Study Tips and Techniques

Study Notes

Create a study checklist to keep track of topics to be studied and check them off as you complete them
Use 3x5 cards as review tools, writing a main topic or question on one side and the details or answers on the other

Use mnemonic devices to remember factual information, such as:
- Rhymes (e.g. "In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue")
- Creative sentences (e.g. "My very eager mother just served us nine potatoes" for the order of the planets)
- Acronyms (e.g. NASA, ROY G BIV for the colors of the rainbow)

Join a study group to combine efforts, share notes, and learn new study techniques
Set rules, limit the size of the group, and make it an effective study session
Use index tabs and organized notes to facilitate study sessions

Set up a dedicated study area with necessary tools, such as notebooks, textbooks, and a computer
Ensure the area is well-lit, free from noise and distractions, and not too comfortable
Control for interruptions and try to study in the same place every day

Read the Table of Contents, prefaces, and introduction to get a head start on the class
Leaf through the book to get familiar with its contents
Preview chapters by looking at headings, subheadings, and review questions
Ask yourself questions about the material as you read
Read a section, put the book down, and ask yourself what you just read
Don't skip any part of the chapter, and use multiple senses to reinforce learning
Highlight and annotate the text to make it a study tool

Review notes, outlines, and the text regularly to move information to long-term memory
Read highlighted parts out loud and develop a habit of regular review
Use a study group to discuss the material and quiz each other