by lilmissfulloffungoddess

Created on: January 13, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

From reading countless study guides and books, I have seen particular study methods crop up again and again. These are of the active study nature, which is where you are not simply reading your notes repeatedly, but doing something with the information running through your head - thereby processing them.

You also have to take into account what kind of learner you are. There are tests on the internet to help you discover this, but you can tell what you cope with better whilst you are studying. Some people are better at traditional "book-based" methods whilst others need to hear the information and repeat it aloud, or perhaps see the information presented in some form of diagram or other - thereby being an audial or visual learner.

Once you aquire this knowledge about yourself you can decide what study methods will suit you best. Popular study methods include:
Revision cards: where you cut paper into small cards and write main points about a specific topic on one side, and a question for you to recall the main points on the other. This way you can test yourself when spare moments arise. This is using your time wisely; a skill we must all learn in order to become a successful student.
Spider Diagrams: Place the name of the topic in the centre of an A4 or A3 sheet of paper, enclosed in a circle. Then draw branches from the circle leading to different areas of the page to guide you to a section of the topic. Complete the sheet with all relevant topic headings and brief notes and then when you try to recall this information, picture the mind map in your head.
Mind Map: a kind of development from the spider diagram, as you include colour, pictures and symbols to aid your memory. This does work as the creative and academic sides of your brain are at their best when they work together. You will be better at remembering funny pictures better than a paragraph of words.
I strongly recommend Tony Buzan's books: Use Your Head, Use Your Memory and Master Your Memory as he can explain the above study concepts better than I can. He will also introduce you to other methods such as Mnemonics.

It is a well-known concept that the most successful candidates are those who have good time-management skills. Now let me tell you: I cannot remember the last time I sat an exam fully prepared because I had left enough time in advance to study all relevant information and transfer it to my long term memory. I don't think I ever have, and yet I consistenly achieve good grades. In fact, most

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