A University Student’s Study Guide to Maintaining a Balanced Life
(Or at least a somewhat balanced life)

I’m sure you have heard of the typical study tips, don’t procrastinate, ask questions, get enough sleep but how can we do that in a world that is extremely fast paced and schools sucking our souls out.

While there is obvious value, truth and science behind these effective study tips, the reality is a student cannot do this without sacrificing something else.
For example, how can we get more sleep but also get in 50 hours of studying all the while maintaining a social life!?

Clustering: The Science-Backed Method of Information Simplification
As an undergraduate student pursuing a career in cognitive neuroscience, I have been faced with overwhelming amounts of complex information throughout my studies. Taking courses mainly in psychology, biology, and statistics, I’ve had to navigate through piles of notes containing countless words I dare not try to pronounce. Forced with the task of organizing, memorizing, and connecting those words with each other – as well as with larger theories and concepts – it didn’t take me long to discover that simply ‘winging it’ or pulling an all-nighter won’t help come test day. Even the basic study skills that worked so well for me in high school are not enough to carry me through even a passing grade in these courses. I’ve had to come up with a study strategy that is quick and simple – yet effective! – in order to guarantee long-term understanding and an exceptional GPA.

How To Become a Memorization Master
As a high school student, it is nearly impossible to succeed without having the crucial skill of memorization. Most tests require students to retain and regurgitate information, but a large majority of people get intimidated by the sheer amount of information that has to be memorized in a short time frame. Well never fear, as after reading this short guide to mastering the art of memorization, you will be acing those tests in no time.

How to Memorize Anything

While attending high school I’ve learnt multiple life lessons, do not leave projects until the last minute, do not forget to take notes, try to decide what path you can see yourself going down in the future, but yet also enjoy the four years of high school because they go by fast. High School is hard for adolescents because it is necessary to develop balancing skills, for example, part time jobs, homework, a social life, as well as spending time with family. Sometimes it can be overwhelming/ mentally exhausting to complete tasks, study for tests, yet attend the high school semi-formal all in the same week. It sometimes feels impossible. It is important to ensure that you take care of yourself and your mental health before everything else. This complete test preparation outlines 5 basic necessities to take in account for the well being of mental health, as school is a lot easier to take on test and projects if the feeling of being overwhelmed is taken care of.

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Use Your Daily Routine to Study

One of the main concerns students have: not having enough time in a day to complete  everything they need to. Students do not realize that they have several breaks in their day that 

they can use more effectively. They also do not realize how much time they spend playing “the  waiting game”: waiting in line or waiting for something else to be finished before they will 

resume studying. By using these “breaks” more effectively, they can give themselves real  breaks and still have time for social life and sleep. 

Repetition

When it comes to studying and preparing for exams, tests and quizzes, I have developed not one but several strategies and methods which work best for me and my learning style. I understand not everybody has the same tactics and approaches, however, the ones that have worked for me have equated to success and achievement.  Read more

Spaced Repetition – the not secret method

Spaced repetition is a preparation method where students review information over several days to better retain what they studied. When students introduce time intervals between the days they study, students remember more, even if they spend fewer hours studying. Whether it be learning a new physics equation, memorizing medical terminology, or learning a new language, spaced repetition involves repeating what you learned.

Just when you thought Monday mornings could not get any worse, your teacher announces a test. Whether you’ve been keeping up with course material or not, panic ensues. Well, it’s time to put that panic away, sit back, and learn a thing or two from one of the best cinematic series of all time, The Lord of the Rings.

What Lord of the Rings taught me about Studying

 Last May, I was finishing up my International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. I had to take five (5) exams during that month. Each exam was multiple hours long. There was a lot of content.

Did I do well? Sure. I got 41/45 on my IB diploma, 11 points above the international average.

Did I do a bunch of things that I probably shouldn’t have done?

yes.

Here is a list of things that I did to study that you should NOT do. 

Studying on your computer?  Make Technology your Friend

This strategy involved a five-day plan up until the test-date, and on the word of my friend, it is guaranteed to make sure that any student can see rapid progress in their academic preparations.

5-day study plan to prepare for a test 

Doing well on exams may not be enough anymore. You need to graduate with marks that wow, dazzle and sparkle. Standardized testing is currently how comparisons are made among schools and between students. As a student you are in control of yourself and how well you can do on an exam.

Mindfulness is having your mind “full” of the present moment. In other words being present in the moment and fully attending to what you are doing by using your senses. Here is a list of mindfulness studying techniques to assist you in feeling confident and prepared for your examinations.  Read More

I did need to up my study game though after the advice of an instructor noted that per each hour of class time there should be three hours of review. This sent sirens through my mind of the dusty library image but that is not what my year looked like. I am not a crammer, so following this idea of continuous review was so helpful and I made a class-to-test study guide with four sections that very much made my life easier, and not dusty.  3-step method to up your study game.

Now that you’ve done your preparation, step one is complete. For step two, I will try to teach you a little bit about the nervous system and what it has to do with studying.  Read more

Warning: the information below is not for the faint of heart. Please consult a physician if you experience such symptoms as sleep deprivation, starvation, or brain overload.

How NOT to study

Brocolli or Blueberries?   Find out the best foods for studying! 

