Effective Study Methods by Imani

Effective Study Methods by Imani - May 2016 Scholarship Essay

Studying for exams can be extremely stressful for many students. It seems like a lot of material is being forced on them at once. Although, if it is a cumulative exam and they’ve been studying the entire semester then it should be a breeze. Studying doesn’t come easily to me because I get distracted easily. Thankfully, there are many ways to combat those distractions and ace an exam. The main study methods that I use are to create helpful vocabulary cards, color coding the study material and reteaching the material to myself or others in a study group.
Vocabulary cards are a must-have for every student. They are an interactive study method that allows students to visualize the material. It definitely helps to draw pictures or important words on them that you can refer back to while testing. I’ve made a fun game using my vocabulary cards. I created teams with a group of friends and we go back and forth trying to see which team gets the most answers correct. Vocabulary cards are an awesome and fun way for me to study for an exam.
I am a very visual person, so color coding each subject has helped me alot. I separate each class with its own eye-popping color. It helps me to focus on one thing at a time. My papers don’t get mixed up and I never feel overwhelmed by all the material that I have to study. Color coding can also trigger memorization. I use a certain highlighter for a subject’s key terms and can remember each word by its color when I go to take the exam. It really helps me to differentiate between topics. Although, it is important to remember that using too many different colors can make your material look cluttered. So, it is best to use highlighters in moderation.
Lastly, I like to re-teach the material to myself or other people in a study group. This gives me a great review of the subject matter. It also helps me to analyze the different topics because I‘m pretending to be the teach myself. I think that repetition is the best way to memorize anything, so re-teaching a topics helps me a lot. When I’m in a study group, I can have a conversation with my peers about the study material and also get clarity on things that I don’t understand. It is very important to ask questions when studying for an exam. I think that re-teaching myself the material is the most effective study method for myself.
I think that studying doesn’t have to be boring and complicated. It will only be as fun and as helpful as you make it. The more that I personalized my studying methods, my grades got better. I think that you have to be confident enough to ask questions when studying, but also responsible enough to keep track of all the material. All in all, I feel like my study methods are good and will help me ace an exam.