As you all know its exam season for most people on the northern half of the globe. (And maybe for some of you people down under) For most of us these are a huge deal. So The Community Team have started a list which we want you to add to so we can get a thread full of useful and some not so useful study techniques.
If you need help with the all the stress of revising (studying for the Americans) or just need motivation try going over to the Exam motivation thread.
Study Techniques
Make sure you have a good study area, that is quiet and away from other distractions such as facebook, RYL etc
Make a to do list of what you need to study but make sure you break it down into small, manageable tasks otherwise it can be a bit overwhelming. Then tick each task off as you go.
Get a hold of past exam papers, they help you get used to the format and provide a great study tool.
Write down key things you need to learn on pieces of paper and then stick these pieces of paper around the house. For example on your bedroom wall or in the bathroom (you can revise while brushing your teeth) and wherever else you might see it
Identify your learning style: Some people learn better visually so if this is the case make things like mind maps and diagrams, or making up rhymes or using acronyms such as ROYGBIV (colors of the rainbow)
Take regular breaks
Make a study timetable
And also its better to get a good nights sleep before an exam than to cram all night.
Try revising is manageable blocks. Such as doing 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. While it sounds unproductive, some people find that they are more likely to do 10 minutes of solid work, knowing they get that break once its done.
If you're feeling tired don't push yourself
Avoid distractions and practice regularly
revise what you need to know, not what you already know. Revising the bits that you know you can do, while makes you feel good, isn't productive, revise the hard bits first then do the easier bits later.
Make sure you know whats on what exam paper. If you have more than one exam paper, its good to know which one is first, so you know what to concentrate on.
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
If you can, don't revise whilst sitting in bed, you're bed is for sleeping in, and you'll find that you become relaxed easier/less able to sleep (I still need to work on this one).
Work in any empty classrooms in college/school - if your library is anything like ours, you won't get anything done.
I'd suggest recognising the time of day when you work best. I for example can't work in the mornings. So I don't even bother starting anything, I get all my daily stuff sorted and start revising mid afternoon and it works much better. Some people are the exact opposite. My housemates get up at 8 AM, revise solidly until 12-1 and then do next to nothing for the rest of the day.
“Never lose faith in yourself,
and never lose hope;
remember, even when this world throws its worst and then turns its back,
there is still always hope.”
Colour coding and highlighting key words :) It makes your notes look pretty and easier to remember...and its fun xD
Life is about love, last minutes and lost evenings,
About fire in our bellies and furtive little feelings,
And the aching amplitudes that set our needles all a-flickering,
And help us with remembering that the only thing that's left to do is live.
Yellow paper retains memory.....
no one believes me!! but this is why they recommend it for dyslexics and lawyers use it too! and post-its were originally yellow for this reason!
apparently the colour yellow triggers the memory part of your brain. some say red ink on yellow is the most effective (but i've had success with blue and black ink too!)
no harm in trying I say...!
As a little kid you believed in fairytales,
that fantasy of what your life would be: white dress; prince charming who would carry you away to a castle on a hill.
You closed your eyes and had complete and utter faith.
Eventually you grow up. One day you open your eyes and the fairy tale disappears.
But the thing is, it's hard to let go of that fairytale entirely because almost everyone has that smallest bit of hope, of faith,
that one day they will open their eyes and it will come true.
I use spider diagrams and take notes that I learn :)
Bought myself a new fancy set of felt-tips that I use to colour in diagrams and make everything a little bit more 'prettiful'. They cost about £5, so I look after them.
If you like spider-diagrams and the like, it might be worth looking into a piece of software called Inspiration. I have it and absolutely love it. Mainly because I'll draw out a tree of things I need, click a button and it turns it all into bullet points, and can transport it into Word. Wonderful for lab reports :D and much more fun playing with the colours and such.
Wake me up before I change again
Remind me the story that I won't get insane
Tell me why it's always the same
Explain me the reason why I'm so much in pain.
Off topic but... why does this thread have stars next to it?!
someone rated the thread.
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
I write all my notes using colourful pens and A3 paper.
Also, if you start to get stressed or panicked, stop and have a long break.
Fresh air is also a bonus (but I am a hyprocrite because I haven't left the house since Sunday, due to revision!!)
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
