So you are looking for the Top 20 Secrets for Better Study Techniques? There are no secrets to this. These are tested techniques, so just go ahead and follow these. Make changes which will help you in doing better.

1. Organize your study material and books. Keep them in one place, everyday so that you don’t waste time in searching for a book.
2. Prepare a time table. We all have 24 hours per day in which to do so many things in life. Set aside appropriate time for all your miscellaneous activities and see that you can manage atleast 4-5 hours study per day. This DOES NOT include the time you put into college and school lectures.
3. Avoid all kinds of distraction while studying. Keep your mobile phone in another room, on silent mode. If you can’t keep it in another room, switch it off.
4. At home, choose a noise-free place to study. At college, a library is usually a good place to do your reference work and study in peace.
5. Use the college library to refer to books your professors recommend.
6. Use the Internet judiciously. Simulations and worksheets will help you with your subjects. Technical subjects can be understood by viewing some YouTube videos. But minimize the time on Internet as it can suck up all your time.
7. Attend your lectures regularly. If you miss a lecture, ask your classmates to share their notes with you for that lecture. Your professor may also put up her lecture notes on college website, so refer to those.
8. Take notes in the lecture. Keep a separate notebook for each subject. Write down whatever your professor writes down on the board. Pay attention to her/his words. If some points or ideas are being repeated, those topics are important and immediately write down, at least in brief, the gist of that discussion. Teachers usually discuss in detail the topics they plan to ask in exams.
9. Don’t hesitate to ask your professor in class if you have any doubts. Don’t feel shy. Nobody will mind it if you ask your questions in class. In-fact, there maybe some students who thank you for asking a question, which they themselves were not sure of asking. Your professor also knows that you are paying attention and appreciates it.
10. Revise all your notes.
11. Make notes of important topics.
12. Don’t study for long periods at a stretch. 30 minutes at a time is good and then take a 2-3 minute break where you revise in your mind what you have studied.
13. Don’t stare for too long at a computer screen or your book. After every 10 minutes or so, look at a distant object for about 10 seconds. This will relax your eyes. Blink often, that is good for your eyes.
14. Make a question bank. Practice previous exam papers. I have covered this topic earlier.
15. As you study each chapter, make a list of formulas in that chapter.
16. As you study each chapter, draw, in pencil, all diagrams. You must practice drawing diagrams as it will be difficult to draw them directly in the exam.
17. You must write. Reading alone will not help you in either understanding or remembering the subject. You will have a written exam, not an oral exam. So as you study each topic, write down the main points in your notebook, draw diagrams that will help you, write down certain words that are important and their meaning.
18. Derivations in physics follow a logical pattern. Remember the beginning steps and remember the final step. Once the logic is clear, you should be easily able to complete the derivation. All derivations will have a diagram.
19. Objective questions are easy to answer if you have studied the subject in detail. Sometimes the options are so close to each other that it becomes difficult to select the correct alternative. When attempting multiple choice questions, first verify whether the question is “Select the correct alternative”, or “Select the incorrect alternative”.
20. Take care of your health. Sleep for atleast 7 hours everyday – select your time to sleep. Some like to study at night as there is less disturbance. Eat nutritious food. Avoid all junk food. Avoid eating in unhealthy places. Don’t experiment with food at exam time.

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Tags: 20 tips for better study techniques, how to study, improving study habits, lecture notes, need of a timetable, question bank, study for success, study skills, Study Techniques, study to success