Study Habits of Successful Students: What Works and What Doesn’t

As a student, it’s important to develop good study habits to achieve academic success. However, not all study habits are equally effective. Some strategies can actually hinder your learning progress, while others can improve your performance in the classroom. In this article, we will explore some study habits of successful students and provide tips for avoiding common pitfalls.

What Doesn’t Work

1. Cramming: Many students try to cram all of their studying into one night or even a few hours before an exam. This approach is often ineffective because it doesn’t allow your brain enough time to process and retain the information.
2. Multitasking: Trying to study while also watching TV, checking social media, or engaging in other distractions can decrease your ability to concentrate and retain information.
3. Highlighting Everything: Highlighting can be a helpful way to identify important information, but if you’re highlighting every sentence or paragraph, you’re not actually filtering out the most important material.
4. Rereading: Rereading the same material over and over again can be a waste of time, especially if you’re not actively engaging with the material in some way.

What Works

1. Setting Goals: Setting clear, specific goals can help you stay focused and motivated. This can include creating a study schedule, setting deadlines for assignments, or breaking down larger projects into smaller, manageable tasks.
2. Active Learning: Engaging with the material in an active way can help you retain information more effectively. This can include taking notes, creating flashcards, or practicing problems.
3. Collaboration: Working with others can help you see different perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of the material. This can include forming study groups, attending office hours, or seeking out tutoring.
4. Taking Breaks: Taking regular breaks can actually improve your ability to concentrate and retain information. Try studying in intervals of 25-30 minutes, followed by a short break, and repeat.

Conclusion

Developing effective study habits takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the end. By avoiding common pitfalls and implementing strategies that work, you can improve your academic performance and achieve your goals. For more information on how to succeed as a student, check out some of our other resources:

• How to Overcome Math Anxiety
• How to Get Better Grades in 2023
• SAT Test: What to Expect
• Why Private Tutoring at Resource Room?
• SAT and ACT Tutoring: Why Resource Room?
• What Makes a Strong STEAM Program?
• What Should I Take: The SAT, the ACT, or Both?