Top 10 lists for study success, according to Lynchburg tutors and PASS Leaders
Time ManagementNote-TakingReadingTest Preparation
Time Management
- Make a weekly or daily to-do list
- Use a calendar or planner
- Get up early to get stuff done
- Reward yourself when tasks are complete
- Schedule your “me” time (so it doesn’t eat up study time)
- Read the syllabus and make plans from it
- Prioritize and schedule what you need to do – be realistic!
- Set aside study/class work hours each day
- Have a spot where all studying takes place
- Make or join a study group
Note-Taking
- Copy professor board notes and check Moodle
- Paraphrase professor’s words
- Take up as much space as needed
- Review your notes every night
- Create your own abbreviations
- Jot down any ideas that the professor repeats
- Notice verbal cues – “Now this is important”
- Highlight your book/class materials
- Write down all examples
- Rewrite your notes after class
Reading
- Read more than once
- Highlight and take notes
- Make margin notes
- Don’t put off reading assignments until the last minute!
- Review after reading
- Keep from dozing off: don’t read right before going to bed, and don’t read in bed
- Read and understand captions and figures
- Make a glossary of terms
- Pace yourself
- Pay attention to key concepts and end of chapter reviews
Test Preparation
- Make flashcards
- Rewrite/re-read your notes; reorganize into categories
- Get help if you need it: use PASS and other learning resources
- Don’t cram!
- Know the test format
- Get all of your questions answered
- Verbalize what you know – tell/teach the material to someone else
- Be caught up on all work for the test
- Identify your problem areas
- Take advantage of extra credit
