Study skills tips are all over the place, from government guidelines to books to internet sites. The habits that people either fall into - usually bad ones - or aspire to - effective ones - can make the difference between success and mediocrity if not failure.
Most parents have a few tips - do your homework before you watch television, talk over the phone or the internet with friends. Or get too sleepy. These others are probably familiar: you need a better light, don't try to work with the television on, why don't you go in the other room where it is quieter, sit at the table or the desk rather than lying on the couch or the floor.
All of these suggestions actually have merit. You need a quiet place where you can focus on the task at hand without distractions, you need a good light so you will work more quickly with less fatigue, and you will concentrate better if you are sitting up at a designated work place. Lounging on a couch or lying in bed will simply make you sleepy, especially after putting in a long day at school.
Studying to learn something will require close attention and the jotting down of questions about points you do not understand. Studying for review will require re-reading text or going over your notes. It is a good idea to take notes while reading something for the first time, and then organizing your notes during a review, to reinforce the learning process.
Studying for an examination will be easier if you have noted down the important points of a lesson and then organized them so you can present a coherent discussion on the subject for an essay question or can follow a progression of facts to single out the one you need for a multiple choice answer. Going over your notes will be faster than re-reading the entire text. Having facts organized will help you understand the subject, remember it since you have gone over everything two or more times, and demonstrate what you have learned to your teacher.
Some people like to take notes on index cards and then make an outline for the organization phase. Many students find that the act of writing down information makes it easier to recall it later than if it is simply read. There are some people who find that hearing a lesson is necessary for retention; these students should try to find videos on the subject to augment the required reading.
With practice, you will find a system which works best for you, but any system works better than none. A disorganized approach to study and review will leave a chaotic confusion of facts rather than a clear understanding. Time spent in investigating study skills tips and deciding which are most valuable will pay dividends throughout your entire academic career.
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