Study Tips?

[ThereseMaria]

I just remembered today that I'm going into high school next year, and then I started to think about all the studying I will have to do if I sign up for all IB (AP) courses like I'm planning, and THEN I realized that I don't actually know how to study... Well, unless mentally going over the study guide 5 minutes before the test counts. I was wondering, does anyone have any tips on studying? Thanks!

[ChristinaTherese]

What I always do is just keep up with the homework (and if there's too much and you understand well enough with less than is assigned, relax, just make sure you check what percentage of the grade homework is and do an amount where you will get a satisfactory grade), take notes if needed (I don't need it if powerpoints are provided, but everyone's different and I know taking notes of powerpoints helps some people even if I find that I can't focus when I'm trying to listen and write at the same time unless the prof isn't using powerpoints whereupon I don't have much trouble), and look over quizzes before the test (unless there aren't quizzes, whereupon it's a bit more work, looking over notes/powerpoints and the study guide if the prof provides one or whatever else I have to go off of). That's what I do now in college. I don't know how it transfers to a normal high school since I was home schooled through high school. And I know for a fact that it's different from what a lot of my classmates do. I'm pretty laid back about things, but it works for me at least to learn what I need/want to learn.

[Luigi]

One of the biggest problems I see with our educational system is that teachers often TELL students to "Learn this!" but they seldom teach student HOW to learn. 

 

There are lots and lots of well-respected study techniques out there - some will work for you, some won't. Your goal should be to try them all and see which ones fit you well. And you may prefer certain techniques for one topic and other techniques for other topics. So don't just try them once and decide you don't like that technique. 

 

There should be plenty of books in any decent bookstore - or you can probably find them online, too. Look for Study Skills. 

 

YOu might also be able to take a Study Skills class at your high school. 

[Luigi]

What I always do is just keep up with the homework (and if there's too much and you understand well enough with less than is assigned, relax, just make sure you check what percentage of the grade homework is and do an amount where you will get a satisfactory grade), take notes if needed (I don't need it if powerpoints are provided, but everyone's different and I know taking notes of powerpoints helps some people even if I find that I can't focus when I'm trying to listen and write at the same time unless the prof isn't using powerpoints whereupon I don't have much trouble), and look over quizzes before the test (unless there aren't quizzes, whereupon it's a bit more work, looking over notes/powerpoints and the study guide if the prof provides one or whatever else I have to go off of). 

 

LONGEST SENTENCE I'VE EVER READ ON PHATMASS!

 

I would like to gently suggest that you find a study skills book specific to run-on sentences.  :blues:

[ThereseMaria]

Thank you very much! I take notes, and even if the notes are provided for me, I end up writing them out and highlighting important terms and such (that's more about random "OCD" attacks than studying though... My binder has to be organized, or I end up going a bit nuts during class.) I think I have an orientation coming up in March, I'll be able to ask about a Study Skills course then... The teachers at my school are really amazing. They explain things really well, and they often provide stories that relate to what we're learning, which is good for me because I tend to memorize things by either relating them to other things, or by breaking down the important terms. I think that might have something to do with why I don't have to study... I digress. Again. Thank you very much :) That helps a lot.

[ChristinaTherese]

LONGEST SENTENCE I'VE EVER READ ON PHATMASS!

 

I would like to gently suggest that you find a study skills book specific to run-on sentences.  :blues:

I like parenthetical comments Â¿what can I say? (I also like opening question marks to denote that a question is part of a sentence that is not entirely a question, but those come in Spanish, so I have to borrow when I want them.) If you prefer, you can think of that sentence as a bulleted list with commas instead of bullets. ;)

[Basilisa Marie]

It helps to figure out what kind of learner you are.  Are you predominantly visual, audio, kinesthetic, or some combination? There are plenty of online quizzes or worksheets that you can google if you aren't sure.  Basically, do you learn best by seeing something, like reading? Or by listening, like to a lecture? or by taking notes, writing them over and over again. Many times the act of taking notes in class helps with all three, so how do you use your notes? Since you said you read/highlight and rewrite them, I'd guess that you're visual and kinesthetic. But you'll know best, and it might just be something you have to experiment with a bit before you really figure out what works great for you. Some people need total silence when they study, other people need some "white noise" in the background. Some people can study where ever, others have to be in a certain room. 

For me, I took notes in class and then used just straight up repetition until I remembered the concept. I liked to study with a group, so I'd start by learning the material on my own, creating my own outlines and stuff, and then come together with a group and go through the material together, asking questions and stuff. Being able to explain an idea to someone else is a good way to test yourself. 

A lot of it really depends on the subject, too. For math, I just had to do hundreds of problems until I got the concept. For AP World History I used flashcards to get names and dates and stuff like that. For English or philosophy, being able to talk the concepts out with someone helped. 

So keep doing what works for you, and throw some stuff at the wall and see what sticks. 

[maximillion]

I so agree with the above......

 

I would add to read around the subject, or watch vids or whatever and not just stick to the given texts, this will give you a wider perspective and a few more facts to your elbow than your fellow students, which is always useful and shows commitment to your learning.

 

If you want to know that you understand something, try to imagine telling someone about it in your own words. If you can't, you haven't taken it all in yet.

[ThereseMaria]

I so agree with the above......
 
I would add to read around the subject, or watch vids or whatever and not just stick to the given texts, this will give you a wider perspective and a few more facts to your elbow than your fellow students, which is always useful and shows commitment to your learning.
 
