Many students seem to think that cramming their studies into a couple of nights before a big examination is the way to go. Cramming may help you pass a test or examination but there is a better way to achieve scholastic success. One of the keys to having success in school is to develop good study habits. What follows is a list of seven study habits that successful students use.

Routine

An important part of good study habits is to study in the same place at the same time every day. A good place to study is a place where you’ll be able to accomplish the most amount of work with the least amount of interruptions. Regarding the time-frame to study try to keep the same schedule each day, only changing it if you have to. And after each hour you study take a small break to help keep the mind relaxed and fresh.

Due Dates

Many college professors and instructors distribute a syllabus at the beginning of the semester. A syllabus usually outlines the course plan, expected readings, dates of exams, and deadlines for homework and term papers. The syllabus is a great tool to help you effectively schedule your study time so that you can turn in your work in a timely manner.

Read Ahead

As we have already mentioned professors include the semester’s reading in the syllabus, and there is a good reason for this. If the student knows what to read then are more able to prepare themselves for class discussions or an unexpected pop quiz. That’s right! Many professors like to give a pop quiz from assigned readings. If you don’t read a particular section or chapter you may not pass the quiz and this can affect your grade.

Whenever reading academic literature be sure to take notes and highlight important points. This is especially helpful when you are ready to review material for an important test or final examination. Also, when you takes notes it will much easier to recall information during class discussions.

Take Notes

We have already mentioned the benefit of taking notes while you are reading, but you should also take notes during lectures and class discussions. Taking notes while the professor is lecturing helps reinforce material you have read, and visa-a-versa. Also, most professors use a large part of their lecture material in their quizzes, tests, and final examinations.

Quick Review
After each class take a minute or two to review what was covered in that class. Also, have these little review sessions throughout your day as time permits. This helps reinforce your lessons and keeps the information fresh.

Rest and Sleep

It is a proven fact that the most successful students are the ones who have good study habits and are well rested. In fact, fatigue is a contributor to poor grades in that the student may fall asleep during class, thus missing out on valuable information, or be so tired during an exam that the brain can’t properly process information to correctly answer test questions. Successful students have an established sleep schedule and leave the partying for the weekend.

We have covered some very valuable information to help you develop good study habits. If you use these habits your grades will improve, become more consistent, and lead you to a successful educational experience.