STUDENT STUDY TIPS
Postmedia asked students at independent schools around Calgary to share their top study tips. They weighed in with some great advice for fellow students of all ages.
“I prefer to study ahead of time rather than waiting for the very last minute and having to rush, which means I forget details. I also like to study by rewriting notes in my own words and teaching concepts to my younger sibling. Rewriting notes gives me muscle memory so that I remember facts and details. Teaching my sister about what I am learning helps me talk through tougher concepts.”
— Alex L., Grade 8, Delta West Academy
“I suggest students try an app called Flashcard Hero. It tracks your progress, quizzes you, and helps you memorize terms. It works great for me.”
— Ainsley M., Grade 10, School of Alberta Ballet
“The key to studying is to avoid procrastination and keep accurate, organized notes. At the end of the day I summarize my notes in an organized fashion, using colour co-ordinated highlighters for key words. The act of writing down the information solidifies the key concepts, and when reviewing for exams all concepts are easily identified.”
— Breanne V., Grade 12, West Island College
“To manage stress, it’s important to set a timeline on when you plan to complete and study each chapter before an exam. Never leave studying for last minute. I make a list of the major topics I need to go over well in advance, and set goals for myself when I should complete each section. To stay motivated, sometimes I will put a piece of chocolate over each reading I have to do as a reward for completing that section.”
— Haley M., Grade 12, Banbury Crossroads
“Remove distractions such as TVs, phones, or computers. When studying, having an area with minimal distractions allows your brain to focus and not be sidetracked by outside sources. It will help you retain information better.”
— Torre U., Grade 9, Edge School for Athletes
“Have good lighting. Don’t spend time on things that you already know — doing so helps your confidence but not your skills. If reviewing for math, spend about 10 per cent of the time on vocabulary and formulas and 90 per cent actually doing problems.”
— Gloria K., Grade 9, Webber Academy
“What works best for me is rewriting my notes and reading them out loud to myself. I find that this technique helps my brain to retain the information more effectively than just rereading my notes.”
— Claire P. Grade 9, West Island College
“With exams approaching, I try my best to stay calm. Being active is a very good way to ease your mind off exam stress. Focus your troubles on activities to release stress in a safe and healthy way.”
— Jillian B., Grade 12, Banbury Crossroads
“Practice, practice, practice! It not only works for math and physics but other subjects, such as comprehension for English or testing your knowledge with social studies questions. Personally I have noticed that if I practice certain content it sticks in my head much more than if I hadn’t.”
— Narinder S., Grade 12, Delta West Academy
“Set a study goal for yourself that’s based on material to be mastered or time spent studying. When you achieve your goal, reward yourself with something you enjoy such as time on your phone or watching television.”
— Matthew H., Grade 12, Webber Academy
“My three main tips are: 1. Gather all of your notes and look at what it is that you are struggling with the most. 2. Ask for extra help with the concepts you are struggling with the most. Keep practising them until you get the hang of the idea. 3. Study with a partner or a parent and have them quiz you on your notes.”
— James B., Grade 7, Delta West Academy
“For me, a study plan is essential for success. I set aside time nightly for each subject to ensure I am prepared for upcoming tests and exams.”
— Jacqueline K., Grade 11, School of Alberta Ballet
“Learning valuable study methods is essential, but even more important is recognizing which studying method works best for you. For instance, the two study methods that benefit me the most is repeating the material being studied aloud and consistently reviewing every night.”
— Glen H. Grade 11, West Island College
“Remove all of the possible distractions around you. Books, cellphones, laptops and computers, or anything you’d rather do than study — probably almost everything. Keeping these items out of reach will assist you in avoiding procrastination and help you ace that test.
— Tillie C., Grade 8, Edge School for Athletes
“One of my favourite study tips for school is using my resources correctly and efficiently. When I say this I mean asking my teacher questions if I don’t understand something, making sure I have all my study materials with me and keeping my information in order so I can get lots of time to review.”
— Hannah P., Grade 6, Webber Academy