7 Keys to Successful Studying

How do you study? If you ask students this question, you will get a variety of answers, including the following:

• Cramming the night before
• Osmosis (sleeping on the textbook)
• Study groups (i.e., parties)

While none of these are good answers, they do show that many students really don’t know how to study, especially those in online education programs. Most people think that studying is what you do right before a big test. In reality, it should be part of your daily routine as a student, beginning with the first day of class and ending when you complete the final exam. Studying should be a multifaceted approach to learning a subject, not a method for remembering facts long enough to pass a test.

If you really want to learn how to study successfully, to do well on your tests and actually learn something, you should use these seven keys to successful studying and you will be well on your way to better learning habits.

Read the entire syllabus – A class syllabus is basically a contract between the student and the instructor that lets you know what your assignments are and how you will be graded. It usually outlines the competencies, or concepts and skills, that the class will teach you, along with the dates of tests and major assignments. Know the purpose of each class and what it will require of you is the first step to successful studying.

Set up a calendar – Once you know the required assignments, mark each assignment's the due dates on a calendar and make notes about the reading material that you are required to complete before each class meeting.

Read the material – This sounds like a no-brainer, but students often totally disregard the reading assignments or read the materials without comprehending the subject matter. Practice your critical reading skills by annotating your textbook and article as you read them. Annotating simply means making notes about important concepts and jotting down ideas in the margins. Try highlighting or underlining key vocabulary words and significant passages as you read. If you have already read the list of assignments, you can also mark sections of the text that relate to each assignment to make these sections easier to find later.

Build your vocabulary – As you read, mark words or vocabulary terms with which you are unfamiliar and look them up in the glossary, a dictionary or online. Keep a list of definitions for future study.

Rewrite your notes – Regardless of whether your classes are online or in a traditional classroom, take notes during class to record the major ideas of the presentation or discussion. Rewrite or type your notes after class, adding relevant information from the textbook, in the form of an outline or another type of mapping exercise.

Use study guides – If your textbook doesn’t include a study guide, visit the textbook publisher's website, where you can often find study guides, quizzes or further reading material.

Apply what you have learned – Try to apply the knowledge you learn in class to real-life situations. At the very least, try to explain what you have learned to someone else. If you can do that, you have sufficiently mastered the material.
While many of these steps take time out of your daily schedule, it's basically the same amount of time you'd spend cramming for the tests spread out over the entire semester rather than clumped into several all-night study sessions. If you apply these seven keys for successful studying, you will be well ahead of the curve when test time comes around.