fbpx

How to Study Effectively

Table of Contents

Share This Post

Tests and grades are a constant in high school, and loom large in college as well. While each course and test is different, studying for them is a necessity for all students. Of course studying is a skill in itself, one that schools rarely teach explicitly, but expect students to learn on their own. Some do, while others muddle through, struggling to find studying methods that work for them. 

In this article, we’ll outline various strategies for studying, and explore how they work. Each person is different, so we encourage you to experiment with different methods of studying until you find the one that works best for you.

The Basics

A few things are true of every variation of studying. First, it is an extended process. Reviewing a bit every day or over the course of a week is far more effective than trying to cram at the last minute. Overall, long-term studying has two benefits: first, it allows you to better understand the material as a whole, and to retain that knowledge for longer after an exam. Second, it reduces the amount of stress you feel on the days leading up to a test, and allows you to prepare for multiple tests far more easily. 

Another key thing to understand is that all studying requires a time investment. How much time you need to invest varies by student, but there is no way to study without devoting time specifically to the practice. There is the concept of diminishing returns; after a certain point, more studying is no longer worth the time, as you are simply exhausting yourself rather than learning more. This is mostly an issue when cramming, but can occur in other forms of studying as well. 

You should experiment with the various methods presented here to find the one that works best for you. We encourage you to learn to study now, even if you are able to attain decent grades thus far without doing so. This never lasts; either in high school or college you will find a class which you will need to study for, and if you are unprepared, you will crash hard. (This is, in fact, speaking from personal experience).

Step 0: Take Notes

Studying is a review of material you’ve already encountered. In order to do this efficiently, it is important to learn the material well in the first place. This is where note-taking comes in. 

While there are various methods to take notes, they all serve the same purpose: to record important information in a way that is accessible and easy for you to review later. Notes can be taken both physically and digitally, depending on what your school allows. Digital note-taking is becoming increasingly popular however. 

You should not just write down everything your teacher says without pause as your notes. We recommend organizing with headings and subheadings, and using shorthand where necessary to increase information density. Definitions should be written where they can be easily seen and remembered. 

Overall, you want a maximum of information density that you can still read and interpret. Your notes are for you, and should reflect what you need. Each person’s notes will look different, and have different levels of intelligibility. This can make sharing notes with friends difficult or impossible. Try to be friends with at least one person who takes great notes, so you can copy them if you miss a day of class. 

Rewriting Notes

When you begin studying, we recommend fully rewriting your notes. This helps you to process the information again, and is a more active process than simply reading your notes. Physically writing it out again engages different sections of your brain, and allows you to remember the information more easily going forward. This does not have the same effect if you type it out again; physically rewriting information works best for long-term retention.

Step 1: Class Readings

Doing the class readings is the other part of studying which needs to take place before more individualized pursuits. Most classes assign readings in some form, be it from a textbook or from the works you are reading for the class. You should read these actively, trying to understand everything as you read it. If there are sections you do not grasp fully, take the time to analyze them then, or return to them once you finish the reading. 

It is sometimes helpful to take separate notes on a text while reading it, especially for denser textbooks. This can help you review the main points quickly, without needing to flip through many pages of a book. This depends on the book in question, and you will not need to do it for everything you read. 

Step 2: Problem Sets

This is obvious advice, but you need to actually do your homework. Problem sets for math and science classes are especially relevant for exams, as many teachers will assign problems directly from the homework on the exams, only changing the numbers involved. 

Teachers are generally not trying to trick you, so doing problem sets assigned is the easiest way to prepare for exams. Doing them is not enough; you also need to understand them. If you get questions wrong on homework, work to understand why. Most teachers have time to meet with students, we recommend going to these to get any concepts or questions you are struggling with on the homework explained. 

If it is merely a careless arithmetic error, then you know to be more careful. If homework reveals an issue with understanding a concept, then you need to review the material another time. 

