Study tips to help you work smarter, not harder

New Year’s resolutions: when people make promises to themselves to eat healthier, try to have a more positive outlook on life and start hitting the gym more often. Yet one of the many resolutions that no one dares to talk about is the famous resolution to work and study harder for the upcoming AP Exams. To help lessen some stress during this time, here are some study tips to reduce the pressure  and, hopefully, improve your grade.

One of the best things to do when studying is to highlight, but many people don’t know how to do it properly. Highlighting is meant for taking note of key words, yet many students highlight everything because they think everything is important. To get the best results, highlight the major ideas of each paragraph, or highlight key words and terms for the chapter or lesson.

Another tip is to rewrite important information from notes, textbooks, and lessons. To do this, students can make flashcards, organize Quizlet sets, or even simply rewrite their notes. Studies show that rewriting notes or major points can help you memorize them.

Studying in groups can also be one of the best pieces of advice for cramming a last minute study session. Having friends and classmates around can promote sharing different perspectives on the class’s notes and ideas while also having a little bit of fun. Go to a cafe, lounge, or even a library and study together as a group.

One last tip is to take breaks as often as needed. The mind can always add extra pressure and stress, even when confidence is there. Take small breaks to go for a walk, listen to music, read, go for a drive, or even to go get a quick snack. Just relax, and make time to chill while also making time to fully concentrate.

Personally, I have found these tips to be very useful when studying for important assessments. Highlighting is imperative for every set of notes I take and I also like to rewrite important information on my own papers. Rewriting always seems to help me remember the facts that are most important. Many of these tips have impacted my life and helped me become more confident when taking exams.