Study Techniques to Get You Straight As

Life during the pandemic has been an emotional rollercoaster for everyone, including students. It can be so hard to keep up with assignment due dates or remain focused while studying for upcoming exams. It seems a little unfair to think that we’ve been forced into independent studying but have received no guidance on how to study independently. As a grade 10, straight A-a student, I have compiled a list of study techniques that have helped me ace online school. These few simple strategies have made my academic year during quarantine a little easier, and I strongly believe they can help you too! Do you want to see As on your report card? Well, then what are you waiting for? Read on! 

During quarantine, one of the most important attributes that I developed was discipline. Motivation just doesn’t last; this was something I realized through my journey. For example, have you ever stayed up late at night studying and have a sudden urge to get your life together? Then you wake up the next morning and completely forget about it. This is why I always say, “motivation doesn’t last but discipline does.” To develop discipline, the very first step is to establish a good routine. When I was attempting to be more disciplined, I wrote down my morning and night routine and followed it religiously. Once you develop a good routine, you have more space for things like time management and organization. All of a sudden, you know where you kept that textbook or you remember when the next exam is. Discipline forms the base of a successful academic year and while it’s not easy to develop, it’s still possible. I got there, and so can you! 

After developing a disciplined lifestyle, I realized I now had more time to study; however, I still didn’t know how to study efficiently or without getting distracted. I tried turning my phone off, putting my phone in another room, time-lapsing myself studying, but nothing worked! Then I heard about this technique called The Pomodoro Technique which is a time-management method developed by Francesco Cirillo back in the 1980s. Now I know what you’re thinking, there’s no way such an old method will be effective now! However, I promise you it’s a real game-changer. The technique involves setting a timer for 25 minutes during which you do your work in a very focused manner. Once the 25 minutes are up, you’re allowed a 5-minute break so your brain can rest. Then you repeat this cycle four times before taking a 15-minute break. This technique has helped me immensely during my exam periods where I’ve had to study for up to 5 hours.

If you still find that you can’t focus, I recommend using LifeAt to study. LifeAt is a website with a built-in Pomodoro Timer and it also lets you choose your virtual workspace along with background music that helps you concentrate. Here’s a link if you’d like to check it out: https://lifeat.io/

After using these two strategies, I really felt good about independent studying. However, I realized I was feeling overwhelmed. I would study for hours and be well prepared but still be afraid of doing badly on a major exam or test. This is when I realized that I needed to take on a more relaxed approach to studying. I decided to search for some guided meditations online and I thought it was worth a shot. Once I developed a routine of meditating every day, I realized that not only was I able to focus more on my studies, but I also felt very peaceful. It’s like that feeling when you know you’re getting your life together and there’s no going back. To me, it felt amazing. Thanks to a calmer mind, I was able to retain more information and do even better on assignments. I also no longer dreaded my two hour lectures since I learned to be more positive. I would definitely recommend that you try meditating or at least moving around a bit (going on a walk, exercising) since it really does impact your education through improving your mental well-being. 

After taking a more relaxing approach to study, I could now attempt study techniques that required more focus and skill. I began by reading the course material thoroughly. I would read one sentence and then close my eyes and explain it to myself in my own words. This strategy helped me to understand what I was reading. Next, I would go over the course material again but this time I would take notes. Effective notetaking can be difficult but by making brief, bullet-pointed notes, I made functional study guides. However, this wasn’t enough! I still didn’t feel 100% certain that I knew everything to the best of my capability, so I made flashcards to help me test myself. Testing yourself is one of the most important study techniques to know especially if you’re a high school or university student. A lot of students often don’t get the time to make flashcards but don’t worry… I got just what you need! Quizlet is an amazing website/app that lets you make, as well as discover, flashcards in any subject area. Through my first year of high school, Quizlet was a lifesaver and I hope it helps you too! 

After doing all four of the strategies I listed above, I was feeling pretty confident in myself. The meditation also kept me calm which is a crucial state of mind if you want to do well on exams. The final study technique I would recommend is to do your research. It’s easier than you think to find extra study material on a particular topic, and it helps you gain relevant information to get those straight As on your report card. Extra research doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours watching informative videos or reading long articles. It could just mean asking more questions in class after all your teachers are there to help! They are experts on the subject and can be so beneficial to you. Another source could be your parents or perhaps even siblings who have studied the subject area in the past. Use the resources close to you! If you’re still feeling stressed, don’t be afraid to ask for extensions on assignments. Teachers understand that quarantine hasn’t been easy for us students and in the end, they want you to do well in your classes! 

It’s been almost one year since I’ve had to study independently, and I know for a fact that it hasn’t been easy. However, I believe that by incorporating these strategies into your study routine, you can truly use independent studying as an advantage! I know for a fact that these study techniques definitely helped me, and I hope they’ll help you too. After all, it would be nice to get some As on your report card after such a tough year!