How to Study More Productively

Students throughout the history of education have constantly had an important question come up time and time again: What is the best way to cram for a test?  

Although no one has a definite answer that will help everyone succeed, here are a few ideas to help your study time become more efficient. 

1. Make the most of your time throughout the day. A great way to increase study time is to study during small moments at the end of classes, before school, while waiting for a ride, etc. This allows you to break up study time, increase repetition and decrease cramming time 

2. Take breaks while studying. Focusing on studying is hard enough as it is. Instead of forcing your brain to concentrate on one thing for a prolonged period of time, break your study time into 30-minute increments with short breaks in-between. Doing this helps you work more efficiently and increases your motivation by giving your brain a reward for all of the hard work.  

3. Actively engage in studying. Instead of simply staring at notes from class or a computer screen, make studying interactive. Some easy ways to do this are to make flashcards, use a review-game website, like Quizlet, paraphrase notes in your own words, or study with someone else.  

4. Avoid distractions. Although this is obvious, distractions are a huge inhibition to studying. Some simple ways to avoid distractions are to find a quiet study space (or wear earphones with study-appropriate music), to not have your cell phone right next to you while studying, and to have a small snack or drink to help you focus more intently. 

5. Re-do work from class for understanding. If there was content in class that was very confusing or hard to understand, re-do the practice or find an explanation for the content through a video or a tutor. Although you may not totally understand in the beginning, a couple minutes of practice each day can make a large difference. 

Studying can be difficult, but just a few minutes of focus can help you understand content significantly quicker and can prepare you for an upcoming test or exam. It may seem hard, but once you put in the effort, the grades you receive will be enough of a reward for your struggles. 

Studying 101: Study Smarter Not Harder – The Learning Center 

Written by: Juliana Rohling

Edited by: Harrison Davies, Mathias Muñoz Gonzalez, Austin Nguyen