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This article on study skills is designed to help you improve your learning and understanding, and ultimately your grades. Everyone is different, and for some students, studying and being motivated to learn comes naturally. If you are reading this page, it's likely that you are not one of them, but don't despair, there is hope!
The basic element of good study skill, is knowing the requirement for the course you are taking. Pay special attention to the syllabus. Keep your syllabus for the entire semester, making special marks when you finish an assignment. The syllabus will include the instructor's policies on absences, class assignments, grading, and other important information.
Efficient Use of Time
The most important thing to survival and success in the classroom, is efficient use of your time outside the classroom. Remember, there are only 24 hours in a day. Set aside two to three hours each day for studying. This will leave you with five to six hours, after we subtract time for our classes, meals, and a good night's sleep, to do those things that we like to do much more than studying. Periodic review and beginning to study for your exams early will save you time in the long run and it will prevent cramming. That way you can be well rested and more motivated and less anxious on test day.
The key is time management. Learning to budget your time will give you more time for frequent reviewing so that less time is spent cramming. A weekly planner, a Berea College planner, or an ordinary calendar can help you plan ahead. Write down day by day what is due. Then you can look and see if you really need to spend your Saturday night writing that paper that was due the preceding Friday! A planner is also a good friend to have when an instructor assigns a research paper on the first day of class, but it isn't due until the final week of class.
Remember, everyone on this planet has the SAME amount of time. It is those efficiently use their time that will succeed.