If there’s one thing we’re experts at around here, it’s studying (No, I am not even close to bragging)! Let me tell you: studying doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, there are plenty of methods that exist to simplify the entire process. It’s true: not all study techniques work for every person, but, with a little bit of trial-and-error, you can find something that works for you and stick with it like your life depends on it.
Well, while nothing replaces good old fashioned hard work, every little bit helps when it comes to increasing your efficiency in college (because we know it can be overwhelming at times). With the incredible workload our students are under every given moment, healthy study habits are formed out of necessity and sheer desperation.
With that being said, we thought it’d be fun to gather some secret study techniques that toppers won’t ever tell you..shhh! Whether you’re in high school, a home school student, or on your way to earning a PhD in Physics, take a break and enjoy these sacred study techniques!
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Chew Gum
No, we mean it! The act of chewing gum is actually a brain booster. And, since there aren’t severe side effects (like there can be with caffeine), chomping on your favourite flavour is a great study aid. Why? Scientists think it’s based on the act of chewing waking us up and keeping us focused. The only downside is that it doesn’t last. This technique might be helpful for shorter periods of time, so save this hack for the harder parts of your material.
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Sleep a Little Here and There.
It’s not rocket science. As one who normally finds two or three hours of sleep to be sufficient for productive living, when it comes to the area of college studies, I’ve found that one must get adequate sleep in order to study effectively! Want to ace that exam? Skimp on the social life and soak in the few extra hours of sleep you need for your brain to work at its finest – it’s one of the most basic and powerful study techniques you’ll ever come across!
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Download Study Apps.
You’re probably aware that there are more student apps than you could ever need or want – choose one or two that suit your study needs and utilize them. If you feel they aren’t working for you, try out a different type. How about getting access to Toppr’s powerful platform on your smartphone? It’s the perfect Android & IOS app while you are on-the-go!
Find a list of must-have study apps in this article!
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Mnemonic Devices
Remember those old school days when your mother used to help you memorize difficult words with the help of mnemonics? You’re likely to recall learning about the planets by remembering something like My Very Earnest Mother Just Served Us Nine Pickles (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune & Pluto) or mugging up the world’s large lakes by remembering the word HOMES (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie & Superior) and so on.
The point is, there’s nothing stopping you from creating your own to help you remember the material for your advanced chemistry test. You can easily remember key concepts, sequences, periodic table and whatever else you need to learn by creating your very own relatable story.
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Make a Cheat Sheet You’ll Never Use.
Before you widen your eyes by the sheer mention of ‘cheat’, let me explain. Though you’ll obviously never use a cheat sheet during an actual exam or quiz, it can help to create one. It’s purely because, in order to do so, you’ll need to sift through all of your notes and materials to find the key items and rewrite them on your sheet. Doing so helps you recognize what you need to learn, and rewriting what you need to learn helps you remember it.
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Picture It!
Yes, go the DDLJ way. Of course, don’t imagine Kajol but close your eyes and think of what you want. It is an interesting fact that the brain is picture-driven and not word driven. By turning concepts into pictures, your retention goes up 800%! Just picture that!
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Google Everything You Don’t Know.
Search outside study resources via the web. Google your subject – there are often great resources online that may have practice quizzes, for example. Or, take the help of YouTube as it may have someone explaining topics you’re studying in layman’s terms. There are endless channels offering to teach at the click of a button, and leading the bandwagon is Toppr, India’s most reliable education platform. A quick search will likely lead you to a wealth of resources!
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Jazz Up Your Notes.
Add visual prompts and colors to your notes to help you recall important details, both of which can aid in your memory recall. This idea stems from mind mapping concepts, which are basically thought diagrams, said to be much more effective in terms of learning than text-based notes.
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Switch Settings
Isn’t it boring to sit at your study table all day long? So, change your study settings – literally. Studies show having a dedicated study area no longer works in your favour. Avoiding a standard space actually benefits you because the mind makes subconscious pairing between your atmosphere and the material. This means, if you constantly in the same space, you would perform best taking the exam in that space. If you change up your space, your mind will associate all of the spaces you are studying in and adapt more easily to your test-taking surroundings. So, go ahead, sit on that veranda, that comfy doggy couch or under that humongous banyan tree outside your house.
There you have it! The 9 secret study techniques to maximize your study efficiency!
Hope you do well in your life and this article helps. Best of luck.
You could also read about 9 scientific ways to ace competitive exams here.
