How to Find the Study Method that Works for You

The summer transition from high school to university can be stressful. You can’t help but worry about how you’re going to juggle coursework and exams. Studying is a skill you can learn, and it’s an important one to master. Here are some tips to help you figure out what study method works for you.

1. Environment

It’s crucial to understand the type of environment where you focus best. Think back to your past experiences and recall whether you prefer a quiet space, like a library, or a louder one, like a cafe with music and background chatter. Do you get hungry easily (like I do), and prefer a place where food is easily accessible? And consider whether you prefer sitting alone, or if the people next to you at communal tables create a productive atmosphere for you.

If you’re unsure, try out a few different spots. Bring a book to a cafe or a library, and pinpoint aspects of the environment that make you comfortable and help you concentrate. And just like that, you’ve found a go-to study spot.

Personally, I focus best at a cafe with comfortable seating, background chatter, and some music, but not too loud. I find that at a dead-quiet library, even the smallest sounds feel amplified. So, while others may not notice, it doesn’t feel like a comfortable space where I can quietly read over my writing (a typical task for a journalism major), move freely, or enjoy a snack. Also, when I get tired of one cafe, I’ll move to another. This makes things fun because I can try out new drinks and desserts while enjoying the change of scenery.

New to Toronto or just don’t know where to start? Here are a few Coffee Shops Worth Studying In.

2. Study Styles

If you don’t have a clear understanding of how to study, exam season can be overwhelming. You may take notes and review the slides provided by your professors but feel unsure about what to do with the information.

One way to discover what works best for you is to reflect on previous learning experiences. Ask yourself questions like these: During high school, did I find it easier to grasp new material when I wrote notes? Or did I find it better to digest information when I summarized it out loud to my friends?

Asking yourself these questions will help you identify whether you are a visual, auditory, read/write, and/or kinesthetic learner. Once you know how you learn best, it becomes easier to find study techniques that suit you.

For example, auditory learners gather information by listening or speaking, so they reinforce their understanding by discussing it in groups or listening to podcasts. On the other hand, kinesthetic learners retain knowledge through hands-on work and active participation.

When I was in high school, listening to my teacher explain a new concept on the board wasn’t enough for me to fully grasp it. I benefited from slowly going over my notes at home to connect the dots. Then, when preparing for tests, explaining what I learned to myself out loud and repeating practice questions helped engrave the information into my memory. This made it clear that I’m a kinesthetic and read/write learner.

3. Study Techniques

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all way to study. The key is to experiment. Here are a few ideas to try based on what kind of learner you are (and remember, you might be more than one):

Visual:

• Create mind maps, charts, and graphs to visualize ideas
• Colour code notes with highlighters

Auditory:

• Record yourself reading your notes and listen to them like a podcast
• Re-read your notes out loud to reinforce ideas

Read/write:

• Re-write your notes while reading them out loud
• Make flashcards or lists

Kinesthetic:

• Work on real-life application questions
• Walk or move around while studying

If you don’t know where to start, you can also try out pre-existing techniques such as the Feynman Technique, spaced repetition, and active recall.

1. Feynman Technique involves explaining a concept to yourself or to someone else, reviewing the ideas you struggle to explain, and then simplifying your explanation.
2. Spaced repetition is based on the idea that people forget information over time. This method involves reviewing ideas in short study sessions at increasing intervals to improve retention.
3. Active recall focuses on actively retrieving information from your memory. You can use flashcards or summarize ideas without looking at your notes to practice this technique.

I like to use a combination of all three techniques mentioned above, but which one I use more depends on the topic. For example, to prepare for a law exam, I used spaced repetition. I needed to memorize legal definitions and understand how different laws apply, so I wrote each definition repeatedly while reciting it out loud. I continued this over the course of a few days until I could remember it without peeking at my notes.

I didn’t find out this technique worked for me right off the bat. In high school, I made a lot of colour-coded notes mostly because everyone else did. It was a trend to buy pretty highlighters and pens to make aesthetic notes. But colour-coding my notes never really helped cement the material into my memory.

Through trial and error, you’ll figure out which techniques help you internalize information. If you still feel stuck, take advantage of the tutoring sessions, workshops, individual support, and group programs available at your university.

4. Final Thoughts

Remember that finding effective study methods takes time. There are many study environments and techniques to explore, so don’t be afraid to try different approaches. Once you discover the routine that suits you, you’ll feel confident and prepared. University is the perfect time to find out what works for you and what doesn’t.