25 Best Studying Strategies in 2024
You can make your studying experience more efficient, effective, and productive in many ways. You can also learn all the skills necessary to become a better learner. I am a college student focused on learning techniques to improve my studying. You will notice the difference and feel better with small changes in your routines and habits. Each learning technique you learn will make a difference.
If you want solutions and tips for improving your studying, this is the place to do so. Here are the 25 best-studying strategies that I have found best to use in 2024.
General study Strategies
1. Spaced Practice
Spaced practice is one of the most effective learning techniques for retaining information in long-term memory. This strategy involves setting a periodic study schedule in which you will cover previous and new materials in each study session. Study sessions will vary in time but should not exceed two hours. You can use software to aid you with the space practice strategy. One that I have used in the past is Anki, which works on a flashcard system. According to UC San Diego, spaced practice is one of the most effective strategies for preparing for an exam. You don’t overload days before the exam but spread the studying over time.
2. SQ3R method
Survey, Question, read, recall, and review are the steps you must follow every time you learn something new. Survey, is for skimming over the content and giving you a general idea of what you will learn. Question, is to consider what you will learn and think about what you want to take from this source. Read, is to start reviewing the source and solve the questions you thought about in the previous step, but don’t stop while reading. Recall is for you to think about the questions and which ones you answered and which you didn’t. Finally, when you review, you go back to the most critical sections and carefully examine the best information for you.
I have used this strategy a lot when studying for college classes, which has greatly improved my retention and understanding of the material I study. I know this strategy will take longer than just reading, but believe me, it is worth the time. You will gain more knowledge and probably won’t have to go back and re-read everything.
3. Mnemonics
Using mnemonic devices in your study will significantly help you retain information! These devices connect the information you want to learn to something you already know. A famous example is: Please excuse my dear aunt Sally to learn the PEMDAS, the order of operations in math. I used a technique called Memory Palace to learn all the calculus derivatives, which was amazing. Use mnemonics to learn the list of things you need to remember, and it will make it much easier when you need to use them.
4. Speed Reading
Speed reading is a skill that will work in any situation regardless of what you study. The most important part of speed reading is that you can retain the information while you read. When I was learning to speed read, it was very hard to understand and recall information. Now, I read slower than when I was learning, but I can recall a lot more information than before. If you have a reading speed of around 300 words per minute and have good retention, that is above average. The higher the reading speed and retention, the more you will feel the results. Press here if you want to know your reading speed.
5. Test Yourself
Testing yourself is one of the most effective ways to study. By testing yourself, you will have insights into what you know and what you need to study more. This will allow you to plan your study sessions better and see how well you will do on a real test. If your professor provides practice tests, be sure to do them; this has significantly increased my grades in college.
6. Explain to Others
Explaining the topic to others using your own words is one of the best ways to check if you understood correctly. I usually explain topics to my classmates or roommates. Normally, I try to explain topics to people familiar with what I am learning to see if they have something to add. However, the best people to explain to are the least familiar with the topics. If you can explain something to a kid and they understand, you know the topic!
Time Management
7. Schedule Study Time
Scheduling your study time is one of the best ways to beat procrastination. Having a fixed study session periodically will allow you to develop the habit of knowing when it is time to study or do your academic tasks. Some weeks will be more loaded than others, especially if you are in college, but knowing that there are fixed times for studying will help you not fall behind with your classes. You can always study more if needed. Also, make sure that you stick to your time limits not to get exhausted, and always try to spread your learning.
8. Prioritize
Knowing the priority of each task allows you to plan your time studying and knowing what to do in each study session. You can prioritize by due date or academic weight.
9. S.M.A.R.T Goals
S.M.A.R.T stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and time-bound. Always think this way to set your goals. Thinking this way will allow you to achieve your goals without being frustrated and be realistic about your goals.
10. Optimize Study Time
Always make sure you are doing the most out of your studying time. This time is crucial, and you need to give the relevance it deserves. Prioritizing effective study must be a priority, and the only way to do this is by disconnecting from all distractions. You need to think that every minute you spend watching social media or doing something else is an extra minute, and you will have to keep studying. This does not mean that you need to grind non-stop until you finish. Having breaks in your study sessions is important, but you need to understand the difference between a break and wasting time.
Environment
11. Distraction Free
Make sure that when you are studying, you are in an environment that allows you to make the most out of your study sessions. I usually like to go to a place with no background noise where I can be alone. But everyone is different, so try to find the place where YOU feel good studying. You should always try to avoid distractions, so choose a place where you can be focused.
If you like working in a study group, ensure that the group improves your learning and is not distracting!
12. Comfortable, but!
Another tip for picking a place to study is to find somewhere where you feel comfortable, but that doesn’t tempt your mind into doing something else. I believe the bedroom is the worst place to study because it is full of distractions. I play guitar, and every time I am in my room studying, I end up playing.
Also, you need to find a place near everything you need to be good: a restroom, water fountain, electric outlets, etc. Being far from anything you need for studying will make you move, making you spend longer trying to finish your tasks. And who wants to spend more time studying?
13. Organization
Organizing your study environment is another key to maximizing your productivity. Organizing everything you need will save a lot of time and help your brain stay focused on the important things. Make sure you have everything you need when you start studying.