My test preparation method starts with a lot of fun repetition and ends with an ’A’. All of the steps I take have their own rationalization, they do not require a specific amount of time, just ensure that the required material is covered. For the sake of clarification I am going to stay with the same topic; different types of volcanoes!
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Are you someone who wants top grades but cannot seem to stop procrastinating? As someone who, unfortunately, understands this statement all too well, I have developed a method for
studying that I think will help you.  Learn more

Being able to get good grades is a lot like baking a cake; it requires a plan and skills, and self-discipline (to not eat the batter). What I didn’t realize back in Grade 11, was how ill-prepared I was with my study skills. It wasn’t until my math midterm mark came out that I realized something had to change. In this ‘recipe’, I’m going to show you the ingredients I used to improve my grades, and dish out my two secret tricks at the end.   Read More

As a student-athlete who plays 4 competitive sports throughout the year, I have learned many valuable strategies to hone my craft in varying settings. Although each of the sports is different, I can still use my template for success as a guideline. Then I discovered that if I simply apply these strategies to studying, I can get A’s like I get gold medals. The only difference is that I’m strengthening my brain muscles instead of the ones in the rest of my body. Now, I am not only a student-athlete, but a ‘Study-Athlete’. Next I will break down the 6 vital ‘Study-Athlete’ steps to success.

Get headaches? Frazzled?   How to study and keep your mental health

Complete Guide to Learning Styles

Find your Learning Style – Quiz

Over the years that I have been in school, I have realized that studying is like an art. Truly effective studying takes practice, commitment and a willingness to change what you are used to. There is no “one-size-fits-all”, but with a little experimentation, anyone can find the perfect method for themselves. A great studying strategy requires a combination of efforts that will be different for every individual. But the universal key that most of us do not know or utilize, is that you must study with all of your senses. Yes you read right, all of your senses, and I will tell you why.  Read More >>>

Say it Out Loud

My best study method might not be the most common way to conventional studying. I don’t go to the library and bury myself in books or cram the night before the exam. Instead, I talk to myself. That may seem weird or a bit like a sign of mental distress, but I promise it works wonders. Talking out loud can help with memory retention, summarizing information and making connections with the test material.

Anatomy and physiology! These are probably some of the most complex materials out there. Let’s face it – it can be difficult and sometimes “it just sucks to learn this stuff”. However, there are lots of ways to make your biology study life more entertaining and a lot less painful. As a fourth year Kinesiology major, I’ve had lots of experience studying for anatomy and physiology tests. Here are some of the most unique and fun ways I’ve found to improve my studying – and they are also ways to keep me motivated and interested in the material.

How to Study Anatomy and Physiology

Grades on Fleek in One Week: A College Student’s Study Guide

Grades on Fleek in a Week

During my first year of college, a professor told me that preparing for a test should consist of at least 12 hours of review. I was shocked by his suggestion because I thought I spent a reasonable amount of time studying and had some A grades to show for it.

However, I began to change my study habits and found the results were noticeable. The time I use to spend preparing for a test had doubled and my average increased by six per cent. Now, I am grateful for his advice and follow a seven-day study method that has greatly improved my test scores.

Since the start of school, I have always struggled with test taking. There has always been anxiety and fear that comes with taking and preparing for tests. As I have become more experienced in taking tests I have learned the best ways to succeed and ultimately maintain a GPA that I am proud of. My test preparation method has also helped relieve anxiety because now I am more confident going into exams.

Today, many university students are using the wrong methods to study for their exams. Re-reading the textbook and re-reading notes is a default for most students. However, from what I have experienced this is not the best use of time. I find that combining reading in the form of flash cards helps me learn the concepts over a longer period and reduces my fear of blanking out on an exam. Using flashcards coupled with writing down what I remember and listening to myself on a recording device combines both auditory and visual learning.  Read More >>>

My Study Prep Method: Laughing Your Way Through Finals – 2019-2020 Scholarship Winning Essay 

Everyone says laughter is the best medicine; however, nobody ever says laughter is the best study method. I’m here to tell you that it is. While studying psychology at the University of Saskatchewan, I tried many different study methods. Even though I found many tiny tricks that work, like putting your phone in the other room, or having a timer set to motivate you to focus, the biggest, most effective trick I found was using humor to study. To illustrate why this effective, I present you with two different scenarios:

There are countless different study habits and learning styles: some people spend hours in the library reading over notes, others create flashcards on their phone, others drink seven energy drinks and stay up all night. Some study habits are better (and healthier) than others, but in the end there are still a lot of options, and it can be hard to find the method that is right for you.

One common denominator between a lot of study advice, is that taking scheduled breaks can help keep your non-breaktime on track. Planning to take a break every 40 minutes, for 10 minutes, or for 20 minutes every hour, whatever works best for you, can help keep you focused in between. It gives you something to look forward to, and because your breaks are more frequent, you’ll be less tempted to “accidentally” let them turn into an hour of procrastination.

But there is a way to take those breaks to the next level, both in terms of their usefulness and their fun (because why shouldn’t studying be a bit of fun?).

When it comes to studying there’s a lot of tips and tricks to get ahead. Anything from drinking water or chewing gum during a test to study groups and flow charts. While those may help, my preferred study method is Quizlet. It’s gotten me through college with near perfect grades and it’s saved me a ton of time but it’s not just your old school flashcards.

If you never went to class, would you still have to pay for university? You might just end up paying double to take all those classes again. Being in class means that you don’t miss the little notes and expressions from the professor that allude to test material. Some teachers make it more obvious than others, but just about every professor gives tips and hints you’d miss otherwise. Plus, learning with other students in class means finding study buddies, asking questions, and possibly even getting interested (what?!).     More >>>

I discovered my passion for long-distance running. It became a coping mechanism (a healthy one, at that!) – and helped me to unlock the key to my academic success. I present to you the ultimate test preparation method specifically designed for athletically-inclined individuals.

Test Preparation Tips for the Athletically Inclined!

Who needs to use an agenda to organize their time? Who needs it to list all their assignments? It’s much easier to forget about all the assignments that pile up over the semester. When the due date comes, you can always shake your fists in frustration for being so disorganized.

Also, it’s too hard to pack a tiny agenda into your backpack – it’s not worth having an extra book to track your assignments.

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