10 Tips to Study Smart and Save Time

Meritnation|Oct 7th, 2015 07:17pm

We all know that one student in the class who will say ‘I hurriedly went through the chapter last night’ just before the exam and will top the class. Does this sound like your classmate? Is this natural talent? Do they have a knack for understanding concepts, information or learning new ideas easily? What makes it easy for them to learn so quickly? Are they hiding a huge secret in their Pandora’s box? Let’s open it! 🙂

 Construct your Understanding

learning strategies

Learning is a process similar to playing with Lego blocks to build a house. Nobody will tell you where to put the blocks or feed you with the complete picture of the house that YOU want to build, because it’ll be your own creation. Similarly you have to devise your own way to LEARN and BUILD an understanding to gain the knowledge.

Listening to the teacher in the class, reading books and taking notes are the key ‘building blocks’ in this process of learning. Let’s add online class, live video classes, online tests to this list of ‘building blocks’. Most of these learning strategies fall into two categories:

1. Memorization : Instead of creating your Lego house with the ‘building blocks’ you spend time at looking at them for long duration to record its position on the building board aka your brain.
2. Formulas : This is similar to finding an interesting shaped ‘building block’ but you have no working idea of how to use it. You stumble upon these blocks but you eventually find out a way to use this block.

 

Tips to Study SmartLearning in a holistic manner is the alternative strategy to actually use these ‘building blocks’. The idea is to link concepts together and compress information so it fits the bigger picture. Below are some tips to give you a head start on your journey to study smart:

 

1. Use of Metaphors: Metaphors allow you to quickly link information by comparing a complex idea to a simple one. Create your own easy analogies and you’ll be surprised how much you have retained while studying. For example, make metaphors comparing parts of a brain with sections of the computer.

2. Put your senses to work: Using vivid pictures, sound and touch that relate to the information can help you trigger your brain to pick when you want to retrieve it.

3. Leave no islands: Read every single portion of your textbook. Leaving islands or parts of a chapter can cost you during the test. Who would’ve thought reading the little extra information provided in the boxes can actually be helpful while writing the exam.

4. Teach it to others: Find someone who has difficulty in understanding a topic and teach it to them. This exercise will force you to organise your skill to answer and explaining the concept can be a huge benefit for you.

5. Test your flexibility: If you’re having a tough time understanding concepts, try linking them by referencing one idea to help explain another.

6. Look for patterns: Find patterns in information while reading. Information becomes easier to organize if you can identify broader patterns that are similar across different topics.

7. Use innovative resources: Watching videos, attending live classes, online paper solving, speed tests, etc. can do wonders while learning a boring subject.

8. Don’t force: Studying too much right before the exam can actually be harmful. Forcing information during the last few days is inefficient. Interlinking concepts and parts can be help you to have a quick recap.

9. Create learning models: Making mental pictures and referencing is the key here. Using mind maps, flashcards, diagrams and charts work very efficiently while studying.

10. Learning is in your head: All of these models and tips will be of waste if you have no interest in the subject. Your only goal is to understand the information so it will stick with you for assignments, tests and life. Use notes and books as a medium for learning rather than an end result of your exams alone.

Please take a moment to spread these tips with your friends. After all, Knowledge is the only thing that grows when shared! 🙂

 

Very Important Resources for Exams

> 5 Common Exam Mistakes Students Make

 

> 3 Ways to Pack More Punch Into Your Exam Revisions

 

> Want to Remember EVERYTHING that you Study? Know How the Brain Works!

 

Other Important Resources:

Class 10 Board Paper Solutions Class 12 Board Paper Solutions
Class 10 Study Material Class 12 Study Material
Class 10 Study Videos Class 12 Study Videos
Class 10 NCERT Solutions Class 12 NCERT Solutions
Class 10 Test Series Class 12 Test Series
Class 10 Revision Notes Class 12 Revision Notes

 

Add Comment Total Comments (125)

  • 1. Samarth adalja  |  March 21st, 2019 at 5:51 pm

    This tricks are very good.By studying this tips now i am able to know how to prepare for exams

  • 2. Parth  |  February 8th, 2019 at 2:36 am

    I like Meritnation Because there are videos and tests and so many things for way to learn .

