#1 - Make a Time Table
Everyone has their own time for studying, some prefer to study at night or after noon while some study in morning. Choose whatever time is best for you. Remember to keep in mind, relaxing your mind is important or else there's no point because your mind will be the one doing all the work hence you need to keep it active. The best time for studying is in the morning according to me so I'm free at noon and able to go out. Make sure to choose a time where you are relaxed & able to concentrate. If you're free at night then study at night, but make sure not to study way past your bedtime or when you've tired as it might effect your performance the next day. Write your schedule down on a piece of paper & stick it on your door's wall, fridge, anywhere you're sure you will visit to remind yourself & make sure to abide by that schedule. If you end up becoming busy during your study time, make sure to make up for that time by studying later when you're free. Also don't forget to make time for socializing. Study when it's time to study & socialize when it's time to socialize, it's that simple.
It's important you study more than 1 hour or more per day. Remember " Little drops of rain make the mighty Ocean " Studying every day for an hour is much better than studying few days before your exam!
#2 - Hire a Home Tutor
The disadvantage of school is that if you miss one class or don't pay attention for one second, you end up not understanding the whole topic and due to so many students in the class you don't want to risk embarrassing yourself from asking a stupid question. This is where Tutors come in. If you can't afford a tutor, you can join coaching centers but I don't recommend them as they're almost the same as schools only difference is Coaching classes begin late & not in morning so you'll be fresh and not sleepy throughout the whole lecture. Advantages of hiring an tutor is that you will feel more comfortable asking questions as they will teach you only. They will teach according to what you tell them to teach you & won't move onto the next topic until you've fully understood.
Make sure to hire a good tutor, they might cost you a lot but they'll be worth your while.
#3 - Make your own notes
In my opinion, it's easier to understand own hand written notes than external notes. When in class make sure to note down everything the teacher writes on the board & note down extra details as well on a journal so you can use those same notes to revise later on. Don't be lazy to note down, if you make this mistake you will have to use external notes to learn from, which will not be as much as effective as compared to your own hand written notes. Make sure your notes are organized, you can organise by keeping a journal for each subject seperatly. I.e: Chemistry journal, english journal, physics journal Etc.
Also don't forget to keep your notes safe so you don't end up losing them or else all the time you spent writing them down will go in vain.
#4 - Use the Internet
Back in the days when we didn't have Wikipedia, Yahoo answers or Google, people had to rely on their teachers. Now that we have the Internet, if you have a problem understanding something you can google it simple or just let the people on Yahoo Answers do your homework, instead of having to ask your teacher. If you've not let the internet do your homework at one point in your life, then you haven't made proper use of the Internet yet.
There's a saying " Google is your Bestfriend " and they're not wrong! Suppose Google as your most intelligent best friend, whenever you have a problem you're supposed to go to him. There also many sites on the internet which provide great notes you can learn from. I also recommend Youtube as watching videos are more effective for learning as compared to reading.
#5 - Group Study
Studying's boring, but just like everything else you can make it fun by inviting your friends to study with you. You can share knowledge too & both benefit in the end. Make sure to study in a quiet environment & avoid bringing friends who will disturb you by going off topic.
Best place for group study is the Library as they have rules there for not talking and you have availability of large amount of books there.
#6 - Keep yourself Motivated
It's important that you keep yourself motivated by setting a goal for yourself. Motivational posters also do the trick for some, you can set a motivational wallpaper for your phone or hang motivational posters in your room if that doesn't work for you, then set a goal & think about the benefits you will get after you've done studying. If that's not enough for you. REMEMBER: If you do good in college, you will obviously be accepted to a better university as compared to your friends, and will get a better paying job.
To employers, tt's not just about the degree but also matters where you got the degree FROM.
#7 - Distractions
If you're the type that likes to study with your phone's Facebook chat on besides you and Game of Thrones episode playing on your TV, then complain about not being able to learn then obviously you're doing something wrong. (No shit) In order to study effectively you need to remove all distractions. By all, I mean everything that requires you to focus on such as phone, TV etc.
Your concentration should fully be on studying. If you're day dreaming or thinking about something else but your eyes are on book then obviously you will not be able to accomplish anything.
#8 - Revise
Remember, you're a human not an USB, you need revision from time to time or else you will forget what you learnt. If you don't revise your topics on a regular basis you might have to relearn the topic from the start, which will waste your time more. As you progress, don't forget to revise your previous chapters by writing down what you just learnt & seeing whether you write the answers correct or not.
Best way to revise is by conducting self tests every week & writing questions down from previous topics you've learnt and see if you can answer them correctly or not.
#9 - Solve Quizzes or MCQs
The most effective way of testing yourself is by solving quizzes or MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) related to the topic you learnt in your school library or on the internet.
If you're able to solve them without any problem, it means you studied properly. If not, see where you went wrong to improve your concepts.
#10 - Taking Breaks
Most importantly, don't forget to take breaks. Go outside for a walk, go hangout with your friends, watch a movie, play a game etc It's important that you also give yourself rest or else your mind won't be able to work properly. Exercising is recommended as it makes you more active, making you able to study efficiently.
When making a time table for studying, make sure to add time for Breaks too. E.g: 1 hour break after every 3 hours or 30 minutes break after every hour Etc. Whatever suits you best. But make sure to continue studying after your break time is over!
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