10 Study Hacks I Actually Use

Throughout high school and college, I struggled to find study habits that worked for me. I always felt myself floundering when it came to exam time, but eventually, I learned a few tricks that helped me improve my grades and actually enjoy studying (some of the time)!

1. Do the easy stuff first. Another way to phrase this is you should prioritize everything with a definite end. Say you have a worksheet, a lab report, and a test, all due tomorrow. You should get the worksheet and lab report done before studying for the test. This allows you to spend the rest of the day studying for the test without worrying about your other assignments.
2. Immediate reward for studying. I like to buy a coffee or make a smoothie before studying so I have something to sip on while I study. If you like snacking, you can let yourself eat as soon as you accomplish something, so that you feel like you’re working toward something you like. The key is to make the reward immediate, so that you feel motivated when you are working toward your goal.
3. Use an assignment tracker that works for you. This took me a long time to figure out. I used a physical planner throughout high school to keep track of assignments, but when I got to college, I realized that using Apple’s Calendar app was a lot more beneficial because I could move assignments to a different day with ease. Some people prefer the physical planner because writing it down feels like a commitment, while others use a “get-things-done” app, like Things 3 or Todoist. Find what works for you and stick with it.
4. Vary your study location. Working at a different location such as a coffee shop or a library can improve productivity by altering your surroundings and stimuli. By making studying a trip, you make the only goal of the trip to study. Also, studying in a location where others are productive also makes you more productive.
5. When in doubt, print it out. If you have a math worksheet that’s in digital form and you’re thinking about printing it out instead of doing it on a separate sheet of paper, that’s the right choice! If you’re considering printing something, just do it. Our eyes process text better on paper than on a screen, so having a physical copy reduces mistakes.
6. Study solo, or with a reliable study buddy. A lot of students will study with a group of friends, and while it’s not a bad idea for socializing, it usually isn’t a productive idea. I always recommend studying by yourself or with someone you know won’t distract you to limit interruptions while studying.
7. Put studying in your calendar. You should block out time in your schedule to study. By putting it down as something that is scheduled, you know what time you should be doing your work, and discourages you from doing something else.
8. Pay attention to your desk and chair preferences. I prefer firm chairs and a flat, rectangular or square table as my desk, while some people will like soft chairs and a round table. It’s really up to you to get a feel for what preferences you have. Having the most ideal setting to study will maximize the amount of work you get done.
9. Plan to study for longer periods of time. If you’re studying 2 hours a day, and not happy with how you’re doing, try doubling it to 4 hours a day. You’d be amazed how studying for just longer, even if you take longer breaks, can bring results.
10. Assessments that are worth most should be your focus. If in math class tests are worth the most, focus on studying for tests. If in your history class, the essays are worth the most, focus on writing quality essays. I often made mistake of spending hours on projects that were only worth 2.5% of my final grade, and it was nothing compared to tests that were worth 20% of my grade. Working on improving on the assessments that have the biggest impact on the overall grade is crucial to getting that desired ‘A’ at the end of the year.

These 10 tips truly helped me go from a struggling student to a stellar one in both high school and college, and hopefully they can help you too!