28 Proven Tips To Study Effectively For Exams

Tips On How to Study Effectively For Exams

There are many ways to study; but not all of them will help you achieve the results you desire. Discover the best tips to master the skill of study.

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” As such, if you’re about to take a big exam that will have an impact on your future career or life goals, it’s important not only to study a lot but also to be aware of how to study effectively for exams. 

If you’re looking to improve your grade, it may be worth investing a little time now to figure out how to study as efficiently as possible.

In fact, knowing the best strategies to study will boost your confidence and knowledge and help ensure your academic success.

According to a research done by Stanford, self-reflection about learning improves academic performance. This includes strategizing about the purpose of your study materials and how you would implement them.

Essentially, the focus shouldn’t be on getting more resources, but how you use the resources you already have (Chen et al., 2017).

This article will give you some of the best tips for studying smarter and more effectively for exams. 

my Product
1 19

Want the perfect academic resource for your studies?

This all-in-one resource is perfect for any person who wants to take charge of their academic journey.

The bundle includes a total of 7 printables, each equipped with multiple worksheets, trackers, and expert advice.

Tips to study effectively for exams

If you follow these study tips, your study time will be far more productive than before.

Here they are:

  • Organize your study time.
  • Have a study goal.
  • Organize your study area.
  • Work on your time management skills. 
  • Take notes during lectures. 
  • Master the material before moving on.
  • Visualize what you’re learning. 
  • Don’t cram the night before. 
  • Chew sugar-free gum.
  • Don’t study in bed. 
  • Discover your learning style. 
  • Take advantage of your resources. 
  • Summarize what you’ve learnt.
  • Review your notes. 
  • Test yourself.
  • Develop more study skills.
  • Relate new information to what you already know.
  • Take breaks when studying. 
  • Learn from other people’s mistake. 
  • Read your textbook aloud. 
  • Use mnemonics. 
  • Get a good night’s sleep.
  • Study with others.
  • Do practice problems.
  • Draw diagrams and charts. 
  • Use flashcards.
  • Don’t multitask.
  • Don’t neglect self-care.
Study effectively 2
"The wonderful thing about learning something is that nobody can take it from us." - BB King

1. Organize your time to study effectively for exams

For greater academic success, start by getting organized. This includes creating a study timetable and sticking to it.

Getting organized may seem obvious. But, you’d be surprised by how many students have irregular study schedules. However, studying at the same time will help program your mind.

What’s the best time to study?

Well, the best study time really does depend on when you’re most alert and focused. So, be sure to avoid late nights if you know you’d be half asleep.

For some, the best study time might be first thing in the morning or perhaps right after class or work. Whatever time you choose, make sure you create rituals around it.

These rituals may mean shutting off your phone for 30 minutes before hand, or maybe creating a special snack or drink to get you in the zone.

2. Have a goal to study more effectively for exams

Having a goal for each study session will help ensure your academic success.

As such, before studying, make sure that you know exactly what the focus of the session is and try not to get distracted, even by other topics that may seem more important and interesting. 

Ever heard of ‘SOS’ or Shiny Object Syndrome?

Shiny object syndrome refers to a tendency for persons to be constantly distracted by new trends, ideas or goals.

This syndrome can be deadly to your productivity, especially when it comes to studying. To combat this, you need to set strict rules for yourself and stick to them.

Thus, to study effectively for exams, determine exactly what material you need to review and identify specific learning objectives.

Again, this is something that may seem obvious but it’s often not done. When you have specific tasks to complete during a set time period, you’re more likely to stay focused and motivated.

Use this link to read more on how to increase your personal productivity. 

3. Organize your study area to study effectively for exams

For greater academic success, it’s important to organize your study area and materials.

Your study space should be comfortable and free from distractions. Also, remember to warn family and friends not to disturb you and  turn your TV and cellphone off. If you can’t find a quiet space at home, consider going to the library.

Notably, those who study in environments that interfere with concentration actually learn less effectively and recall information less accurately. 

4. Good time management will help you study more effectively

Good time management skills is an important factor for success. This means being able to accurately estimate the time required to complete a task and then working on getting it done within that timeframe.

