the topic.
Learning to read faster allows you to take control of information overload, save time,
and become a more effective student.
This isn’t just a study tip that I recommend to students; it’s a lifeskill.
45. If you don’t feel like getting to work, set a timer for just 3 minutes
11/25
By doing this, you’re setting a
goal to work for just 3 minutes.
Combining a physical action with the act of reading will enable you to concentrate for
longer.
47. Check through your homework at least once before you submit it
By doing this, you’ll almost always find at least one or two mistakes that would
otherwise have gone uncorrected.
You’ll be surprised at how quickly it becomes a habit that you’re unwilling to break.
These apps help you to keep track of the new habits you’re trying to develop.
They also turn the habit formation process into an enjoyable one.
12/25
Don’t assume that you’ve already mastered the topic, even before doing the homework
assignment.
The act of reading your notes will jog your memory and make doing the homework a
more meaningful learning process.
Taking notes helps you to retain more information, and also helps you to concentrate
during class.
This will allow you to gauge whether or not you’re mastering the topics and concepts.
Not surprisingly, 90% of students report that learning is more effective when it’s spaced
out, as opposed to cramming.
If you know what your teacher will be covering in the upcoming class, skim the relevant
textbook chapter to get an idea of what the class will be about.
56. Pay attention in class, even if you already understand the material
If you already know the concepts well, treat the class as a review session.
You’ll consolidate your learning and retain the information for longer.
57. Decide specifically when you’ll start studying for every test and
exam
Mark the date on your calendar, because this will make it much more likely that you’ll
start studying on that day.
Don’t just make a vague commitment that you’ll start studying “early” – we all know
that doesn’t work.
59. After every test and exam, analyse how you can improve in the
future
After you’ve received your graded test or exam, look through it carefully.
I encourage you to write down every single thing that you want to remember, e.g.
homework assignments, deadlines, events, ideas, key concepts.
Of the study tips for students mentioned in this article, this is one of the simplest but
most powerful ones.
Missing classes can quickly turn into a bad habit. And besides, it’s not worth it.
When you consider the amount of time you’ll spend catching up on what you missed,
you might as well have attended the class in the first place.
Your essay may contain words that are spelled correctly but are nevertheless errors,
such as “there” instead of “their”, or “form” instead of “from”.
15/25
Organisation is a crucial part of
becoming a successful student.
It may be tempting to study on your bed, but you may just end up taking a nap when
you didn’t intend to!
For example, you could ask your parents to take away your phone or tablet every
evening at 6pm. This would ensure that you’ll be more focused when you study in the
evening.
Another example would be booking a study room at the library so that you and your
friends can study together. This way, you won’t forego the study session.
List the positive habits you want to form, and think about ways to pre-commit to them.
Or you could make use of the bus ride home to plan what tasks you intend to complete
by the end of the day.
By making the most of your travel time, you’ll have more time to do the things you
enjoy.
16/25
67. Sit at the front of the class whenever possible
Research has shown that when students are randomly assigned to different seats in a
classroom, the ones who sit at the front get better grades.
Sitting at the front of the class makes it easier for you to stay focused, and makes it less
likely that you’ll fall asleep in class.
Focus
Also, make sure the temperature is right. Research shows that the temperature most
conducive to studying is roughly 22.0°C (71.6°F).
69. When you feel like you’re about to get distracted, write down the
distraction
For example, if you’re in the middle of a study session and you suddenly feel like
watching a YouTube video, write down “YouTube” on a sheet of paper.
This is a way of saying to your brain: “I’ll come back to that later.”
It will give you a sense of release from the distraction and leave you free to focus on the
present task.
17/25
Put your phone and tablet on
“silent”.
71. If you start worrying while studying, write down your worries
If you find yourself worrying excessively before a test or exam, write down your worries
on a piece of paper.
Research by the University of Chicago has shown that this exercise allows students to
relieve their anxieties.
Don’t scroll through your social media feed while trying to get some work done, either.
To have a fruitful study session, you need to remove all external stimuli that take your
focus away from the task at hand.
18/25
Remind yourself that it’s impossible to do everything in life; you need to focus.
Research from the University of Chicago has shown that we think better and are more
creative when there’s a moderate level of background noise.
Coffitivity and Hipstersound are two tools you can check out for suitable white noise to
listen to while doing work.
One benefit is that it makes you accountable to a group of friends who expect you to
show up to study sessions.
Another benefit is that you can share notes. When you do this, you’ll be able to see how
other students take notes, which will enable you to improve your own note-taking skills.
19/25
79. Don’t be afraid or too proud to ask for help
If you need assistance, ask for it.
A study by Saint Louis University researchers found that students who ask for help are
more likely to get A’s.
This isn’t a surprising finding. What is surprising is that the study also found that fewer
than 1 in 5 students ask their instructors for help.
The more feedback you get, the easier it will be for you to focus on improving specific
areas of knowledge.
Most teachers will be more than happy to provide you with additional feedback.
An academic coach can help you to pinpoint the root causes of problems and suggest
solutions.
I work with pre-teens and teens 1-to-1 through this coaching programme. In this
programme, I equip them to become motivated, disciplined, responsible and resilient.
Researchers found that focused deep breathing raises levels of noradrenaline (also
called norepinephrine). Noradrenaline is a neurotransmitter that increases your
alertness.
20/25
This research highlights the
vital role that sleep plays in
processing information.
Losing sleep means losing time for this consolidation process to occur. So if you want to
study effectively, get at least 8 hours of sleep every night.
There are so many study tips for students in this article, but I encourage you to put this
one into practice as a priority.
For instance, you could use the phrase “Super Man Helps Every One” to remember the
order of the Great Lakes from west to east (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario).
21/25
Use the visualisation and association technique to link vivid mental images with
concepts or facts that you want to remember.
This is far more effective than just trying to memorise the information without using a
specific memory technique.
Over time, energy drinks won’t give you the boost that you’re hoping for.
Like coffee, they’ll disrupt your sleep cycle, which will only make the situation worse.
This will allow you to spend more time doing high-value work, while still having the
same amount of free time.
Without a plan, the days’ distractions will quickly take over. A plan reminds you what it
is you want to achieve and how you’re going to achieve it.
Set aside time in your schedule for the things that are most important to you, e.g. family
time, religious activities, school activities.
When you’ve created a weekly schedule, you’ll rely more on your schedule to get things
done, instead of waiting to feel “motivated”.
23/25
Colour-code the blocks of time to indicate different subjects or studying-related
activities.
97. Use a calendar or planner and keep it with you at all times
In this way, you’ll be able to update your calendar or planner when changes come up –
which is bound to happen.
Reviewing your progress each week allows you to fine-tune your study schedule.
Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have a social life at all. I’m a firm believer that
it’s important to lead a balanced life.
But not all your friends will have the same level of commitment to their academics that
you do.
So you need to be clear about your own guidelines, as you’ll encounter peer pressure to
do what your friends are doing.
For instance, you might decide that you won’t go out with your friends more than once
a week. You might also set boundaries related to who you choose to hang out with.
Make a list of the topics and sub-topics that you need to cover. Set aside time each week
to study, and write down what you’ll do to prepare for the test or exam.
Conclusion
At more than 5,000 words, this is a very long article filled with study tips for students.
Rest assured that there’s no need to implement every single study tip right away. That
would be too overwhelming.
(To develop a structured plan to put the tips into practice, download the free planning
worksheet below.)
I hope this article has given you a sense of clarity, focus, and purpose as you strive to be
the best student you can be.
Here’s wishing you all the best on this challenging and meaningful journey!
25/25