Top 10 Most Effective Techniques to Study Smarter - According to Science
Hey, college students! How are y'all still surviving?
As a former uni student myself and former president of the All-Nighters Club; I've learned a thing or two about how to study smarter by applying these science-backed techniques that I will be sharing with you to help you ace your coursework. Let's get started!
1. First of All, Take A Breather
Believe it or not, taking regular breaks is crucial for your productivity and focus. University of Illinois researchers discovered that the human brain can only concentrate for about 90 minutes before it needs a break. So, set a timer and take a 5 to 10 minute break every hour or so. Use this time to stretch, grab a healthy snack, or take a quick walk around the block (and resist the urge to scroll through TikTok!). Your brain will thank you later.
2. Pomodoro Your Way Through
If you've been scrolling through your FYP or seen an aesthetic #studygram post, you've probably seen the the ever so famous Pomodoro Technique mentioned a bunch of times. It's basically is a time management method that involves working in 25-minute intervals, followed by a 5-minute break. This helps you stay focused and avoid burnout. It's super simple - just set a timer and get to work!
Tip: If you're using a Macbook, there's a built-in Pomodoro timer you can try. Just go to your shortcuts and add a widget to your desktop.
3. Spaced Repetition
The idea behind spaced repetition is reviewing information just before you're about to forget it. According to Prof. Kang from the University of Melbourne (2016), this method helps you strengthen your memory making it easier to recall when you need it.
Here's how spaced repetition typically works:
- Learn a new piece of information.
- Review the information shortly after learning it (like within a day).
- Review again after a slightly longer interval (a few days later).
- Continue reviewing the information at increasing intervals (e.g., a week later, then a month later).
You basically review at increasing intervals or longer time, which helps your brain remember better. It's like giving your memory muscles a workout! You try using flashcard apps like Anki or Quizlet to put this into practice!
4. Let's Get Moving
Speaking of workouts, this study proves that exercise isn't just good for your physical health, it can also boost your cognitive function according. Even a quick 10-minute workout can help improve your focus and memory. So, try to incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine, whether it's a brisk walk, a yoga session, or a quick HIIT workout. You can also hop on the trend and join a local run club in your area for some extra motivation and fun!
5. Sleep Your Way to an A
We all know that sleep is important. But did you know that it's crucial for learning and memory consolidation? Experts who studied about about sleep's role in memory, recommend aiming for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to help your brain process and retain the information you've been studying.
Study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that: students who slept six hours or less per night have lower GPAs compared to those who got eight or more hours of sleep. So, if you want to ace that exam, make sure you're getting enough Zzz's!
6. Simplify to Clarify
The Feynman Technique is a method of explaining complex concepts in simple terms. It's named after the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, who was known for his ability to break down difficult ideas and make them easy to understand. This strategy helps you identify gaps in your understanding and reinforces the information in your brain.
For example, let's say you're studying the concept of supply and demand in your economics class. Try explaining it to a friend (or even your dog) who has no background in economics, using simple language and real-world examples. If you can't do this, it's a sign that you need to go back and review again.
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
–Richard Feynman
7. Boost Your Memory with Active Recall
Instead of just passively reading your notes or textbook, try actively recalling the information. Research have provided strong evidence that this technique solidifies the info in your memory, making it easier for recall and pull it up when needed.
How do you exactly active recall? Try closing the book or docu after reading a section or chapter then, summarize or explain the key points in your own words. You can also self-test using practice or self-generated questions to test your understanding.
8. Picture This
Believe it or not, visualizing what you're trying to learn can be a powerful study technique. According to a notable study from MIT, even images we haven't seen before can be recognized in as little as 13 milliseconds. That's right, 13 milliseconds - faster than the blink of an eye (which is 100 to 400 milliseconds on average)!
Experts in psychology and brain sciences found that creating mental images or diagrams can help retain the information in your brain. So, if you're studying the parts of a cell in your biology class, try drawing a diagram of the cell and labeling each part. Or, if you're trying to remember a list of historical events, create a mental timeline and visualize each event happening in sequence. The more vivid, the better!
9. Mix It Up
If the "blocking" technique, where you must concentrate on one topic or skill at a time, does not work for you, then interleaving is your best option! Interleaving is a learning technique that involves mixing up different types of concepts during your study sessions. This helps your brain make connections and see the bigger picture, rather than just memorizing individual facts.
To apply the interleaving technique, try the following:
- Create a study schedule that alternates between different subjects or topics.
- When studying , mix in problems or exercises from different areas or difficulty levels.
- Regularly review previously learned material alongside new information.
- Embrace the challenge of switching between topics.
10. Leverage AI Tools
Finally, don't be afraid to use technology to your advantage! AI tools have taken education by storm, and for good reason. ChatGPT, Perplexity, Intellecs.ai, and other tools can give you instant answers and even generate ideas, which has been a game-changer for many students.
Wait, what exactly is Intellecs.ai? If you haven't heard of it, Intellecs is a super intelligent writing and research platform lets you upload your own PDFs, embed videos, and online articles - so you can get personalized answers based on that specific content! This makes it a more targeted and efficient tool for academic research and writing.
While ChatGPT is a powerful language model that can generate human-like responses to a wide range of prompts, it doesn't have the ability to access and analyze your personal study materials like Intellecs does. Intellecs.ai boasts its super easy-to-use writing interface that's designed specifically for students like you, with a drag-and-drop editor and the ability to organize your notes and sources in one place.
So there you have it, folks! 10 science-backed tips to help you ace your next exam and make the most of your study time. Give them a try and let me know how it goes.
Good luck, and happy studying!