Actually, many students become frustrated because they underestimate the time needed to complete tasks and end up behind schedule.

5. Taking notes will increase your academic success

According to research, taking notes during classes can be very useful because it causes you to pay more attention, enforces what you’ve learned in class and helps with the memorization process (Boch & Piolat, 2005).

In fact, being active while learning is an excellent way to integrate information into your long-term memory.

To effectively take notes, make sure you listen attentively and summarize the important details.

Plus, a lecture is not only what you hear, but also how it’s said. A word read fast may have a different meaning from when it’s read slowly, for example.

If possible, try to review these notes right away and clarify any issues you’re unsure of.

Having these notes to review before your exams will refresh your understanding of new concepts and make sure you stay on track.

Study effectively 1
"True education is about getting the best out of oneself." - Mahatma Gandhi

6. Master the material before moving on

Before moving on to new concepts, write down a list of questions you can ask yourself about what you just read or heard.

If possible try to answer the questions without looking at your notes, and then compare your answers with their written versions. This should help make sure you’ve mastered the material. 

Repeat what you’ve studied until you are comfortable with the material.

7. Visualize what you’re studying for greater academic success

To study more effectively for exams, try to put the written material into a form that’s easier to remember, such as a drawing or a table.

Doing this will help you better understand the concepts and simplify memorization. Also, color coding can help so try highlighting and using different colored pens. 

Studies show that the learning process is more effective when it involves understanding and transformation.

As such, highlighting is better than reading only. But, summarizing is better than highlighting only (Boch & Piolat, 2005).

8. Don’t cram the night before an exam

Although cramming for exams may seem quite normal, it’s one of the most ineffective study methods.

In fact, you’ll likely lose the information you retain from cramming within a very short period, even during the exam itself.

Additionally, research shows that cramming places too much pressure on the brain which can lead to confusion, anxiety or fatigue (Eryilmaz, 2018).

Let’s face it, the average person spends decades of their lives studying in preparation for exams. That’s years of extra stress and overwhelm if you chose not to implement the best strategies.

As much as possible, don’t wait until the night before a test to start studying for it.

Spread studying out evenly over time. Update your calendar so that you can keep up with assignments and have enough time to study for exams when needed.

9. Chew gum while studying or taking an exam

Have you ever wondered if chewing gum will help you focus and stay alert during long exams?

Well, some scholars argue that chewing gum is linked to increased alertness and attention, greater productivity and less cognitive issues. 

Actually, studies also show that people who chew gum report less stress and anxiety (Allen & Smith, 2015).

However, be sure to opt for sugar-free gum to help protect against tooth decay. And remember, going overboard with chewing gum will likely cause your jaw to hurt. 

Discover the best tips to study effectively for exams.
"Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of an effort of intelligence." - John Ruskin

10. Don’t study in bed while preparing for exams

There’s more than one good reason why you shouldn’t study in bed. In fact, studying in bed will affect both your sleep and your studying. 

I’m sure you’ll admit that when you’re in your bedroom, the last thing you want to do is study. Plus, your room should be a place that is conducive to sleeping.

Thus, try sitting in a desk or somewhere else that will help you stay focused.

11. Find out what your learning style is

For greater academic success, it’s imperative to be aware of what your learning style is.

There are different ways of learning and people have distinct preferences based on success rates and ease of study. As such, be sure to study in ways that are most effective for you. 

For instance, do you retain information better when you test yourself, or take short breaks? Do you study better with hard or soft copies? Take into account power outages and technical issues if you choose the former.

Also, try combining various study techniques and strategies for better results. 

Read also: 7 Study techniques to increase your learning ability. 

12. Take advantage of your resources for greater academic success

Many students are unaware of all the resources at their disposal.

As such, explore your school/university, library or other organizations that offer resources or tutoring to help you better prepare for exams.

However, don’t spend too much time seeking resources that you won’t even have the time to use or that may end leaving your more confused and overwhelmed. 

If you don’t have or can’t afford the additional materials, find ways to reap the most benefits from the ones that you do have.  

13. Summarize to study effectively for exams

Once you have organized your knowledge in a pyramid structure, create summaries while studying.

