College classes are hard. These useful study tips for college helped me get a 4.0 in college.
Ace your college tests with these simple study tips
The study habits that got you through high school, probably won’t work for you once you get to college. The tests are harder, there is much more material, and many of your tests land on the same week. I’ve learned some simple tips over my undergraduate college career that have helped me ace my tests. If you want to have straight A’s in college then read on!
Group study time vs. Individual study time
Should I be studying with a group or should I study it by myself? It is so important to know when it is time to study with a group of people studying the same content and when it is time to be by yourself. You should be doing BOTH!
I’ve found that it is most helpful if I first study by myself for a day or two so I get a semi-solid foundation of knowledge for the test. At that point I know the information well enough to understand the basics of most concepts, but I may not know the in-depth or details of the topic.
Once you get to this point, get together with some people in your class and talk over the notes together. I think it is super helpful if each person takes a topic or two of the notes and acts as the “lead teacher” while we go over that section of the notes. That person would be in charge of asking the tougher questions about the content so everyone can learn more in-depth information from the material. REMEMBER, it is not just about memorizing the material word-for-word from the notes, you need to UNDERSTAND the material to do well on the test. Pick a group of people to study with from your class who also want to do well in the class.
Know when it is time to “study study” and when it is time to “cram study”
I know what you’re thinking, we are always told “never cram for a test!” But who are we kidding, we all cram the night before a test. I would highly suggest not taking the day before a test to do something other than study.
Now, I’m NOT suggesting to learn all the material the day before the test. The day you should review all the material to make sure you understand everything. For the tests that I have gotten A’s, I have I spent at least 2-3 days really studying the material, then “cramming” the day before the test by reviewing the material. If it’s a harder a test, it might take you a week to study for the test. BUT always remember to review your notes the day before. This way, everything will be fresh in your mind right before you take the test!
Set specific phone break times and TURN OFF messenger on your laptop
I don’t know about you, but I get distracted super easily. When I see a notification pop up on my phone, I have to check it. If this sounds like you, then you NEED to keep your phone out of sight while studying and turn-off messenger on your laptop.
It is so tempting to just “check” Instagram quick, or text back your bf when your phone is next to you. Let them know you’re studying and put the phone away! Give your notes all the attention for at least 45 minutes. You can even set a timer so you know how long you have to stay focused. Once the time is up, reward yourself with a 5-minute phone break. Once your 5 minutes are up, set another 45-minute timer and repeat the process!
These simple study tips have helped me ace my college classes and get into graduate school. If you put in the time to study and use these tips, you can ace your college classes too. I hope these study tips work for you!