By: Carolyn Lai

Burden Aaron, CC BY  UnSplash License on

In general, trying to get through the school semester can be hard for anyone. With Midterms coming up, it is easy to stress about getting the highest grades. Grades have always mattered for many and it is important to find ways to study smartly. Here are 6 tips from scientists to study more effectively so that you can ace your courses!

Don’t Cram:

Although many students may feel that cramming things into their short-term memory all at once may help them for the day of the test, it is not an effective way to study. Studies have shown that  students who divided their studying into several days retained the information better. Although we may forget some information, it is easier to relearn the information the next time you study rather than studying for eight hours straight the day before your test. 

Stop Rereading Notes and :

A common study habit for many students is re-reading their notes. You should continue reading and studying your notes but in order to make the information stick, scientists have advised students to write questions about the notes and answer them. If you are able to answer them, it is likely that you have memorized your notes. 

Practice and testing yourself: 

If possible, finding practice tests and practice resources online can help expose you to different types of questions pertaining to your lessons. Another way to practice is to test yourself. Using flashcards or covering up definitions in your notebook are some great ways to test your knowledge before assessment day.

The Interleaving Method:

Everybody who has written a test probably knows that test questions are often mixed up.Instead of practicing and focusing on one section or type of question, mix it up by finding a variety of questions and increase the difficulty each time you study. Studies showed that those with strong or weak working memory improved on their tests when they used the interleaving method.

Visuals, Elaboration, and Examples:

What ways do you learn best? A great way to assist students is to use diagrams and pictures to understand concepts. Examples and visuals help an individual to understand and picture the concept better. This leads to a better understanding of the material. Learning more than you know is also a great way to prepare yourself and help you retain information. We often learn the material but never dive deeper into it. Learning more about it and researching can help make the material more interesting and memorable for you.

Plan Ahead:

Tying into cramming, students often do not have a plan. This can be stress inducing. Instead, making a plan before the test helps take off the stress. In high school, teachers will often update students about their assessment schedule. As soon as you know your schedule, plan out your next steps and follow through with your plan. You will feel less stressed and definitely prepared for the test in no time.

Works Cited

Kowalski, K. (2023, September 5). Top 10 tips on how to study smarter, not longer. Science News Explores. https://www.snexplores.org/article/top-10-tips-study-smarter-not-longer-study-skills