Hey everyone, I've been researching different study approaches and I'm curious what study tips that work best for people here. I've tried so many methods over the years but some just don't stick. What are your go to study tips that work consistently for retaining information and actually understanding the material?
One study tip that work really well for me is active recall. Instead of just reading notes, I cover them up and try to explain concepts out loud or write them down from memory. It feels harder in the moment but the retention is way better. I also found that spacing out study sessions over multiple days beats cramming every time.
I totally agree about active recall. Another study tip that work for me is teaching the material to someone else. Even if it's just explaining it to my cat or an empty room, putting concepts into my own words helps solidify understanding. Also, using different colored pens for different types of information makes review sessions more effective.
For me, the study tips that work best involve creating practice tests. I take old exam questions or make up my own and time myself answering them. This not only tests knowledge but also helps with exam anxiety. Also, studying in different locations occasionally seems to help with memory consolidation according to some research I read.
I've found that interleaving different subjects during a study session works surprisingly well. Instead of blocking 3 hours for one subject, I do 45 minutes of math, 45 of history, 45 of science. It keeps my brain engaged and makes connections between different areas of knowledge. This is one of those study tips that work better than it sounds.