Planning your Study

Returning to study or coming to it for the first time can be daunting, so here are some ideas for preparing and planning your time effectively.

Remember: The quality of your study time matters.

Planning Study

• Creating time and space for study
• Planning across the year
• Managing a study session
• Decide which subject or topic area you will cover during the study period
• Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses -start with the most difficult or demanding task

Creating time for study

• A few hours' work per essay/assignment
• Spread the work out: keep it regular
• Make sure you have leisure time

Your study environment

• Be comfortable
• Consider the furniture and music
• Get understanding from family

Planning a year round programme (if appropriate)

• Don't hope to cram for exams
• Do a little work, often
• Keep up with attendance on course sessions
• Revise often, not just for exams

Managing a study session

• Set goal: give yourself rewards
• Introduce variety into the shorter periods.  This will help keep your interest and improve the effectiveness of your studying.
• Don't waste time
• Work for short blocks of time; review and rest
• Consider using a checklist

Preparing for exams - Techniques for remembering

When you are in the exam, you will need to retrieve from your memory what is required to answer a question.  So as part of your study time you should build up your powers of recall.  There are various techniques you can use to help you remember what you have learnt - for example:

• Use plain card and write key words or phrases on them
• Write lists that can be stuck on a wall
• Create mind maps
• Create spider diagrams
• Record key information onto tapes