Study Habits!

Hello! I’m currently a sophomore in high school and I want to know what kind of study techniques may be good to develop or create for college and rest of high school. I know that I should find my own, but I simply want motivation and inspiration from those who have experience. Thank you and have a nice day!

Excellent question!

Your local library will probably have several different books on this topic.

My DD finds these techniques useful, depending on the situation:

  1. Studying for 50 minutes then taking a 10-minute break (or study for 25 minutes and take a 5-minute break, whatever works for you).
  2. She will rewrite her notes. Literally copy them out by hand.
  3. Quizlet, or she will use a different practice tests if her teacher has posted one online.

Other techniques I’ve seen used with success:

  1. They say the best way to learn is to teach, so pretend to “teach” your favorite stuffed animal using a dry erase board.
  2. Flashcards

Do this. It’s highly recommended on CC on certain forums and it has great suggestions. Think there’s a high school version as well.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Become-Straight-Student-Unconventional/dp/0767922719

@BioType1 It is great you are starting as a sophmore as junior year is so important. I agree with the above poster’s techniques and the other poster’s book suggestion

Also, some ideas to share are:
Read questions into an app on your phone at the beginning of each unit, chapter etc then later play and answer on
paper to see if you learned all the material.
Have a study partner quiz you and then study the ones you don’t know with flashcards.
Make up songs or sayings to enable you to remember dates, events, or formulas.
Make study guides or outlines
Marry pictures with information to memorize
If you are visual use different colors of pens, highlighters or post it notes
Use Cornell note-taking
Don’t cram- study a little each day and learn over time so you will retain it
Watch you tube videos on math
Get test prep books for APs /SATs/ACTs and later college tests like TEAs , then later MCAT,LSAT, GMAT, GRE etc
Switch class notes with a friend and fill in info each other missed
Pay attention to how the test is formatted. If multiple choice is prevalent the above will work if it is all essay practice
writing from memory on a variety of topics
play classical music in the background
schedule in studying and do not just plug it in whenever time is left over
Most of all be curious and want to learn more about the material it will make you stay with it longer

Good luck!