Buzz
University is a completely different experience compared to high school. Classes typically have very few grades, but these are valuable once you complete the required work. Some courses may only have a midterm and a final exam. It’s important to stay on top of the material. Don’t tell yourself, 'I’ll do the homework later,' because that just leads to last-minute cramming before exams. Studies show that cramming is not the most effective study method (though it’s also not the worst).
Steps
Review the syllabus before class. Skim through your textbooks. Try to get them a few weeks before the semester starts to gain a comprehensive understanding of what the classes will entail.
Take quick notes during class.
Nếu đọc tài liệu trước khi đến lớp, thì bạn sẽ có ý tưởng về những gì bạn không hiểu và bạn sẽ tập trung vào bài giảng của giáo viên. Tại sao bạn mua sách giáo khoa và chỉ để nó đóng bụi? Có mục đích nào đó mà những lời giảng đều có trong sách giáo khoa và sách hướng dẫn trong phòng thí nghiệm. Điểm số của bạn sẽ phụ thuộc chủ yếu vào sách giáo khoa bởi vì đây là phần chính của lớp học. Một số giáo viên thường giải thích và làm rõ các đề mục, và thỉnh thoảng cho ý kiến; bạn hầu hết phải tự mình nghiên cứu tài liệu.
Đừng ghi chú những gì đã có trong sách, vì nó chỉ tốn thời gian và sự chú ý của bạn. Đánh dấu những phần được nhấn mạnh, và lắng nghe cách giáo viên mô tả nó theo những gì bạn đã được học. Nhớ rằng họ có thể có thành kiến nếu như bạn có xu hướng không đồng ý với họ, đó là sự thật.
Nếu điều gì đó được lặp đi lặp lại hơn hai lần thì nó sẽ có trong bài thi.
Học ít nhất một giờ mỗi ngày trước khi đến lớp tiếp theo. Đối với một giờ của bài giảng, bạn nên dành ít nhất từ 1-3 tiếng để học nhiều hơn nếu đó là một lớp học khó. Việc học có thể bao gồm đọc sách, kiểm tra các ghi chú, bài tập, dùng đĩa DVD kèm theo sách, lên mạng để tìm thông tin về lớp học, và một số cách khác. Nhiều trường đại học có một vài công cụ học và các cổng giao bài tập trực tuyến có thể giúp bạn học được nhiều thứ.
Đừng ưu tiên các hoạt động xã hội hơn việc học. Nếu là người thích giao tiếp xã hội, học theo nhóm là cách tuyệt vời. Điều này có lợi cho nhiều sinh viên đại học có tính nhút nhát.
Make short-term and long-term plans for relaxation. If you're planning to throw a party on Saturday night, consider spending the afternoon in the library. If you dedicate a whole day to immersing yourself in books, take a one-hour break during dinner with a deserving dessert.
Studying in groups can enhance memory retention, clarify difficult points, and is a great way to enjoy a social life while attending university.
If your friends are in different courses, plan group meetups to de-stress, especially during exam week. A fun late-night hangout can create unforgettable memories.
If you struggle to focus, try to reduce academic pressure in class. 12 credits is the standard number to manage each semester. This means you need to allocate 12-24 study hours, assuming each class requires at least one hour per credit.
Always remember the highlighted vocabulary in textbooks. These might not be mentioned by the teacher, as they expect you to have read them in the book. Therefore, pay attention, as even things not discussed in class may appear in exams.
Assume that each college exam is a crucial test for landing a successful job or facing failure. This isn't the case in high school, where you only need to have your name on the honor roll. The grades you achieve can influence the salary you earn or even open doors for job opportunities in today's economy.
During the review week
Manage your time wisely. Allow yourself enough sleep, but don’t waste the entire day. Set an alarm and stick to it, waking up at a reasonable time in the morning. Don’t forget to set that alarm clock!
Prioritize your time. Identify which final exam you need to study for first.
Head to the library. Isolate yourself from the outside world while studying and concentrate on your work.
Take a practice test, if provided by the teacher. This is a convenient way to get an idea of what the final exam will be like and to visualize what might appear in the test.
Review the study guide if available. These can be helpful and provide great insights into what you need to know. Many teachers also offer hints about specific questions that will appear on the final exam.
Relax. Take time to unwind and reduce stress. You don’t want to harm your health before the final exam!
Advice
- The real challenge in studying isn’t the studying itself, but starting. Most people find that once they begin, continuing becomes much easier.
- A very knowledgeable professor once said, "How and when should you study? Study as if there’s always a test the next day. That way, when exams come, you’ve been studying for weeks already."
- You’ll remember things better in a short time - don’t study for 4 hours straight; you’ll forget half of what you read. Study for 1 hour, then take a 5-10 minute break to walk around, and then study for another hour. Make sure to schedule your break time – try not to get distracted during the hour, ensuring you stick to the study time you've set for yourself.
- If you haven’t studied for the exam, even though you should, don’t pressure yourself. This actually keeps you away from studying. Instead, tell yourself that you *will* do better next time. Make yourself resolute. When debating whether or not to study, remember how bad you felt when you didn’t study before an exam. Use this as motivation.
- If using highlighters and sticky notes helps you organize and focus, don’t hesitate to buy them.
- Always make time for rest and always create a plan for each exam. Viewing 3 exams as an obstacle can lead to overwhelm.
- If you don’t like studying, try reviewing your lectures or notes at least twice a week. This can help you do well on exams, but remember, attending all university classes is crucial.
- Study the subjects you dislike first, then the easier ones. You’ll study longer and get through more subjects. This is the best strategy for high-credit courses. Some classes with 4 or 5 credits come with the highest tuition fees and the most assignments, and may require you to memorize and analyze a lot.
- When trying to motivate yourself, don’t think you have to study a lot to get high grades. Think about how valuable those grades will be once you’ve achieved them, and how you’ll forget that it was ever hard to get them 20 years from now. After that, think about how wonderful life will be BECAUSE you studied hard.
Warning
- Don't study when you're tired. But don't keep saying, "I'm tired." Sleep or go outside for some exercise, then start studying again.
- Stay away from distractions while studying, such as computers, TV, loud music (lyrics in music can distract you), and other things.
- Staying up all night to study will make you forget a lot of information because you’ll feel sluggish from studying late. Go to bed late, but make sure you get at least 6 hours of sleep, even the night before an important exam. Your brain processes what you’ve learned while you sleep.
- Don’t cram; there’s no point in trying because you’ll remember very little, and it won’t help your future career as it will lead to a frustrating experience.
- Don’t overuse stimulants. Don’t smoke. Sometimes, caffeine can make you jittery and prevent you from studying effectively.
- If you’re going to a party, plan both the party and the recovery time as part of your schedule, treating it as a time when studying is not an option. Don’t push yourself – you’ll only waste energy and get frustrated.
