Study Session

First up, research shows that study sessions are most effective in small, short chunks. Instead of cramming in a 10-hour study session, it's much more effective to spread it out into twenty 30 minute sessions over a few weeks. This is because your brain is better at encoding information into the synapses, in short, repeated sessions as opposed to one large one. And this is why even learning different skills - whether it's swimming, tennis or a singing lesson - often follows this same format!

And while cramming and pulling all-nighters may be a ritual, it turns out this is linked to the lowest grades. After prolonged nocturnal study sessions, reasoning and memory may be negatively affected for up to four whole days.

Time Control

Setting up specific times in a day, or during the week just to study, primes your brain by creating a routine, and over time studying actually becomes easier, as your brain is trained to learn in those moments.

 Highlighting Paragraph Ineffective

And while many of us spend hours passively re-reading our notes or highlighting a textbook, studies have shown this to be ineffective. It doesn't improve your understanding of topics nor does it link key concepts together. It can even be detrimental as it draws your attention to less important information.

Flash cards, on the other hand, are proven to be excellent memory reinforcement tools. Whether during your scheduled study times or during off times, like a bus ride home.

Make A Study Goal 

It also helps to have a specific goal for each study session. Instead of aimlessly studying, pick one aspect you will focus on - whether it's balancing chemical equations, or learning how to conjugate French verbs. If you can't explain it simply, then you don't understand it well enough.

Test Vs Teach

In studies where individuals were asked to learn a passage, and then half were told they would be tested on the material, while the other half were told they would have to teach it to other students, participants expecting to teach it did much better at understanding the main points. When you're expecting to teach, your brain organizes the information in a more logical, coherent structure.

Practice 

Of course, practice, practice, practice! Not only do practice tests put your brain in the environment, but even if you make mistakes, they help identify gaps in your knowledge. Practice tests have also been shown to increase confidence, thereby leading to better performance. So, where should you be studying? Research shows that having a designated, sacred spot for study, that is well-equipped with every tool you might need is best. Just like setting times, this primes your brain for studying.