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Get ready for exam season without all the stress!
College exams can feel overwhelming—I’ve definitely had moments where I wanted to cry before, during, and after a test. But the right strategies and tools can make a huge difference. The key is building habits that help you stay focused, retain information, and take care of yourself along the way. In this guide, I’m sharing seven game-changing college study tips and some must-have products to make your study sessions more effective. Let’s get you prepped and ready to crush your exams!
Product Recommendations to Boost Your Study Game
Here are some of my favorite finds that can make your study sessions better:
- LED Desk Lamp – Provides optimal lighting for long study sessions, reducing eye strain.
- Rocketbook Core Smart Notebook – A reusable notebook that digitizes your notes for easy access and storage.
- Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling Headphones – Exceptional for maintaining focus in noisy environments.
- Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Bottle – Keeps drinks at the perfect temperature to stay hydrated during long hours.
College Study Tips
1. Create a Dedicated Study Space
Your study space significantly impacts how well you focus and remember your classes. A clean and organized study bubble can make studying more productive. Start by choosing a dedicated spot—a desk in your room, a quiet library nook, or a shared workspace at home.
Here’s what makes an ideal study space:
- Proper Lighting – Bright lighting reduces eye strain and keeps you alert. Natural light is best, but a good LED Desk Lamp works wonders. (I swear by this one from Amazon!)
- Mess-Free Space – A clean, organized desk keeps distractions away. Use a desktop organizer so your pens, notebooks, and essentials are always available. Having a color code system or a strategy for organizing your class notes is also super helpful!
2. Create a Study Schedule
I’m going to tell you right now that cramming will get you nowhere. You may get lucky doing it for a quiz, but it will only make you more stressed in the long term.
To make a solid study schedule:
- Set Clear Goals: Divide your study material into manageable sections. Assign specific topics or chapters to each session.
- Prioritize Difficult Subjects: Tackle challenging subjects during peak productivity hours, often mid-morning or early evening for most people.
- Use Time-Blocking Techniques: The Pomodoro method—25 minutes of focused study followed by a 5-minute break—is a proven way to balance focusing with productive breaks to avoid burnout.
- Review Sessions: Leave time to review past topics to reinforce learning and ensure you don’t forget previously covered topics.
3. Take Notes Strategically
Note-taking is a skill that can make studying so much easier and more efficient. However, don’t worry if it isn’t your strong suit, as many students struggle with it. Instead of writing down what your instructor says word for word, focus on summarizing key concepts, using bullet points, and organizing information in a way that makes sense to you. Besides, you have to review and understand these notes at the end of the day, so make sure your notes work best for you.
Different note-taking techniques include:
- Cornell Method: Divide your page into sections for main points, sub-bullets, and a summary.
- Mind Mapping: Great for visual learners, this method links concepts in a diagram.
- Outlining: A structured approach for organizing information hierarchically.
I’m a fan of the Rocketbook Core Smart Notebook, which allows you to write and upload notes to the cloud. If you don’t like physical notebooks or want to minimize paper use, this is a solid alternative.
4. Use Active Recall and Practice Testing
Active recall is a powerful way to reinforce your memory. Rather than just rereading notes, actively challenge yourself to try and remember and recite/write down key topics before rereading information. Similarly, practicing mock exams is super helpful. I had a few professors who would post sample questions, and 9 times out of 10, one of those questions would be very similar to an actual exam question.
Ways to study:
- Flashcards: Create flashcards. It sounds simple because it is! Apps like Quizlet are perfect for digital flashcards, while physical cards work just as well.
- Past Exams: Review old exams or create mock questions to simulate test conditions.
- Teaching Others: Explaining concepts aloud helps solidify your understanding and identify areas for improvement.
5. Minimize Distractions
In today’s online-based society, distractions significantly challenge effective studying. Removing or muting these disruptions is essential, whether it’s your phone alerting you with notifications or surrounding noise.
- Turn Off Notifications: Use the “Do Not Disturb” feature on your phone or apps like Forest to stay focused.
- Set Boundaries: Inform those around you of your study hours to avoid unnecessary interruptions.
- Noise-Canceling Headphones: Invest in a quality pair like these Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling Headphones to block out background noise.
- Create a Playlist: Instrumental or lo-fi music can help improve concentration without being overly distracting.
6. Prioritize Sleep and Wellness
While studying is important if your body isn’t healthy and 100%, your efforts are not going to mean much. You aren’t going to remember things if you are tired, and are more likely to make silly mistakes you wouldn’t usually make. Similarly, staying hydrated and maintaining a balanced diet supports brain function.
Key wellness tips:
- Sleep: Aim for at least 7–8 hours of rest each night. Avoid caffeine and screens before bedtime, as these can mess with the quality of your sleep.
- Hydration: Keep a water bottle, such as the Hydro Flask, nearby to encourage regular hydration.
- Exercise: To boost circulation and reduce stress, incorporate light physical activity, like stretching or yoga, during study breaks.
7. Form Study Groups Wisely
Collaborating with classmates is a fantastic way to reinforce what you have learned from your classes. However, be careful about studying with your BFF, as I PROMISE you will get distracted. A strong study group encourages discussion, clears confusion, and keeps everyone accountable.
Ways to create successful groups:
- Choose Your People Wisely: Study with individuals who share your goals and commitment to staying on task.
- Set an Agenda: Decide on topics to cover before each session.
- Rotate Leadership: Assign roles like a moderator to keep discussions organized and on track.
Tools like Google Meet make virtual study sessions super easy to schedule, while apps like Notion or Google Docs are great for note-sharing and brainstorming.
Conclusion
I hope these college study tips will help you knock your exams and quizzes out of the park! By having a good study space, a schedule, and effective study methods, you will hopefully see a steady increase in your exam scores and overall study experience. Remember to care for your health and overall well-being, as you can’t test well if your body isn’t well.
Happy Studying!
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