As we approach the last few weeks of the school year, I am sure that many feel stressed about upcoming exams. It is very common for some of us to feel lost or confused as to how one can study both efficiently and effectively. Over the past 2 years, I’ve been researching and learning about different studying techniques that can accelerate my learning. In this article, I will be sharing some tips that I find the most helpful. Hopefully, this can lower your stress and fatigue when preparing for tests!
When reading through this article, it is important to keep in mind that everyone has their own study habits and learning styles, and whilst the following techniques have been studied extensively and backed up by research, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to education. Many of our learning habits will be built over time as we gain experience of what works well (and not so well) for each of us individually. As you take time to figure out your study preferences, remember to give yourself the same level of patience and understanding as you would to your friends.
- Spaced Practice
This technique is quite commonly discussed, as we are always told to not “cram” the night before the exam. For instance, instead of studying for 9 hours the day before the exam, spread the 9 hours out across a span of two weeks. There is no agreed upon interval in which spaced practice works the best (yet), but here are some examples according to Wiseheart and Pashler (authors of: “Spacing Effects in Learning”) :
(cells in yellow represent days of studying)
If the test is in a week:
If the test is in 2 weeks:
If the test is in 4 weeks:
From Wiseheart and Pashler’s study, they have concluded that the optimal gap increases by around 40% for each interval. They have also highlighted the importance of reviewing the day before the exam in order to strengthen your neural pathways in preparation for the exam. When you are asleep, your brain works to consolidate the information learnt throughout the day. Therefore, reviewing the day before the exam can further enhance your knowledge on a certain topic to ensure better results.
- Retrieval practice
Retrieval practice refers to “the act of trying to recall information without having it in front of you.” This can mean that you are attempting to define vocabulary or list out information about a certain topic off the top of your head. Or, it can be done by filling in the blanks/completing multiple choice questions. If your teacher provides practice tests/questions, make sure that you do them. There are two ways to approach this:
- Complete them a few days prior to the exam so you can digest and fully understand what you got wrong and use the remaining time to hone in on the skills that you need to acquire
- Do them the night before to prepare yourself for the type of questions that will appear on the test so that you have a clear memory of your strengths and weaknesses
If you are not provided with practice tests, you can use platforms such as Quizlet and Anki to test yourself on certain topics. This would be the most effective for Science, History, and topics that involve a direct recall of information as opposed to subjects like Writing where the response is more subjective and creative.
- Reading course outlines and rubrics
Although this tip is not as “concrete” and professional as the two methods mentioned above, doing this could still save a lot of time by making your revision more streamlined and focused. As a pre-IB student, I am provided with course outlines/learning objectives and rubrics for most of my subjects. For other curricula, such as the HKDSE, A Levels/IGCSE, or APs, you can search online or ask your teachers. When you are studying for a test (especially Science), I recommend studying in the order of the objectives that you are given. By marking every strand/topic off when you are confident with it, you can have a clear idea of what area you need to focus on. Seeing how much progress you’ve made could also be motivating and encouraging. For project-based assignments, checking that your project fits every strand of the rubric ensures that you’ve completed the assignment to an optimum degree. Spending hours and hours to write more pages than the teacher expected you to might not always ensure you a higher grade, because the teacher mainly determines your achievement by referring to the rubric. It is always better to take a balanced approach than to put emphasis on one area of the syllabus whilst neglecting others.
- Time lapse
This tip might sound weird, but it is probably the most useful “strategy” I’ve personally discovered so far. My friend actually recommended this to me around a month ago, and I’ve been doing this everyday ever since. It is actually very common amongst YouTubers who release study-related content. In short, this is done by recording a time lapse of yourself studying/doing homework/completing assignments over a designated period of time. Since I physically cannot use my phone, I am forced to only focus on my assignment. Also, it serves as a way to almost “monitor” what I’m doing, because the camera is capturing every moment, which makes you want to finish the task efficiently. It is also very satisfying to see how much you can do in an hour when you rewatch the time lapse, which is very motivating – as your reward system (prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and midbrain) is activated.
For further understanding and reference:
Spaced practice –
https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2016/7/21-1
Retrieval practice –
Studying time-lapse –
Reward System –
https://www.neuroscientificallychallenged.com/blog/know-your-brain-reward-system
Editor’s note: Check out this booklet to know how to cope with academic stress as we finally go back to school after the COVID-19 suspension.