10 tips on how to study effectively

Do you ever feel like your study habits aren't quite where they should be? Are you having problems retaining the information you learn in class, or feel like your current study schedule isn't working for you?

Don't worry – not all is lost! While there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to studying effectively, there's plenty of tricks you can use to improve your recall, focus and long-term memory. But don't forget: everyone has different ways of learning. The best way to study for you might look different to the methods used by friends, or other people in your course.

You probably are already on the right path to study success and will just benefit from a few tweaks here and there, but whether you're nearing the end of high school or midway through a uni degree, we can help with these handy tips.

And if you are a VU student, we can help you achieve your full potential by developing your confidence, academic ability and study skills. With our support, you can develop the skills needed to excel at university.

Here are our top tips to help you study effectively – take these and roll with them over your next exams!

Sometimes the most effective steps are also the most simple. You may find some simple hacks will set you up well and make studying a lot easier.

Here's a couple of ways you can get yourself organised and smash those study goals:

• invest in a diary, and use it to take control of your calendar and keep track of current assignment deadlines
• bring all the material and devices you need to class, so you can participate. You may find it helpful to pack your bag and prepare any meals the night before, so you’re ready to go first thing in the morning.
• create a study timetable that breaks down your revision into manageable chunks. If you're in exam time, planning short, focused study sessions around your exams helps reduce stress and keeps you on track.

Missing class can really hurt your progress and be detrimental to your learning – and therefore achieving your study goals. Whether you're in high school or uni, it's important to not fall into the trap of ditching your classes. It leaves gaping holes in your notes, and even bigger gaps in your subject knowledge.

At Victoria University, our VU Block Model® is designed to give you more time to work, see your family and friends, engage in hobbies, go to the gym and fulfil other commitments.

Rather than juggling four subjects at once, you’ll concentrate on one unit (subject) over a four-week ‘block’ period. You’ll attend three-hour workshop-style classes, three times a week. 

The rest of your time can be used to study, work, socialise – whatever is most important to you.

It's a little different to learning in high school, but with this flexible model, you can stay on top of your studies while still living your life. You won't need to skip any! 

Here's a top study tip: Practise active listening. This is where you focus on what your teachers are saying in class and taking notes as needed. 

Active listening will keep you engaged during class – plus you can refer to these notes later, as you further refine your study technique, whether it's high school or uni. 

This helps store important information in your long-term memory. Plus, these notes will be really helpful to refer to when you’re completing assessments and assignments.

You might find it handy to condense your notes after class, so they’re clear and easy to read. Underline or highlight key points. If anything doesn’t make sense, you can seek clarification from your teacher.

To further cement this knowledge into your brain, you can create visual aids like flow charts and mind maps to help simplify information. For some students, these visual aids help them remember complex information and so, study more effectively.

If you do miss a class (or find yourself daydreaming – don't worry, it happens!), ask a study buddy or classmate if you can refer to their notes. This will ensure there are no gaps in your own notetaking.

Your teacher is, in a way, a resource who is there to be used! Squeeze as much as you can out of your Year 12 teachers before your revision period at home starts – they won't be there forever.

And at uni, the VU Block Model® allows you to focus on one subject at a time. As you'll be learning in a workshop-style class rather than a giant lecture theatre, you'll have the opportunity to get to know your teacher.

You can take advantage of this interactive learning environment by asking questions during or after class, where you can get immediate feedback.

Teachers can further clarify any topics you find confusing. You may even be able to get a further direction on assignments before submitting.

Your teacher will no doubt be impressed with your initiative, and happy to help.

One of the most effective ways of studying is to carve space out between sessions.

If you break up your study load over several days, you’ll retain information far more readily than if you crammed it into your head during one long session.

This can help deeply ingrain information, letting it marinate and allowing you to retain it for the long term.

You’ll find you achieve much better results for it.

Another top study tip is to create a schedule or plan.

This is incredibly helpful for time management and can help you achieve your learning goals.

A study plan will:

• motivate you to study, as you’ll have time dedicated to learning
• keep you organised around work, hobbies and other commitments, as you can plan ahead
• break your study load into manageable blocks
• give you time to complete your assignments or SACs, ensuring they’re not rushed and submitted last-minute.

Is studying at university very different to studying in high school?

The main differences between studying at university and studying at high school revolve around accountability and autonomy.

High school teachers are more likely to chase down outstanding work. While you're studying at university, the obligation is on you to get your work done and submitted on time.

At high school, you have periods of locked-in time, which revolves around study, such as 'free' periods. You also have homework that you're expected to complete after school or over the weekend.

University life brings more freedom, allowing you to plan out your day. You can independently choose when you wish to study, around commitments such as classes and work, exercise and any social activities.

This is one of the main reasons why a study schedule is so helpful. Read more about how to make an effective study plan.

Repeat after us. Reading is not studying.

When you are reading and re-reading texts and notes, you’re not exactly 'studying', and may find it difficult to retain information. This is because you’re not actively engaging with the material.

Instead of reading, try:

• creating concept maps and diagrams
• explaining concepts aloud to yourself step by step
• formulating questions and problems that you can come back to and solve, effectively creating a pop quiz for yourself
• fulfilling the role of teacher or tutor to your study group or partner, and learning the course material by explaining concepts to them.

It is important to have a designated study area that is free from distraction and so, will allow you to study effectively.

When you settle into your study area, you will know you are there to learn. This shift in mindset will help with your overall motivation to study.

Choose a study space that is quiet, well-lit and in a low-noise and traffic area. Don’t, say, study at a dining table when you’re going to be constantly distracted by siblings, family members or housemates moving in and out of the kitchen!

If there’s nowhere suitable for study at home, try your local or university library. Libraries are naturally quiet and many have designated areas for study. Victoria University has several libraries across its campuses. Check the opening hours to find a time that works for you.

You can also try out VU’s student lounges and learning spaces.

You may discover there's a certain time of day where you're more likely to switch on and focus. For some people, it's first thing in the mornings. Those more inclined to night owl tendencies will find they flourish at night. If you're not sure, experiment and see what time of the day works best for you.

For many students, the greatest distraction is their phone. You may find it helpful to switch your phone to silent – or even off – for the duration of your study session. If you're studying to get through your final school exams, don't forget you'll have the whole summer for Snapchat!

You can also use apps such as Freedom or FocusMe to block non-essential apps from your phone, while you’re trying to learn.

Getting someone to quiz you – or quizzing yourself – is great retrieval practice. This learning technique helps you commit information to your long-term memory, and easily retrieve it as needed.

Recalling an answer to a question improves learning, as does writing down that answer.

You might find it helpful to create flash cards each time you learn a new topic. Flash cards can have questions on them or have a prompt that triggers the recall of relevant information. 

Ask a parent, sibling, friend, or study buddy to quiz you, using your flash cards. The act of creating them alone will help you better retain information and is an effective study technique.

One of the best ways to study is to share the experience with another person.

It can be beneficial to find a study buddy – or even form a study group with like-minded students. You probably already have this in place if you've come from a high school class where you all know each other well, but uni can be trickier.

Your study buddy/group can:

• keep you motivated
• help you stay accountable
• quiz and test you on course material
• read over your work, to offer advice
• share resources, such as textbooks, lowering expenses.

Read about how to find a study buddy or a study group and how this can improve your results and help you study more effectively.