Anushiya's guide to studying efficiently
7 April 2022
Hi everyone, my name’s Anushiya and I’m a final year Law and Psychology student here at Macquarie!
Ever wanted to study less and also get good grades at the same time? You’re in luck! Studying less and achieving great results are not mutually exclusive. Here are 3 ways you can beat procrastination and study smarter, not harder!
Identify your style of learning
We are all different types of learners. Some of us prefer information to be presented in an audio or visual format, whilst others may enjoy reading written information. Try to leverage your style of learning to maximise your knowledge retention wherever possible. If you’re an audio learner try recording yourself reading your notes aloud and replay them back to yourself. If you’re a visual learner, format your notes as diagram, tables, and graphs, or colour code your written notes to help certain types of information stand out.
Take notes
Instead of cramming in the days (or day) before your exam, ensure you take structured, cohesive notes during your lectures and readings. If you tend to take messy notes during lectures, find time straight after your lectures to revise these notes and write them out neatly in a way that is readable and easy to understand. This will help you have peace of mind as you won’t be wasting time trying to decipher what your notes mean the day before your exam! You might like to convert written notes into diagram, tables or graphs to help you better recall the information. Rewriting your notes will also allow you to quickly identify any gaps in your knowledge and you’ll be able to flag these questions with your tutor during your next tutorial or via your iLearn discussion forum.
Pomodoro technique
The Pomodoro technique is a popular time management method that promotes sustained concentration and staves off mental fatigue, by motivating you to engage in focused study sessions by rewarding you with frequent short breaks.
This technique allows you to complete smaller tasks quickly and helps break down bigger tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks. Follow these three simple steps to get started!
- Pick a task.
- Set the 25-minute timer and work on your task until your timer rings.
- Take a 5-minute break.
Once you’ve completed four focused work sessions, you can reward yourself with a 15-to-30-minute break. Now you’re just a few more study sessions away from completing your essay!