Study Skills

Study skills are techniques individuals use to learn material. Examples include
listening, observation, following directions, homework, time management, note
taking, problem solving, semantic webbing, mnemonics, test taking skills.
Listening skills
1. Sit quietly and in a good listening position
. Look at the speaker
!. "hink about what the person is saying
#. $sk questions at appropriate times if you don%t understand
&bservation
'any of us learn new things by watching someone else do it.
(ollowing )irections
*t is not e+ective to ,ust read directions, you must do what the direction are telling
you to do. *f the directions are unclear or you do not understand them then ask for
clari-cation.
.omework
"ypically there are three reasons to give homework
1/ "o reinforce or practice a skill covered in class.
/ "o complete a task that was started in class.
!/ "o review material covered in class to prepare for tests or qui00es.
.omework 1lan 2Study tips
$ homework plan is an individual plan for the organi0ation, time management,
design, and evaluation of a study procedure. Some basic study tips ask you to
1. write homework in the same notebook each day
. 1ack required materials in a bookbag
!. Set aside a regular time to complete assignments and study daily.
#. 3eep all homework supplies in the same place, all the time.
4. Learn tips for ad,usting noise level, lighting, and privacy in a study space.
5. 6omplete one sub,ect at a time
7. )ecide which is the most important assignment to do -rst.
8. 'ake sure all notes and books you need are readily available before you start
your homework.
9. "hink about what you are learning as you do your homework: look for the
main ideas and review what you have learned.
1lanning your study location
;ithout a suitable study space, you<re most likely to get no work done. =ou have to
clear yourself of distractions and clutter in order to ace that test.
1. *f your Study 1lace is too warm, you might become sleepy. *f it is too cold, your
thinking may slow down and become unclear. Select a temperature at which your
mind and body function best.
. 'ake sure all your important things such as school homework is unreachable for your
baby brother>sister or your dog.
!. *t is important to have uninterrupted study time. =ou may have to hang a <)& ?&"
)*S"@AB< sign on the door or take the phone o+ the hook.
#. =our study place does you little good if you cannot use it when you need it. *f you are
using a Study 1lace that you must share with others for any reason, work out a
schedule so that you know when you can use it.
4. Aesearch shows that most students study best in a quiet environment. *f you -nd that
playing a stereo or "C improves your mood, keep the volume low. But try to pull out
the plug for the "C, so even if you try, it won<t work. $nd if you want music, play a 6)
that has no words. 6lassical, electronic or postDrock instrumental music might be
good. *t should be calm and relaxing, so it doesn<t distract you too much.
5. =ou need enough room to store your study materials. Be sure you have enough
storage space to allow you to keep your desktop or other work surface clear of
unnecessary materials that can get in the way.
7. ;hile working on an assignment or studying for a test, use a desk or table that is
large enough to hold everything you need. $llow enough room for writing and try to
avoid clutter. "ry your best to keep things organi0ed and neat.
8. =our room makes a great study space. *f it<s clean: ,ust don<t do your homework on
your bed, or you may fall asleep.
9. Be sure your Study 1lace includes reference sources and supplies such as pens and
pencils, paper, ruler, calculator, and whatever else you might need. *f you require a
computer for your schoolwork, it should be in your Study 1lace.
1E. "he amount of light you need depends on what you are doing. "he important thing is
that you can clearly see what you need to see without any strain or discomfort.
11. $ chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain that will interfere with
studying and concentration. $ chair that is too comfortable might make you to
relaxed or sleepy. Select a chair in which you can sit for long periods while
maintaining your concentration on studying. *n addition, this will also ensure that
your back is not strained and your bottom isn<t uncomfortable.
1. ?ot only is it important to have a proper study space, but in order to study at your
best make sure to take precise notes.
1!. "ry to make yourself comfortable maybe play some music, or lay on the Foor, ,ust do
what you think will make the best environment for you and do itG
"ime management
"ime management involves setting individual goals, scheduling work time,
organi0ing materials, and evaluating progress.
Setting goals
$ goal is an achievement which results from individual or group e+orts.
$ long term goal is a goal which takes more than a month to attain.
$ short term goal is a goal that can be attained in less than a month.
Hoal setting strategies
1. 6learly de-ne goals.
. Hather speci-c information about your goal.
!. Seek advice from those who have achieved a similar goal.
#. )ecide what equipment and supplies will be needed.
4. Hather required materials.
5. Set up a timetable, record sheet.
7. Aecord information.
8. Evaluate results.
?ote taking
Note-taking is a skill that can help you do well on all your schoolwork everything from taking tests
to researching a paper.
