Sometimes study has to change from its regular routine to meet your needs in the moment! We’ve compiled some key tips to ensure your study is at tip top form, no matter what you need it to be doing for you! 

Need to memorise? 

If you need to memorise key definitions, formulas, words, diagrams (etc!) try SPACED REPETITION

  1. Learn your new content (vocab, concepts, facts) 

  2. After a short period, review the content. The interval between learning might be a few minutes or a few hours after the initial class

  3. As you continue to review the material, the intervals between reviews gradually increases. For example, you might review the content after one day, then three days, then a week and so on. 

  4. The intervals between reviewing are adjusted based on how well you remember the content. If you recall it easily, the interval before the next review is longer. If you struggle, the interval between the next review is shorter. 

Need to understand? 

If you need to understand a broader or more complex idea then try THE FEYNMAN TECHNIQUE

  1. Pick a concept you need to understand

  2. Write out a simplified review of the content in your own words, as if you were trying to teach it to someone with very limited or no knowledge of the content 

  3. Identify gaps in your knowledge during the process

  4. Review the content from the source and refine your summary of content 

Need some motivation? 

If you need to find some drive, then try GAMIFYING 

  1. Break a bigger study session down into smaller chunks, and assign each task a series of ‘points’ 

  2. Bigger/harder tasks are worth more points 

  3. Each time you complete a task, add the points together

  4. When you reach a certain number of points, reward yourself with a prize/experience! Positive reinforcement will get you a long way late in the term! 

Need some focus? 

If you need to avoid procrastination, then try the 3-2-1 METHOD

  1. Spend 3 minutes doing high intensity physical activity to get the blood rushing to the your brain (star jumps, pushups, high knees etc) 

  2. Spend 2 minutes focusing just on your breath 

  3. Spend 1 minute planning you’re the session, what you are going to tackle first and any key goals you have

Need some productivity? 

If need to tick more things off your list, then try TIME BLOCKING

  1. Break down a larger study session into specific tasks according to subject 

  2. Assign these tasks a block of time (20 minutes, 15 minutes, 5 minutes), they should never be longer than half an hour 

  3. Work though these tasks based on priority using a colour scale (green for lowest priority, amber for intermediate priority, red for high priority) 

Happy Studying!