If you want to know that you understand something, try to imagine telling someone about it in your own words. If you can't, you haven't taken it all in yet.

  

That's interesting... I've never heard that suggestion, but it's pretty amesome! Thank you very much, I think that will help a lot :)

It helps to figure out what kind of learner you are.  Are you predominantly visual, audio, kinesthetic, or some combination? There are plenty of online quizzes or worksheets that you can google if you aren't sure.  Basically, do you learn best by seeing something, like reading? Or by listening, like to a lecture? or by taking notes, writing them over and over again. Many times the act of taking notes in class helps with all three, so how do you use your notes? Since you said you read/highlight and rewrite them, I'd guess that you're visual and kinesthetic. But you'll know best, and it might just be something you have to experiment with a bit before you really figure out what works great for you. Some people need total silence when they study, other people need some "white noise" in the background. Some people can study where ever, others have to be in a certain room. 
For me, I took notes in class and then used just straight up repetition until I remembered the concept. I liked to study with a group, so I'd start by learning the material on my own, creating my own outlines and stuff, and then come together with a group and go through the material together, asking questions and stuff. Being able to explain an idea to someone else is a good way to test yourself. 
A lot of it really depends on the subject, too. For math, I just had to do hundreds of problems until I got the concept. For AP World History I used flashcards to get names and dates and stuff like that. For English or philosophy, being able to talk the concepts out with someone helped. 
So keep doing what works for you, and throw some stuff at the wall and see what sticks.

Ok, perfect, thank you! I've never really thought about studying with a group, but it would be a cool idea, because then everyone can share how they remembered the materials, and ask questions. I'll have to look into that! Than you very much :)

[PhuturePriest]

It helps to figure out what kind of learner you are.  Are you predominantly visual, audio, kinesthetic, or some combination? There are plenty of online quizzes or worksheets that you can google if you aren't sure.  Basically, do you learn best by seeing something, like reading? Or by listening, like to a lecture? or by taking notes, writing them over and over again. Many times the act of taking notes in class helps with all three, so how do you use your notes? Since you said you read/highlight and rewrite them, I'd guess that you're visual and kinesthetic. But you'll know best, and it might just be something you have to experiment with a bit before you really figure out what works great for you. Some people need total silence when they study, other people need some "white noise" in the background. Some people can study where ever, others have to be in a certain room. 

For me, I took notes in class and then used just straight up repetition until I remembered the concept. I liked to study with a group, so I'd start by learning the material on my own, creating my own outlines and stuff, and then come together with a group and go through the material together, asking questions and stuff. Being able to explain an idea to someone else is a good way to test yourself. 

A lot of it really depends on the subject, too. For math, I just had to do hundreds of problems until I got the concept. For AP World History I used flashcards to get names and dates and stuff like that. For English or philosophy, being able to talk the concepts out with someone helped. 

So keep doing what works for you, and throw some stuff at the wall and see what sticks. 

 

Wow, we learn things the same exact way. I no longer feel so bad about having to do math a hundred times over to finally remember the order of operations. :P

[ThereseMaria]

OH in Social Studies the other day, the teacher and my friend were talking about how they remembered things, and they were talking about how they both have to relate a concept to something they already know to remember it, which is pretty much exactly how I remember things. Random thought.

[PhuturePriest]

OH in Social Studies the other day, the teacher and my friend were talking about how they remembered things, and they were talking about how they both have to relate a concept to something they already know to remember it, which is pretty much exactly how I remember things. Random thought.

 

This is really weird, but I'm a teacher at heart, so one surefire way I always remember things is the moment I learn something, I imagine teaching it to someone else in my head. It's weird, but it totally works for me.

[CrossCuT]

Honestly, one thing that helped me study was color coding.

 

I enjoyed taking my notes from class and rewriting them on colored construction paper in order to compartmentalize them in my head. It was fun!

If I didnt have colored paper, I used TONS of colored pens. Just helped organize things for me. I liked it.

 

 

[PhuturePriest]

Honestly, one thing that helped me study was color coding.

 

I enjoyed taking my notes from class and rewriting them on colored construction paper in order to compartmentalize them in my head. It was fun!

If I didnt have colored paper, I used TONS of colored pens. Just helped organize things for me. I liked it.

 

That sounds like so much work. :P

[Basilisa Marie]

Honestly, one thing that helped me study was color coding.

 

I enjoyed taking my notes from class and rewriting them on colored construction paper in order to compartmentalize them in my head. It was fun!

If I didnt have colored paper, I used TONS of colored pens. Just helped organize things for me. I liked it.

 

Sounds like someone is a massive visual learner. :) 

 

Coming up with your own system of notes is SUPER important!  I've never taken IB classes, but I did take my fair share of AP classes, and learning to take good notes is vital.  Come up with your own system! I never had the patience to color code mine (though it's a great idea!), but I used all kinds of stars (for really important concepts or things explicitly on the test) and arrows (for sub-concepts or something resulting in something else). I also came up with a shorthand for longer words that were repeated a bunch. For my AP Gov and Politics class we copied a lot of notes straight from the overhead so this wasn't an issue, but for things like my college theology classes, it was a godsend.  Then I'd put the "key" at the top of the first page, so I'd remember. Things like writing a "chi-rho" symbol instead of "Christ" or "jesus" or "Christianity" or a "chi-rho" with an "s" attached for "Christians."  Again, the real key is to just figure out how your brain works and support it. It sounds like you've already got some basics.  A lot of people act like it's this massive thing to learn to study, when really you just have to sit down and do it. :)