Step 3: Studying for Exams

Counter to the title of this section, you should be studying whether or not an exam is forthcoming. If you are only studying in the lead-up to an exam, then you will be hard pressed to review all of the needed material in the amount of time you have. Still, in this section we’ll go over various methods for studying for exams which students have found helpful.

Progressive Review

This method of studying focuses on what you don’t understand most. Begin by creating flashcards of all of the relevant information you will need. Then go through them once; any you get right away put into one pile, any you don’t put into a second. Take the second pile, review the contents, and then run again, repeating the division into piles. 

By doing this, you will slowly whittle down the topics you are reviewing, until you are only left with the ones which give you the most trouble. Since you only set a flashcard aside once you have it perfectly, you are sure you understand each before you stop reviewing it. 

This is an exhaustive method of studying, and more time intensive than some others, but does a good job of ensuring you truly master all of the material at hand. 

Study Groups

Reviewing in a group allows you to pool your knowledge and experience. You can explain topics you understand well, and have ones you struggle with explained in more detail. The in depth subject conversations which arise from study groups also allow you to gain far more familiarity with the material than you would on your own. 

Further, one of the best ways to truly master a subject is to teach it to someone else. Instructing someone in a subject, and explaining it in a way they can understand, requires a thorough knowledge of the subject. Study groups are an unparalleled opportunity to gain this experience.

The biggest potential downside of study groups is the desire to socialize instead of studying. Whether this is an issue for you depends on your own character, and the group you are a part of. If you find yourself doing more socializing than studying, this may not be the technique for you.

Practice Problems

If you identify subjects in class or homework that are a particular struggle for you, then practice problems are a great way to approach them. The easiest way to find these is in your textbook, as teachers generally only assign half of the questions (either odds or evens). This is not always the case, but there are usually problems not assigned for homework that explore the same issues, and which therefore allow for easy practice. 

To prepare for essay questions, guessing at topics your teacher may ask about and writing sample essays is the best way to practice. It can feel silly, but the best way to get better at writing is to put active effort into writing. This will also help you formulate your thoughts more quickly, and get you used to organizing your essays. If your teacher asks for essays in a particular style (such as AP’s five paragraph essays), then make sure to write yours in that style. 

Final Thoughts

Your grades are the single most important part of college admissions, especially as universities continue to experiment with test-optional policies. Maintaining high grades, therefore, is the single best thing you can do to improve your chances of admission to a top college. We hope that this guidance on studying gives you the tools you need to achieve your academic aims.

Of course, not everyone has the same ease of studying, and building good habits takes time and effort. Just as athletes have coaches to help them improve, so too do students work with mentors to help them succeed. Schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you, or check out our tutoring and academic coaching services. Students who work with us see their grades improve by a full letter on average.

Need help with college admissions?

Download our "Guide to Everything," a 90-page PDF that covers everything you need to know about the college admission process.

More To Explore

Pencil and eraser on answer sheets or Standardized test form with answers bubbled. multiple choice answer sheet
Uncategorized

What’s on the Math Section of the SAT?

Math is a very important subject, and many different fields rely upon math to function, directly or indirectly. This doesn’t necessarily make math a popular

5/5
Wendy Y.
Parent
Below is my son's review. He was accepted to his dream Ivy League school!

From an admitted student's perspective, I am incredibly grateful to have met Sasha - he has been instrumental in helping me achieve my educational dreams (Ivy League), all while being an absolute joy (he's a walking encyclopedia, only funnier!) to work with.

Many people are dissuaded from seeking a college counselor because they think they can get into their desired college(s) either way. Honestly, going that route is a bit short-sighted and can jeopardize your odds of acceptances after years of hard work. The sad truth is, the American education system (even if you attend a fancy private school and ESPECIALLY if you go to a public school) doesn't really tell students how to write a compelling and authentic application. Going into the admissions process alone, without speaking with an advisor, is like going to court without a lawyer - you put yourself at a significant disadvantage because you don't have all the facts in front of you, or the help you need to negotiate the system.

