15 Ways to Study Alone (and with Partners)

(Reminder: We already have posts on general studying tips and preparing for tests in particular! We also have a post on how to get organized.)

As we gradually prepare for midterm exams (and final exams later in the year), many students will choose to begin studying soon. However, the reality is that most students learn and study differently, so the exact action steps to take will vary by BOTH the student and the content area.

Below is a list of suggested action steps to take in the coming weeks. (Students: You may need to try several of them to find the best combination of study methods for you!)

Ways to Study Alone

1. Reread old notes, worksheets, and tests/quizzes. Don’t just skim them or assume that you remember a section; reread all of it at least once, pretending it’s for the first time.
2. Print a new copy of notes or a test and retake it. If you don’t have a digital copy already, you can either make a replica in a Google Doc or ask the teacher for another copy.
3. Use the different study modes on Quizlet. Use either a teacher-made set, or make your own. Then use one of the four traditional study games (called Flashcard, Learn, Spell, and Test) or one of the individual games (Match and Gravity).
4. ...Or make your own paper flash cards (or foldables). Some studies suggest that writing by hand is more beneficial to long-term memory, so don’t hesitate to get out index cards and make a paper deck of facts!
5. Rewrite notes or facts into a Google Slides presentation. Some students treat Google Slides as unofficial flash cards, and others just benefit from having digital notes that they can “flip” through.
6. Rewrite notes or facts by hand. Just like in #4, some students benefit from recopying notes

Ways to Study in Partners

1. At home, hand your notes to parents or siblings and ask them to quiz you. Ask them to not only quiz you on vocabulary, but have you also explain why.
2. At school, ask teachers if you can study in homeroom, in class, or during intervention class (INT).
3. Use personal electronics to study with a friend long-distance. Remember that school Chromebooks must only be used for academics, so Facetime or Skype should happen on a personal cell phone or home computer.
4. Meet at the library or someone’s house. Make sure this time is FOCUSED and not just social!
5. Get an appointment with a teacher. As long as we don’t already have a meeting scheduled, teachers are happy to meet with students before school (from 7:20-7:45am) or after school (3:00 until either 3:30 or 4:00pm).

Bonus Tips for All Subject Areas

1. Don’t forget to take stretch breaks. Your body and brain are carefully linked, so keeping your body awake and energized is important. Depending on how you learn, you may need to take a short walk every 20-45 minutes.
2. Write a practice short answer/extended response. If you know that there will be a short answer, extended response, or “ACED”-style structured response, why not practice writing one? Then, you could show it to a teacher and get early feedback.
3. Hydrate and eat brain snacks. Try different flavors (sweet, salty) and different textures (crunchy) to help stimulate your brain while studying.
4. Develop a regular sleep pattern if you do not already have one. Consistently going to bed early enough will help you to be ready for early morning exams.

Thank you for reading!