As the semester progresses, at some point exam season will be around the corner. Exams, whether midterm or final, take over students’ entire schedules and can lead to heavy stress. Unfortunately, even with all our stress and effort, we students do not always get the grades we hope for. But what if there were effective ways that could cut down the long hours of studying?
There are five study methods that help save time and make studying less stressful than it should be.
1. Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique focuses intensely on practicing time management during a study session. It involves splitting the time spent studying into certain intervals (or pomodoros), in which students would spend a good amount of time studying and not forgetting to rest when the timer hits. Basically, you set a timer for 25 minutes, do your best to learn plenty until time’s up, then take a five-minute break.
You can increase the break time after each interval is complete so that the role of resting would be prominent. Students could either buy creatively designed timers (for example, timers that look like tomatoes since pomodoro also means that) or simply choose from various apps dedicated to the method alone.
2. Nap Method
This one might seem very unconventional at first; however, it is highly recommended for students of all ages. Exactly as it sounds, the Nap Method urges students to prioritize their rest for a short period, the minimum being 45-60 minutes, which is good enough for a power nap.
A nap is proven to help our memories work five times faster, and who does not want that when exams are on the line? As many students have busy schedules, such as balancing classes, work, and social activities, power naps do wonders.
3. Feynman Method
With this decades-old method named after Nobel-prize winner and physicist Robert Feynman, you become the teacher and the student, in this case, not the ones usually in a university. The idea is to observe a piece of information that is difficult to comprehend and try explaining it to yourself as if you were talking to a child.
With this technique, the student simplifies the ideas down to the basics. One way is connecting ideas to analogies, as one would do with children when explaining new concepts. After clarification, find the gaps in your knowledge until you get your answer, then repeat the method. This method gets the job done and improves both presentation skills and critical thinking–both useful for classes.
4. Blended Learning
This method aims to work its wonders beyond the traditional classroom and incorporate the internet as an online personal tutor. This is especially effective for students who do not understand their instructor’s teaching style and have questions regarding the course material.
With this method, you can go beyond the syllabus materials and skim online for short courses, educational videos, or even interactive apps to help you complete information gaps. This is similar to the extra classes students take after school to comprehend subjects like math or languages faster during actual class time. Fortunately, blended learning is done online and helps students always to be one step ahead during exams.
5. Collaborative Learning
Better known as group study sessions, collaborative learning is designed for students who cannot bear to study long hours alone. Luckily, they do not have to struggle anymore. According to an article by Cornell University, collaborative learning “involves students working in pairs or small groups to discuss concepts or find solutions to problems. Similar to the idea that two or three heads are better than one, students teach each other by addressing misunderstandings and clarifying misconceptions.”
AUA offers many opportunities for this method to be used to its full potential, ranging from collaborative study areas to team activities in classes to deepen discussions in and out of the classroom. Despite that, hanging around with your closest friends to do lengthy assignments surely is better than going through it alone.
Another tip is to open a Google Doc sheet and share it with your peers, and as the semester progresses, write questions and observations. Others can answer or add their notes to the sheet, and as the course ends, there will be a whole document full of valuable material to help with exams.
Every method has its distinctive value for each individual. Some might be effective for one but not for the other, whereas others might be hard to adjust to. However, study methods should become a norm among students who are used to cramming their brains in the most exhausting ways. Make sure to try different methods to find the best one that will save you from sleepless nights.
