Study Skills Tips
General Study-Skill Tips
- Set up a daily time and place to study and learn away from distractions.
- Check your Google calendar and classroom to keep track of homework assignments, tests and projects along with due dates.
- Review your notes and Google classroom materials on a daily basis.
- Study a little bit everyday as if you have a test the next day.
- Always look for new study-skills habits/strategies that may work well for you!
Note-Taking Tips
Good note-taking habits can improve your ability to learn and shorten the time needed to prepare for a test!
- Pay attention during lessons and listen carefully to your teacher.
- Always write down things the teacher:
- Writes on the board or presents on your screen.
- Says are important to remember.
- Repeats multiple times
- Take your notes in outline form and write clearly!
- Always put examples, page numbers or reminders next to your notes.
- Leave room on your paper to expand or add to your notes after class.
- Read over your notes as soon as possible after class.
Textbook Reading Tips
Being able to read for content and take notes out of your textbook will allow for you to better understand big ideas and the vocabulary of the unit you are studying.
- Get the “Big Picture” first. This means glancing through the chapter headings and subheadings.
- Skim pages if you are looking for a general idea.
- Read slowly if you are looking for details.
- Read the summary paragraphs at the end of each section or chapter to get the general idea.
- Use the SQ3R system (this system is best used over a period of a few days):
- Skim: Skim the chapter before reading it. Be sure to pay attention to all pictures, charts, and diagrams.
- Question: After skimming the chapter, write down two or three questions about the chapter or section.
- Read: Read the chapter carefully while taking outline notes of what you are reading.
- Review: Review your notes and use them to answer the questions you developed after you skimmed the chapter (“b” above).
- Recite: Quiz yourself over the main concepts of the chapter.
Test-Taking Tips
Using these tips will help you be more confident when taking your test and will help alleviate symptoms of test anxiety.
- Before the test:
- Have several study sessions prior to the test day.
- Do not cram the night before!
- Anticipate/predict test questions. Creating a practice test can help with this.
- Complete review sheets and ask your teacher if there is something you do not understand.
- Review all notes, outlines, note cards, quizzes and/or review sheets for the current test materials.
- During the test:
- Relax and breathe.
- Look over the entire test first if possible.
- Manage your time so that you are able to complete all sections.
- Read all instructions very carefully.
- Answer the questions you are familiar with first.
- Circle or mark questions you don’t know; go back and answer them last.
- Review all your answers before turning in your test.
- After the test:
- Read any comments made by your teacher.
- Correct any wrong answers so you can use the test as a way to learn more about a subject…AND to study for finals.
- Talk with your teacher if you have any questions or need clarification.