24 March 2015
Studying is a chore that students always resent, but it need not be seen as so arduous a task. The Genesis Team has come up with 10 studying tips to make studying easier and more effective for you!
- Location
When going for study sessions, do plan and choose a suitable location before setting off. It would be better to find a spot closer to home, so that valuable time would not be wasted on travelling to and fro. It would also be beneficial to take into account of the proximity of toilets and eateries from the study spot that you choose.
- Environment
Experiment and find out which location suits you best before settling down and studying. Some people prefer the quietness and tranquility of the library, whereas some may find the silence discomforting. Those who belong in the latter category are often seen at fast-food joints studying with earpieces in their ears, but come peak hours they have to get up and find somewhere else to go. We would advise you to avoid fast food joints due to this inconvenience. Did you know that most community centres in Singapore have allocated air-conditioned study rooms for students? There is also the option of study corners at void decks. Do explore your options and find out more about them before deciding on your study area!
- Prioritize your time
We all have that friend that never stops asking you to join him for “just one game”, or a friend that keeps asking you to hangout at the void deck. This is all good and well during the holidays, but during school term and especially exam periods, do learn to say no. However, if you are confident and able to juggle your academics well enough, then go ahead and have fun, but never at the expense of your studies. Always ensure that you will have the time to do your assignments and read up on the next day’s lessons before you decide to go for play!
- Sleep early
This is often overlooked, especially when you study too much or play too much. Some people who realize they have spent too much time relaxing/playing then compensate by burning the midnight oil, cramming for a class test the next day or revising. This is not just unhealthy, but is also ineffective. There have been nights I drowned myself in coffee while cramming for an exam the next day, but during the exam I found myself too tired and could not focus on what I had learnt. On really bad days I even dozed off half way through the paper. Therefore never leave your work until the last minute to do, or at least make sure you have enough time to complete it without sacrificing too much sleep. Aim to have at least 7 hours a night, to remain fresh and energetic through the day!
- Eat healthy
Having snacks are a necessity for some when studying, but always know what is good to eat and what you should avoid. Nuts are a great snack to munch on while poring over your books, whereas chips are not the best choice. When eating chips your hands are bound to get oily and this will be a hindrance when you’re flipping pages or holding pens in your hands. During mealtimes do not eat too much, as you may fall into a food coma and get very drowsy after the meal. Consume just enough (70%) for you to feel comfortably full.
- Bring only what you need
When you go out for a study session, it’s handy to bring a jacket in case it gets uncomfortably cold. Of course, pack your notes and your stationery. However, do plan ahead, like what subjects or topics you plan to study that day so you can bring the notes necessary, and not carry your whole desk around. Do not bring gadgets like a Playstation Portable or your Nintendo as much as you are tempted to play them during breaks, as they will only serve as distractions and you may end up spending a bulk of your time on them instead of studying.
- Practice
For subjects like Mathematics, practice is necessary to grasp the skills and concepts. Do not be lazy, find as many questions as you can and do them so that you will be familiar with all the different ways you can tackle a question during an examination.
- Take breaks when needed
After sitting down bent over your notes for an hour, it might be time to stand up and stretch your legs, breathe some fresh air and even take a walk before continuing with your studies. If you happen to feeling drowsy, it would be good to take a power nap of 5-15 minutes before diving back into your work. Breaks when taken effectively would increase your attention span and help you focus more on your work!
- Use Acronyms
When memorizing facts and concepts, it would be helpful if you could come up with acronyms by using the first letter of each fact you have to memorise, they do not have to make sense; they just have to be easy to remember! For example: Naughty Elephant Shoot Water – North East South West.
- Write your own notes
Sometimes the notes that the schools provide are too wordy, and too many words may intimidate some people. Hence it would be better if you could write your own notes while studying concepts, as the notes would be tailored to your own preferences plus it would only hold the important concepts needed! Do not, however, copy word for word from the texts provided, as that would not serve any purpose and be counterproductive as your time spent writing, and the paper used would be for nothing.
We hope that these tips are helpful and we wish you all the best for your tests! Do let us know if you have any additional tips or feedback by commenting, and do share this with your peers!