Study Techniques

Effective study must become a habit.  It should be carried out according to a timetable based on the subjects studied in school that day.  You should study each subject for approximately 30 minutes.  You should then take a short break and then study a different subject.

• The most important part of study is to just do it.  Forget the excuses - I need to do chores first - I need to watch a particular television programme (it will help me in my history/geography etc.) - I need to watch the news - I have an urgent phone call to make - I have to write a letter - and any other excuse you can think of.  Don't put it off - many students spend more effort in avoiding the work than they do in actually doing it.  Promise yourself rewards.  Instead of having a cup of coffee and then going to do your study promise yourself that coffee, or sweet or whatever after you understand a particular topic that you are to study.

A key to getting the greatest return for the least effort is to be organised.  The first rule in being organised is to have a timetable that works for you.  When you are devising your study timetable, give more time to the subjects that you find more difficult. 

• But your timetable should not be cast in stone - if you find it is not working for you, keep adapting it to your needs until it becomes really useful for you.

The proper environment is important - a quiet well-lit room with a table or desk and an upright chair.  Too dim or too bright lighting will cause eye-strain.  A soft chair, or lying on the bed will just make you fall asleep.

• Study must be active, not passive.  Interrogate the text book.  Don't just accept what the author is saying - question it.  If the text book doesn't give answers to your questions ask your teacher.  Just reading sections of a book will not make you remember the material.  Take reasonable sized sections at a time.  Look at headings - these will usually give you a good idea of what the section is about.  Don't measure your study by the amount of time you spend at it - the true measure is what you now know or understand relative to the start of the study session.

Read each paragraph and highlight or underline the main points.  Write these down on paper and repeat them to yourself.  Then try to write them down from memory.  Check and correct your answer and try it again.  Keep a record of your notes for revision later on.

Look out for charts and diagrams - a picture can be worth a thousand words.  Copy diagrams and then try to reproduce them.

• For subjects like mathematics or technical graphics, go over the examples you have done.  Do them again.  Once per week you should go over all you have done in each subject.  Do this once a month as well, and also when coming up to examinations.

If there are some points you find hard to remember, why not make posters or large notices with the information on them.  Then put them in your room where you will see them constantly.

• Remember - no music in the background while you are studying.  You may think it helps you to relax and to remember things.  Two points arise from this - 1) you are not meant to be relaxed, and 2) there will be no music in the background while you are doing your examinations - so get used to it now.  

• It should go without saying that television, while studying, is a big no-no!