That said, you need a good lawyer just like you need a good college counselor. And that's where Sasha distinguishes himself from the crowd of people claiming they'll get you into Harvard. I came to Sasha worried about and frankly dumbfounded by the college admissions process. I was unsure what to write about and how to go about drafting the essay that perfectly captured my passion, interests, and self. And I was highly skeptical that anyone could really help me. But, damn, did Sasha prove me wrong. From the beginning, Sasha amazed me with his understanding of the process, and ability to lend clarity and direction to me when I desperate needed it. After interviewing me about my background, experiences, activities, outlook, and vision, he helped me see qualities about myself I had not previously considered 'unique' or 'stand-out.' This process of understanding myself was so incredibly important in laying the groundwork for the essays I eventually wrote, and I'm certain I would've drafted boring, inauthentic essays without it.

Looking back, Sasha's talent is that he can see where your strengths lie, even when you don't see them. The truth is, although we don't always realize it, everyone has a unique story to tell. Sasha helped me see mine, and with his big-picture insight I was able to write the application that truly encapsulated my life and vision. He inspired me to dig deeper and write better, challenging me to revise and revise until my essays were the most passionate and authentic work I had ever written. As clichéd as that sounds, that's really what universities are looking for. In retrospect, it makes sense - in the real world passionate (not simply intelligent) individuals are the ones who make a difference in the world, and those are the individuals colleges would like to have associated with their brand.

In the end, I was accepted to the college of my dreams, a feat I could not have achieved without the direction Sasha lent to me. Essays (and the personal narrative you develop through your application) matter so much, and can literally make or break your application. I have seen so many of my 'qualified' friends receive rejections because they wrote contrived essays that didn't truly represent who they were; conversely, I have also seen so many friends with shorter resumes accepted because they were able to articulate their story in a genuinely passionate and authentic way - I fall into the latter category.

As a former admissions officer at Johns Hopkins, Sasha knows what types of essays jibe well with universities, an invaluable asset to have in the admissions process. He is responsive, flexible, creative, positive, and witty. For anyone who is serious about going into the college admissions process informed and prepared, I highly recommend Sasha.
5/5
Arda E.
Student
I used Ivy Scholars to mainly help me with college applications. Within weeks of using this service, Sasha was able to simplify the already complex process. When it came to writing the Common App essay, Sasha didn’t just help with grammar and syntax, he brought my essays to life. Sasha also worked tirelessly to help solidify my extracurricular activities, including research and internship opportunities. Without his help, I would have never had an impressive resume.

Sasha is not only an extremely knowledgeable tutor, but also a genuine brother figure. His guidance, throughout my last two years of high school, was everything I needed to get me an acceptance letter from my dream schools (UC Berkeley, Tufts, Emory).

When it came to testing, Ivy Scholars worked like a charm. Sasha offered a very comprehensive plan when it came to completely acing my standardized tests. Without his test taking strategies I would have never gotten straight 5s on my AP tests and a 35 on the ACT.

Working with Sasha, I didn’t just become a good student, I became a genuine scholar.
5/5
Samson S.
Parent
We worked with Ivy Scholars during my son's senior year. I was concerned that we may be too late to take advantage of college advising but the Ivy Scholars team quickly and confidently directed us through the steps to ensure no deadlines were missed. Sasha's knowledge about schools, what they looked for in candidates, and how to maneuver the application process was invaluable. Mateo and Ryan worked with my son to help him create an essay that would get noticed and I am so appreciative he had their guidance.

Prior to securing Ivy Scholars, we tried using a less-expensive online service which was a terrible experience. As a parent, Ivy Scholars brought peace of mind to an area that was frankly overwhelming. This service was invaluable in the knowledge that we gained throughout the process. He has also met with my freshman daughter to provide guidance for her high school courses, career paths, extracurricular activities, and more.

Prior to signing with Ivy Scholars, I tried a less expensive online service and was very disappointed.

As a result of our work with Ivy Scholars, I am pleased to say that my son will be attending Stern Business School at New York University this fall! I highly recommend Ivy Scholars. Highly recommend!