A breath of fresh air and a brand new start; 10 words to describe the approach of second semester.
Unlike first semester, this time around you probably remember how to hold a pencil, you know where you’ll be devouring lunch, and you’ve probably learnt how to survive with as little as six or five hours of sleep. These are reasons why I feel as ready as ever for the start of school again.
During my first semester, I decided to try out new studying strategies and discovered the little things that helped me focus and understand what I was taught in classes. I’ve come to learn that it doesn’t matter how much you cram during the last week before your exam, what determines your academic success is what you do everyday during the four month semester. So, what is it you do in order to get to those As and Bs, or 80s and 90s?
Each individual is different and therefore you will never find a definite answer to how you achieve academic success. However, these are some of my tips and tricks that have proven helpful and share-worthy.
Ask Your Teacher Questions
“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.” -Thomas Berger
Inquiries regarding details or information you don’t understand is crucial for your understanding. Don’t wait until your taking the unit test to start questioning what you know. If you are unclear about something, even if it’s the smallest or silliest detail, ask your teacher and you will be surprised at how much you learn from him/her.
I specifically advise to “ask your teacher” because, although you can google it or ask friends, no one will be as direct and crystal-clear as your teacher. Your teacher will relate it to what the curriculum requires you to know and may give you helpful details that you might need to know for quizzes or tests. Utilize your teacher, utilize your resources and trust me, teachers love regular question-askers because it indicates that you are serious about your learning.
TIPS:
- For those with anxiety, you can opt to write questions down during lessons or lectures and ask the teacher about them later, during work time or after class.
- Sitting closer to your teacher = Not having to get up or walk as far to ask questions during class = Happy lazy student + More questions asked
I usually choose to sit in front of my teacher’s desk so I don’t have to get up at all and therefore, am encouraged to ask.
source
Develop Effective Note-Taking Skills
Your exam-stressed self will thank you. Mine did.
When I think note-taking, I imagine a paper full of scribbled writing, grey pencil marks against a white background. I shake my head and rather think back to my colour-coordinated flash cards, post-it notes, and pens and my heart fills with delight. Note-taking doesn’t have to be boring and ugly.
Writing notes seriously help you remember them and you’re able to revise them during exam time. However, there are a few guidelines to ensure your notes are effective, presented below.
Taking a step further and colour-coding your work is proven to improve recall time and can be a “very effective performance factor”.
GUIDELINES / TIPS:
✔ Only jotting down important and relevant key words and ideas
✔ Making your notes easily readable, rewriting messy lecture notes
✔ Using study techniques according to your learning style
✔ Tip: Colour-coding notes
✔ Tip: Quizzing yourself
MY NOTE-TAKING / STUDY TECHNIQUES:
- Colourful “post-it” notes for when I’m reading a textbook, summarizing each page and sticking the notes onto the pages. You also won’t be needing to spend time reading irrelevant information the next time you open your textbook.
(Post-it Notes from Dollarama) - Taking notes + making flashcards by writing important ideas and definitions on index cards, making the key words I want to remember a blank (“________”). The answers to the “blanks” are written on the back of the index card.
⇒ Different coloured index cards for each unit = easier identification of the units at the end of the course
⇒ Very effective as the blanks “force” you to remember, equivalent to quizzing yourself
⇒ Study-on-the-go.(Studio Media Index Cards from Dollarama) - Using fine ink, colourful pens
(Staedtler Triplus Fineliner from Staples)
Prepare For Your Exams Everyday
“It’s the little things that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” -John Wooden
Preparing for your exams shouldn’t be defined by the last-minute cramming students tend to do two weeks before an exam. Rather, an excellent student would choose to put a bit of effort in and study everyday. The student therefore would be likely to understand the information so well that they aren’t needing to “re-learn” it before exams. Yes, be that student!
If you do the above with consistency, it will likely lead to good study habits and trust me, study habits are skills that’ll prove extremely helpful for a good chunk of your lifetime, should you choose to pursue post-secondary.
TIPS:
- Have an established time and place for your study sessions. Choose a place where you can focus and pay undivided attention; for some it’s a library and for others it’s their own bedroom.
- Try using apps to help you guide your study session. For android, I am in love with ClearLock and ClearFocus.
ClearLock “locks” your chosen “distracting apps” for the amount of time you delegate. That means that you won’t be able to access likely your social media apps, until either the time is over or if you choose to reboot your device.
ClearFocus keeps you on track regarding time, from study sessions to breaks and shows you statistics for how many study sessions you’ve completed.
Take Care of Yourself
“Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success.” -Joyce Brothers
Take care of yourself mentally and physically. Don’t stress if you don’t get a mark that you were hoping for, because life doesn’t stop at school and there is always a chance to do better next time.
Drink loads of water, get enough sleep at night; and in general, pamper yourself instead of bully.
What are your tips and tricks for academic success? I’d love to know, please comment below!
Last but not least, please be good to us second semester 🙂
Featured Image: source