  • 3. Bismeet kaur  |  April 19th, 2017 at 2:50 pm

    meritnation is the best

  • 4. mounika  |  April 12th, 2017 at 3:54 pm

    thank u for keeping a nice information

  • 5. k v rao  |  April 3rd, 2017 at 11:23 pm

    I am greatful after listening and following your tips it was really very helpful . thank you

  • 6. Meritnation  |  April 3rd, 2017 at 11:49 am

    Hi Riya,

    Read our latest article on “5 Things Every Student Should Do After Exams” right here! Click HERE to read.

    Have fun!

  • 7. Risha Ayeman  |  April 1st, 2017 at 11:26 am

    What to do in holidays?

  • 8. Neelesh Kumar  |  March 20th, 2017 at 3:57 pm

    How to learn a topic and daily routine

  • 9. Meritnation  |  February 26th, 2017 at 1:29 pm

    Hi Aaradhaya,

    All the Best for your exams! 🙂

    Team Meritnation

  • 10. Aaradhaya Sharma  |  February 25th, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    Thanku soo much it really help me in my board exams it give me confiedence that i will do the exams well.

  • 11. Meritnation  |  February 23rd, 2017 at 1:29 pm

    Hi Anirudha,

    All the Best for all your exams! 🙂

    Team Meritnation

  • 12. anirudha maheshwari  |  February 23rd, 2017 at 1:20 am

    thank you so much for such amazing tips.. after following these tips i am fully confident for my boards and also for jee papers…

  • 13. Adarsh  |  October 31st, 2016 at 7:27 pm

    Thanks for giving such a very important and useful information
    We all love you Meritnation

  • 14. vinit rawani  |  September 20th, 2016 at 11:54 am

    it is nice

  • 15. Rushil  |  June 30th, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    Wonderful and amazing tips. Helped me for my exam. Thanks a lot Meritnation

  • 16. Triveni Bondre  |  June 26th, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    wonderful tips i really thank u to meritnation

  • 17. Meritnation  |  June 14th, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    Hi Nidhi!

    Thank you for your kind words. Stay glued for more awesome articles just like this one. 🙂

    Team Meritnation

  • 18. Nidhi Baghel  |  June 7th, 2016 at 9:00 am

    Amazing tips. I loved it. These tips are very very useful for not only the exams but even for the whole life, too.
    Thanx a lot.

  • 19. shreya  |  May 23rd, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    good tips

  • 20. Meritnation  |  May 3rd, 2016 at 4:18 pm

    Hi Esther,

    Thank you so much for your positive response. Stay glued for more such awesome articles. 🙂

    Team Meritnation

  • 21. Esther Maria Sabu  |  May 3rd, 2016 at 2:45 pm

    Glad to know that you Meritnation team would not only help us with our subjects but also with our problems with exams and studies. Thanks for your these valuable tips. and I would make sure that I would utilize these during my studies and also make my friends aware of this awesome website. Three cheers for Meritnation!!!!

  • 22. sowmya  |  March 23rd, 2016 at 1:12 pm

    tnqw so much for these tips they will definitely help me nd my friends

  • 23. zara  |  March 6th, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    but what if i have no interest in the subject ??
    like i fall asleep on chemistry book evrytime because i hate my teacher. he doesn’t know how to teach and has made my year miserable..
    so what shud i doo..??
    im not able to even concentrate for more than 15 minutes 🙁
    T_T
    help.

  • 24. Meritnation  |  February 26th, 2016 at 11:00 am

    Hi Sourav,

    You are a great friend! 🙂 We are glad that these tips were useful to you. Stay glued for more such tips and tricks to score better with us.
    All the Best for your exams!

    Team Meritnation

  • 25. Sourav  |  February 25th, 2016 at 8:57 pm

    One of my friend study full night but still he can’t get good marks..The reason is he forced himself a lot….now I tell him the reason…

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