The Best Way to Study

Students sometimes ask ‘what is the best way to study?’. The
answer, there is no best way.


An important lesson for students to learn is that everyone learns
in different ways, everyone has different approaches and
preferences, and what works well for one person may not work well
for another. This truth applies to all aspects of effective
learning – time management, research skills, writing skills and
so on. There are certainly good techniques and strategies
available in all of these areas, and also approaches that work
well for the majority of students. However it is essential that
all students try different techniques to see what works best for
them.


Preferences could also change over time, so it makes sense to at
least once a year stop and reflect on approaches to schoolwork.
What did you do, what worked, what didn’t, what should you
change, what should you keep, and what new things could you try.
This is what ‘metacognition’ is all about. It means taking the
time to try and understand more about the process of learning and
your role as a learner. Students who take a metacognitive
approach to their learning are much more likely to improve their
results. How can you find out different study techniques to try?
Talk to the people around you – friends, siblings, parents – ask
them what techniques they have used. Also ask your teachers what
they would recommend for their subject.


You can also visit the unit on the Study Skills Handbook that
covers how to study for tests and exams. Just remember – there is
a worst way to study – just reading your notes over and over and
hoping the information stays in your head!


You can learn more and find lots of new study techniques to try
at www.studysamurai.com