This might seem like extra work, but it will prevent you from wasting time later trying to reread material that you should be learning how to recall and  apply.

According to research, note taking and summarizing is part of the memorization process itself.

In fact, note taking will decrease the pressure on working memory and serves the purpose to record information and facilitate review (Boch & Piolat, 2005),

14. Review your notes often for academic success

Don’t stop reviewing your notes once you’ve finished studying a topic. Highlight or underline important facts and use a question-and-answer review strategy to make sure you remember them.

If possible, you should spend at least one hour each day going over your notes. Additionally, it may be best not to study a lot of new content if you have a test in one or two days.

In this case, just go over the information from your notes to refresh it in your memory.

15. Test yourself to boost academic success

Testing yourself on what you’ve learned is more beneficial to your academic life than simply rereading your notes later.

In fact, testing stimulates a different part of the brain to review the material and encode it more deeply.

Moreover, asking yourself pointed questions puts your memory to work instead of just passively rereading information from your notes.

16. Develop study skills for academic success

Good study skills may be more important than studying itself. It is much easier to learn material if you learn how to learn.

As such, do some research and actively work on improving your study skills. Some study skills include the following:

  • Practice recall
  • Highlighting key words and symbols
  • Review lecture notes for major concepts
  • Preview lecture material before class
  • Sketch graphs and diagrams in your notes
  • Use flashcards
  • Use self-testing software
There are proven methods to improve your study ability so that you can do better at your exams.
"It always seems impossible until it’s done." - Nelson Mandela

17. Relate new information to what you already know

By relating new information to what you’ve already learned, you’ll make it easier to remember and understand the new material.

If you use this tip when studying and reviewing your notes for exams, your brain will automatically work on integrating and correlating the material as you go along, making it even easier to recall later.

18. Take Breaks When Studying

As you probably know from experience, concentrating for long periods of time is difficult. In fact, studying for hours at end usually leads to burnout and wasted time because you’re not absorbing what you’re supposed to be learning.

Your brain can’t concentrate nonstop for too long. Actually, taking a break will give you a boost of energy; making it easier to recall information later on.

How long should you study before taking a break?

The consensus points to taking a break every 60-90 minutes for about 15 minutes. It’s also important to do something relaxing or enjoyable during your study breaks.

Consider pacing yourself by studying in short bursts to help you stay focused and absorb the material better.

Read also: 11 tips to stay motivated to studying that actually work. 

19. Learn from other people’s mistakes to be successful in exams

For academic success, you shouldn’t only seek advice from persons who are successful, but also from those who’ve had failed attempts at exams. 

Realize that they too have valuable advise. As such, if your friend always seems to miss a test or fail a project, ask him what he did wrong and how you can avoid his mistakes.

Learn the expert tips to help you study effectively for exams.
"I have failed again and again throughout my life. That’s why I’ve been successful." - Michael Jordan

20. Read textbooks aloud to study more effectively for exams

If reading textbooks is difficult for you, read them out loud as though you were explaining what is written to someone else. You’ll be more likely to retain information that way.

Reading aloud will increase your attention, vocabulary and brain power. 

Read also: 19 Easy ways to increase your brain power

21. Take advantage of mnemonic devices for academic success

Mnemonic devices are helpful memory techniques that allow you to remember information and perform better in exams.

For instance, the mnemonic for the order of the planets in our solar system (My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Noodles).

If you think up your own mnemonic device for a particular set of material, chances are you’ll remember it better.

22. Get a Good Night’s Sleep the Night Before an Exam

Your brain can’t perform at its best if you don’t sleep well. Thus, go to bed early and get a full night of restful sleep before a big exam so that your concentration will be improved and you’ll be able to retain more information from the lesson the day before.

Actually, make it customary to get a full night’s rest. If your sleep is affected, it will directly and indirectly affect your ability to effectively study for exams.

Check out these 27 healthy habits to naturally improve your sleep. 

23. Study with others to boost your academic performance

Studying with others allows you to discuss the material as well as listen to what other people have to say about it.

The social aspect of studying can help you better remember the information because how well we recall something is greatly influenced by its emotional content.

