Exams, essays, and projects can cause anxiety in even the most prepared students. There’s a reason behind the nerves. Exams can be intimidating. Essays and projects demand a lot of effort. You should be able to recollect and express all of the relevant knowledge contained in your comprehensive coursework. And you’ll need to do it in a pressure cooker.

Thankfully, we’re here with some ideas to help. There are a few strategies and ideas that can help you study more effectively. While these study hacks aren’t a replacement for hard effort, these tips and hacks could be the difference between a good and a great grade.

Read on below:

Memory hacks

1. Read aloud

Reading aloud improves your ability to remember things, according to a 2010 study on the ‘production effect.’ The study looked at the changes in retention of a piece of written material that was read silently for half of the time and vocally for the other half. The material that was read aloud was recalled significantly better than the material that was read silently. This is because giving the content a particular voice and speaking it gives the brain another way to remember it.

2. Use mnemonic devices

Never Eat Soggy Weetbix. Most Australian children learned the north, east, south, and west compass points in this way. Mnemonic devices, which consist of catchy acronyms that form a list of facts, are excellent memory aids. You simply need to remember a single trigger word or letter to recall an entire concept!

Want to recall how to solve a variety of problems by remembering the order of mathematical operations? You can even use mnemonics to help you remember!

3. Make an infographic

Infographics are the most popular way of providing information on the internet. They simplify often complex subjects into a visually appealing format. If creating an entire infographic isn’t possible, simply taking notes in the form of graphic sketches will help you remember them better. Notes written in your own handwriting – or art style – have also been found to be easier to recall than typed notes. Learning how to take good notes could help you ace your tests.

4. Reward yourself

You’ll create a subconscious association between study and reward if you reward yourself for working hard. After two hours of studying, for example, treat yourself to an episode of your favourite TV. When you finish a page of text, reward yourself with a few jelly beans or a cup of tea. Do whatever it takes to keep you motivated to study. If done correctly, this work-and-reward cycle can help you remember more of what you’ve learned.

Efficiency hacks

5. Use a smart study app

There are numerous study apps available that aim to streamline the study process and help you in being the best student possible. It’s best to keep things simple. Zookal Homework Help and Zookal Test Prep are two of our online study app features with easy interfaces for creating and revising homework problems and preparing for tests. You can also use visual learning with Zookal Flashcards or Zookal Videos. Find the apps or platforms that work best for you!

6. Block distractions

Do you find yourself easily distracted? The only way out is to be tough on your study time. Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it. Make good use of your time. Put your head down in a quiet place away from the TV or phone. Your best bet for success is to resist the temptation to procrastinate and get focused.

Effectiveness hacks

7. Explain it to a novice

Do you consider yourself to be an expert on the subject? Albert Einstein once said, ‘If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself. So pick someone who knows nothing about the subject and see how well you can explain it to them.

8. Change your surroundings

Sticking to your favourite desk in your favourite part of the home may be convenient for you, but it’s also fascinating to note that this convenience can dull your brain. It’s been shown that altering your study environment encourages your brain to reorganise new memories, which means you’re more likely to remember knowledge gathered in a new setting.

9. Stop the all-nighters

In order to function efficiently during the day, our brain needs adequate time to rest and recover. Our brain actually strengthens and reaffirms the new memories we’ve acquired throughout the day when we’re sleeping, so a good night’s sleep is essential for productive study.

10. Look after your health

To get the most out of your study time, treat your body with respect, just as you would your car to avoid it breaking down. You’ll discover that if you eat more healthily and exercise often, you’ll be able to handle exam time much better.

11. Digest information steadily

Don’t overload. It’s possible that you won’t recall much if you rush through your study material. Focus on each item, make sure you understand in its entirety, and then move on.

12. Recap: Putting it into practice

There is no secret to becoming a master’s student. Some study approaches will work better for some areas than others, and everyone reacts differently to different study techniques. You’ll have to experiment to see which ones perform best for you in different scenarios.

These tips are by no means a replacement for thorough, nose-to-the-grindstone research. However, by employing specific study skills, you may be able to push yourself just a little bit further, achieving your study goals faster and working smarter, not harder. Best of luck!

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