I think I am going to change my study habits and techniques this semester.

What works for you? what hasn't worked for you?

8/30/2006 10:24:31 AM

eat red hots while studying

then eat them during the test

it helps you recall using your senses

8/30/2006 10:25:25 AM

dually noted

8/30/2006 10:38:49 AM

I've heard the same thing before, but with peppermints

8/30/2006 11:46:14 AM

I've heard you should work a few questions the day of the test to get your brain in the correct mindset.

8/30/2006 11:55:14 AM

For an engineering course:
I do the HW, on my own. Then if I can't get it, I ask for help. But it is important to attempt the problem first, so you think about all the little quirks of it. And for some strange reason, the answers seem to come to me a lot easier when I listen to Eminem.

Day / Night before the test I look over all the HW problems on material that will be on the test. Wake up a little early the day of the test and then go over some more HW problems, or maybe example problems. Right before the test . . . skim through notes and anything else I haven't looked at.



Non engineering course:
Pay attention in class, maybe glance over any notes the night before the test.

8/30/2006 6:52:58 PM

It's very hard for most people to do, but the best way is to do all homework and reading on-time, and to do a lot of practice tests (or memorization if there aren't any) starting twice as early as you think you need to.

8/30/2006 7:16:18 PM

For an engineering class, try to focus on understanding the concepts. I've noticed a lot of people try to memorize the equations needed for a particular type of problem. However, on a lot of tests they throw on a question that doesn't fit one of the profiles. If you don't truly understand the relationships involved then you are screwed. I do the homework problems and then try my best to understand why my answer is right and if it makes sense. Putting in that little bit of extra effort makes a big difference.

8/30/2006 8:03:05 PM

i've noticed i do good howework when i set goals

like 1hour=1cigarette, or "i can smoke a cigarette when i finish" mentality works

i think music is good, definitely make playlists cause i dont and i always pick my songs which takes away from studying

a can of pepsi is like a garenteed 5 points higher on a test

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

oh if you have a jerb where you can do your hw, i've noticed that helps, oh another thing that helps is like thinking about the future and planning shit out

8/30/2006 8:26:04 PM

don't stay up all night the night b4

8/30/2006 8:55:13 PM

break the test material up into sections and list it out in sections you want to complete/master. that might be breaking it down by chapter, or even more so. as you work hw problems, write notes, highlight the textbook, etc and finish each section move on to the next.

after you have finished everything review what you know, and re-learn whatever you might be struggling with. and if you feel like you know everything, review review review.

8/30/2006 9:24:36 PM

^yeah i agree with that

i ususally try to make a study guide that mirrors the test format

that way i wont be suprised at any questions

8/30/2006 9:31:14 PM

I have found that writing an outline from my notes (aka a study guide) really helps. Its more the writing it down to commit it to memory. I also handwrite it, somethinga bout the act of using my hands instead of my computer seems to make it stay longer.

8/30/2006 9:40:27 PM

I think you have to first find out what kind of learner you are.. there are three different ways people learn..

kinesthetic learner: you study info/terms by writing it down over & over again
visual learner: you learn/remember things by looking at information (i.e., graphs, charts, tables, outlines)
audio learner: you learn by listening to the lectures

I'm a kinesthetic learner.. so I just have a dry-erase board and write everything over & over again to remember them

8/30/2006 9:58:34 PM

^i think i'm choice b...the visual learner

i'm gonna google that and study more efficiently

8/30/2006 10:11:00 PM

Quote :

"eat red hots while studying then eat them during the test it helps you recall using your senses "

That will work with pretty much any flavor or scent. I used to put on strongly-scented lotion (like lavender) while I studied, and then again right before the test. I don't know if it did much, but I liked it.

Also, I heard somewhere (from one of my HS teachers) that if you suck on candy it helps you think better, or something (I'm not going to try to make up the real reason). They used to give us hard candy during our AP exams. My physics teacher who was obsessed with water also said there had been studies that proved drinking water in class helps you, but she was crazy so I don't know how much to believe that.

One thing I almost always do is make a study sheet using different colored pens. It works really well for me, because during the test you can think "Ok, that topic was in green" and it's a lot easier to remember stuff that way.

8/31/2006 9:20:47 AM

Quote :

"It's very hard for most people to do, but the best way is to do all homework and reading on-time, and to do a lot of practice tests (or memorization if there aren't any) starting twice as early as you think you need to. "

Great advice. It took me forever to learn this. Things don't come naturally to me in a lot of my engineering classes, so I have to start on the hw early, try to learn it on my own, and then ask a lot of questions if needed.

8/31/2006 10:12:44 AM