1. Write down key facts. If you have a teacher who writes notes on the board, that's a bonus
!ou can copy them down. If not, write down the most important points from class. It can take
some e"perimenting to figure out what information really is helpful, so keep trying and don't
give up. #ifferent teachers do things differently. $or e"ample, some teachers may mention lots
of dates and facts in class but only write the key ones on the board. %ther teachers may not
write anything down, but they may repeat a certain date or piece of information. &hat's a clue
that it's probably important. 'fter a while, you'll get to know a teacher's style.
(. Don't overdo it. #on't go cra)y taking notes, though !ou'll be frantic if you try to write down
every word that's said in class. 'nd if you focus too much on getting your notes right, you
might miss important points. *ome people actually learn better by listening, writing down a
few key points, and then going over the material after class when they have more time.
+. Ask. #on't be afraid to ask the teacher to repeat something you miss. If the teacher's going
too fast, chances are your classmates will also be relieved to hear the information again. If
you don't want to ask in class, see your teacher afterwards. It's much easier than wondering if
you got the notes right as you study.
,. Compare. -eep your notes handy when you're doing your reading assignments. .ompare
what you wrote with what the readings say you may even want to add to your notes as you
read. /oing over your notes with a friend and comparing what the two of you put down can
help reinforce what you're learning. It also can help you remember information when it's time
for the test. 'nd going over your notes will alert you and your friend to any errors.
0. Copy. #epending on how neat your handwriting is, you may want to recopy your notes when
you get home. If you've taken notes in a hurry, you're more likely to figure out an unreadable
word or sentence on the day of the lesson than you are weeks later when you look back over
your notes in preparation for a test.
1. Organize. -eep notes for each sub2ect in one place so you can find everything easily when it
comes time for a test. &hat may mean keeping a notebook or section of a notebook for each
sub2ect as you take notes in class.
/ood note-taking re3uires e"tra time and organi)ation. It may help if you think of the time you spend
reviewing notes as an investment. $or e"ample, if you decide to recopy your notes each evening,
you'll probably have less time to watch &4 or I5 friends. 6ut you'll save time later when it comes to
studying for the actual test. Note-taking gives your mind a chance to absorb the material it needs to
learn. Not only can this help you to do better on a test, it's also a great confidence booster when
you're studying and find yourself saying, 78ey, I remember that97
1roblem solving
@se the ;;*? checklist when solving problems
;D what do you really wantI Dto pass my 'ath test.
;D what are you doing to get thatI D 1aying attention in class, doing my work at
school and at home
*D*s it workingI D =es Jin ?o then go to step ?/
?D ?ew plans, if necessary D * may choose to make new plans which will
help me do better.
Semantic webbing
Semantic webbing is a visual mapping to organi0e thoughts about a topic. "he main
idea is at the centre of a diagram, supporting ideas surround the centre.
'nemonics
Mnemonics are memory devices that help learners recall larger pieces of
information, especially in the form of lists like characteristics, steps, stages, parts,
phases, etc. Examples in Science we use A&=HB*C to remember the colours of the
rainbow. ADAed &D&range =D=ellow HDHreen BDBlue *D*ndigo CDCiolet
*n music we use ($6E to remember the notes in the spaces of a HD6lef sta+ and
EHB)( Jevery good boy deserves fudge/ to remember the notes on the lines of the
sta+.
"est taking skills.
"est taking Skills are techniques used to reduce test anxiety and tips for studying
di+erent kinds of tests
1. Aeview material each week so that you are well prepared for the test.
. Set up a work space suitable for your needs.
!. @tili0e di+erent ways of studying Jdraw pictures, outline, talk out loud, write
things down/ (ind out what works best for you.
#. *f you -nd your mind wandering, take a short break, then begin again.
4. Listen to clues the teacher gives for possible test questions.
5. Look for key words that give clues as to whether it is true or false. Jex. ;ords
like always or never/
7. @se deep breathing to relax before a test.
8. Het a good night%s sleep.
9. Be sure you understand directions.
1E.Look over the whole test and plan to budget time wisely.
11.$nswer only the number of questions needed.
1.'ake a mark next to questions you are having trouble answering. 6ome back
to these questions later.
1!.)ivide long answers into smaller parts so they will be easier to answer.
1#.'ake a drawing or diagram if it will help you understand the question better.
14.Be neat.
15.6heck answers and calculations.
17.)on%t worry if other students -nish before you.
18.Learn from mistakes and don%t throw away an old test until you have looked
over any incorrect answers.
.ealthy eating ideas while studying
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