How do you study ?

[aneeshm]

As my examinations are coming up soon , and the annuals soon after those , I'd like some ideas from people here , as there are bound to be a fair number of students .

How exactly do you study/concentrate for a time longer than thirty minutes at a stretch ? If anyone here could help , I'd be really grateful . I've never been able to focus intensely on any subject material for more than 20-30 minutes , except when I'm actively practicing .

This relates not just to exam-time studying , but also general study . Thanks in advance for any help .

 

[Phantom Lord]

Just accept your 20-30 minute attention span and have breaks inbetween. Take a walk, reflect on what you've read and you'll probably come up with questions. Try to find the answers when you're back and you'll learn your stuff pretty well this way.

 

[Colonel Kraken]

I think one of the most important things to do as a student is to study on a rewards basis. It's been quite some time since I've been a student, but I do remember one of the greatest motivators for me was to reward myself for studying well.

For me it was going to the arcade. I had to set a worthwhile goal that would definitely get me one step closer to the end. I've got to finish x number of pages on a paper or read x number of chapters or study thoroughly a certain section of material.

Once I finished that section, I felt liberated and accomplished and excited to go and have a little fun. Take a half hour break. Come back and do another section and take another break.

This makes studying MUCH easier.

Hope this helps!

--CK

 

[col]

Little and often is the rule. 20mins every day is MUCH more effective than one or two big sessions.

Make your revision active. Reading,watching and listening are poor ways of learning anything. Writing, saying and doing are much more effective as learning methods.

Focus on what you need. Get a copy of the syllabus. Get the last 5 exam papers and do every question. Examiners are lazy and will reuse questions.

Dont Panic. Dont waste time worrying. Just get on with it.

Good Luck.

 

[aneeshm]

Thank you . This is going to help a lot .

Another self-help tip to myself - Don't spend so much time on Civfanatics .

 

[Colonel Kraken]

Originally posted by aneeshm

Another self-help tip to myself - Don't spend so much time on Civfanatics .

Yes, that could definitely be a problem. CFC has a way of time warping you.

--CK

 

[Suppersalmon]

I tend to sit out side and revise listening to classical music

 

[Moonsinger]

When I was still in college, I didn't really study much for my exams. I rarely missed any lecture or lab and always did my homework on time. The week before the exams, I usually retake all exams for that same course from the previous years to get a feel of it. The day before the exam, I usually reviewed my notes, had a good night of sleep, and that was it.

Defending on the instructors, usually 1/3 of what on the exam was based on the lecture, 1/3 was based on your understanding of the subject and the other 1/3 was based on your creativity/imagination. Therefore, by attending all the lectures, paying attention to the instructor's pointless jokes or whatever, and doing all your homeworks, there isn't much left to study, except for memorizing a few formulas.

 

[gael]

This thread is good for me too. My method is don't worry about it until the last minute then crap myself for the last few days.

I wouldn'd advise it.

 

[Jeratain]

I go to a secluded area with lots of natural beauty about it. Somewhere that is peaceful, quiet, and inspiring.

 

[Perfection]

Remember to make sure you aren't overdoing it, only study what you have difficulties with, the rest of the stuff, just skim

 

[Archer 007]

The rewards idea works for me also.

 

[aneeshm]

Thank you all ! And a happy new year to you . This computer(and consequently , my net access ) will be off until the annuals are over , sometime in march-april . Till then , goodbye !

 

[aneeshm]

And keep the ideas flowing , I bet there are others like me who will be helped by this .

 

[Sims2789]

if you need to memorize something, repeat it over and over by talking. of course, you should learn what you're doing. learn it and memorize it!

 

[ShiplordAtvar]

My problem when studying is that I would start to worry and freak out. Solution? I would have a beer while studying. That did the trick for calming my nerves, and when the beer made me start to feel sleepy, I knew it was time to give the studying a break for a while.

 

[WildFire]

Study?

I wing everything.

 

[Norlamand]

I use the gael method of binge and purge studying.

 

[The Yankee]

Originally posted by Moonsinger
When I was still in college, I didn't really study much for my exams. I rarely missed any lecture or lab and always did my homework on time. The week before the exams, I usually retake all exams for that same course from the previous years to get a feel of it. The day before the exam, I usually reviewed my notes, had a good night of sleep, and that was it.

Same here....except the parts about retaking exams, reviewing notes, or having a good sleep.

 

[naervod]

It's winter break, why are we talking about studying?