Additionally, teaching or explaining to others will help reinforce valuable study information. 

Discover the best techniques to help you succeed at your exams
"Your talents and abilities will improve over time, but for that you have to start." - Martin Luther King

24. Do practice problems even if you think you already know the material

To effectively prepare for exams it’s important to do quizzes and practice problems. In fact, doing sample problems will help you retain information and improve your problem solving skills. 

Even if you think you know what’s going on in a particular section, do practice problems anyway so that when the test comes around, you’ll be more likely to remember it and perform better.

25. Draw diagrams and charts to boost academic performance

As we’ve mentioned in other tips, visual aids help your brain remember things better.

So instead of writing out an explanation in long-hand, make a chart, mind-map or diagram to visually represent what you’re saying. You’ll be amazed at how much more information you will retain if you do this.

26. Use flashcards to study effectively for exams

Flashcards are great for early morning or late night study sessions because they help you memorize terms and definitions quickly. 

Make your own flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other (forward facing, of course!) and keep them in your backpack so that you can whip them out whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

27. Don’t multitask to perform better in exams

For greater academic success, don’t multitask when you study. Make sure that your attention is focused on what you’re learning and ask yourself questions about the material in order to keep your mind actively engaged.

Multitasking when studying will affect your retention of the information. Plus, you’ll lose valuable time having to refocus each time. In the end your output would be much lower.

28. Self-care is important for academic success

When trying to remember information, it’s important that you’re in a good state of mind. If you’re stressed out or overtired, take some time to relax and refresh your brain before you start studying.

When your body is relaxed, your brain will be more open to absorbing the material instead of shutting down because it thinks there’s too much stress.

Once you’ve completed all your work, reward yourself by doing something you enjoy. This will give you the mental break that you need and make studying seem less like a chore.

Read more on how to prioritize self-care.

learning 1
"Motivation is what sets you in motion, habit is what keeps you going.' - Jim Ryum

Final words on tips to study more effectively for exams

Studying is hard, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many different ways to study effectively for an exam.

The following learning strategies are the most effective for memory enhancement and information application. Select a few of them to incorporate into your study routine.

It might seem like a lot at first glance, but once you get begin it’s easier to keep going. So don’t worry; just get started. 

Read also: 14 Easy ways to become smarter without studying

Do you have any additional exam study preparation tip that you find effective? Let me know in the comments below. 

Related topics

How to study smarter, not harder?

Studying is a vital part of academic and professional life. It is what you do to learn new things and it helps lay the foundation for success in your future career or education.

However, studying can be challenging, especially if you don’t know how to study properly.

Fortunately, there are many ways you can improve your studying skills so that you spend less time trying to memorize information and more time actually applying what you’ve learned.

Studying smarter, not harder is a goal that can be achieved by utilizing various methods and tools to help.

Tips to stay motivated to studying that actually work

It can be difficult to stay motivated when it comes to studying, especially when you don’t feel like you’re making progress, or when the material is challenging.

Here are some tips that may help you stay on track and continue your studies with vigor. Read more

my FREEBIE
1 22

READY TO TRANSFORM YOUR SELF-CARE ROUTINE?

It’s time to make self-care a delight instead of a chore.

This incredible free resource comes packed with features for tracking everything from your daily water intake to how many steps you take.

References

Allen, A. P., & Smith, A. P. (2015). Chewing gum: cognitive performance, mood, well-being, and associated.

Boch, F & Piolat, A. (2005) Note Taking and Learning: A Summary of Research

Chen P, Chavez O, Ong DC, Gunderson B. Strategic Resource Use for Learning: A Self-Administered Intervention That Guides Self-Reflection on Effective Resource Use Enhances Academic Performance. Psychological Science. 2017;28(6):774-785.

Eryilmaz, S. (2018) Cramming: Why It’s Ineffective & Should Be Avoided

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share On:

Related articles

Together we'll navigate our way to a healthier, more fulfilled life... One SOLUTION at a TIME.

Content Creator

My Personal Favorites
My Wellness Shop

***Disclaimer***

This website is a participant in the Amazon services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

Explore
Take a 2-min Quiz