Tools
15. Notes
Using your notes when studying can greatly increase your productivity because if you do the job right, you have the key points of the course material. Most of the time, tests will cover what was learned during the lectures, so taking notes in many classes is important.
However, taking notes can be tricky sometimes, and there are many effective ways to do it. The first debate you encounter when taking notes is whether you should take digital or physical notes. I like to take digital notes, but I feel this is not the most important factor to consider when taking notes.
For me, the best strategy is to separate my notes into topics and not lessons. Many times, more than one topic can be covered in a single lesson or just one topic in many lessons. By focusing on the topic, you can quickly go back to your notes and check which topic you need to study instead of figuring out which lecture covered the topic.
16. To-do list
Using a to-do list is one of the best tools I have used in college. I can easily plan how and when to work on tasks by clearly knowing what tasks I need to do. There are many ways to work with a to-do list, both digitally and physically. I like to use an app to track my tasks’ priorities and due dates.
17. Focus Settings
Smartphones are the greatest distraction when studying; they have endless ways to waste time. But there is a solution. Most smartphones come with focus settings, which can be set up to control notifications, sounds, and activity. You can create one focus setting to activate it whenever you are studying to keep your phone from distracting you.
18. Mind maps
Mind maps can be another great way to organize your notes. I do not create mind maps frequently, but when I need to develop a plan, they are my go-to. They allow you to understand the specifics and details of a plan and which direction to follow. There is great software to create mind maps, but you can always stick to drawing them by hand.
19. Calendar
Using a calendar to keep track of your schedule is essential as a student. I use Google Calendar to keep track of my activities, but there are other great calendar apps you can use. A calendar is the best place to put everything you do during your day, even your study sessions. When you use a calendar, you remove the responsibility of remembering everything that you need to do. Also, creating this habit will allow you to have better time management and be more efficient with your time.
Mind and Health
20. Balance
Having a balanced mindset is crucial when studying. Many people (including myself) are overwhelmed by studying, especially during intense moments with many deliveries. You should have time for yourself, too. Just like you schedule time for studying and classes, you should schedule time for yourself. Just like you have study habits, you should have happy habits. Schedule a time regularly to do what you like and make it sacred.
21. Sleep
Good sleep habits are one of the best healthy habits you can create. You consolidate your long-term memories while you sleep. That is why sleeping is especially important while you are learning something new. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, not getting enough sleep can lead to problems with concentration and thinking. Sadly, not getting enough sleep is becoming more common and normalized these days, but just because it is common does not mean it is good!
22. Exercise
I am a sports person, and I have exercised almost daily since I started college. This habit is one of the routines that have helped me the most in controlling the stress from classes. According to HelpGuide.org, exercise can have many benefits for your mental health. It can reduce anxiety and stress, which are common among students.
Exercise is also one of the best ways I have found to increase your social life in college. Joining a sports club will allow you to interact with people with interests similar to yours.
All this, together with the health benefits of regular exercise in your body.
23. Hydratation
Carrying a bottle of water in my backpack is one of the best habits I started as a student. Healthline says drinking water regularly has many benefits, including proper brain function. Also, according to Healthline, Dehydration can “decrease your memory capacity and increase anxiety and fatigue.” Being well hydrated can prevent this, among many other health benefits.
24. Manage stress
Stress is one of the most common problems a student can experience, and managing stress is one of the hardest skills to master because it requires a lot of self-control. There are many different ways to manage stress, and everybody is different, which is why you should work on finding the best way for you. But most of the time, it is doing something you like that relaxes you.
25. Stop, Wait and Breath!
I have often struggled with knowing when to stop, especially in college. You are not always ready to study; sometimes, you need to take a break and breathe. If you have to work on any task but feel overwhelmed, it is better to stop and breathe before beginning to work. Taking breaks is crucial when you are learning something. Taking a walk and thinking of something else for a while are great ideas to lower this sensation of disconnection. After you have prepared yourself for work, you can start doing so.
What are study habits?
To me, study habits are all habits that will allow you to make your studying efficient, effective, and productive. This is general but gives you much room to develop your own habits. There are great study techniques that will strengthen these habits that you should learn, like SQ3R, spaced practice, note-taking, and many more.
Wrapping up
Effective study strategies are crucial for long-term retention and academic success. Learning techniques like spaced practice, the SQ3R method, and mnemonic devices help reinforce learning and enhance memory. Time management strategies, such as scheduling study sessions and setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, ensure consistent progress and prevent procrastination. Creating a distraction-free, organized study environment and using tools like notes, to-do lists, and calendars can significantly boost productivity. Maintaining a balanced lifestyle, including sleep, regular exercise, and hydration, supports overall well-being and academic performance. Developing and adhering to these study habits will lead to more efficient and effective learning, allowing for better academic performance and free time. Remember that everybody is different, and you should find the best learning style for you.
FAQ
How can study habits benefit you?
Good study habits can benefit you in many ways, but what I consider most important when choosing my study habits are efficiency and efficacy. These two goals will make you do the most with your time when working on tasks while spending only what is necessary. Implementing these study skills will probably get you better results while leaving you with time to do more of what you enjoy.
What is the best studying technique for an exam/test/quiz?
You can apply all these strategies to improve your learning and preparation for any academic task. Just make sure that you use the one that is right for you.
