Science-Supported Studying by Cynthia

Science-Supported Studying by Cynthia - May 2016 Scholarship Essay

Across the world, billions of students cram for their upcoming exams with just as many methods of studying. It ranges from rereading all the notes and chapters the night before the test to taking practice tests weeks in advance to leaving classical background music on. It can also go from going to cram school to purchasing a subject book to self-study or hiring a private tutor on the weekdays. Although some may prove to be detrimental to their grades than others, to each their own. As for me, I've done many trial and errors to find study methods that help me specifically and why they help more than others. Certain methods may be complete distractions while others only temporarily help for an hour then prove to be an utter waste of precious time.

Though many struggle to even keep their eyes open when fatigue arrives, I find it helpful to study when sleepy. I don't sit down when I'm exhausted and straight-study for hours but just a few minutes before sleeping really makes a difference. This is mainly because when people sleep, their brains enhance and strengthen the most recent, new information and memory that it has processed, meaning whatever is reviewed right before bed will more than likely be remembered the following day. In addition to this, I also make sure to not cram it all in a few hours but rather space the time period between topics and lessons. This technique is called "spaced repetition" where someone reviews the same information over and over again in a span of a couple of hours. This technique is used in younger educational levels, such as how a child learns their multiplication tables.

Sometimes, studying can make me look a bit crazy but it's worth it if I pass the exams in the end. Another method I tend to use is movement. To memorize a speech or a list, I would walk around in my room or from one location to another just reciting the information repeatedly out loud. Study shows the if people study in different locations often, it is easier to retain the information because it is integrated into multiple memories. Speaking out loud also contributes to two of our senses, sight and hearing because we see and hear the notes. An extremely useful, although not loved, way for me to remember study material is to write everything out or over again. I find that compared to just listening to someone lecture or looking at a PowerPoint, it is much easier and informative to write notes down. In terms of studying for final exams with this method, I would write down notes on what I think is most essential to the subject I am to be tested on.

However, out of all the methods I have tried out for the past for years, I find that the most helpful one is planning my study schedule instead of having a broad plan of "studying physics on Monday and then I don't know". By planning out specific portions for a certain amount of hours per day (leading up to the exam date), I can focus on memorizing and understanding the section. It gives equal focus on that section of the materials and it helps to study with a friend or group because if they, or I, don't understand something, we can ask each other for clarification. It'd also be more organized and productive if each person at the study meeting has an assigned task that comes together to reach the goal which is to pass the exams.

Studying can be just as stressful as the final exams themselves because who knows which ones work best for them or not. After suffering through cramming failures and all-nighters, I found study methods that suit and work best for me. All these different ways have continuously helped me for my exams throughout my high school career and will continue to through college also.