Acquiring a study method is a winning weapon to prepare for exams and pass them at the first go.
Method and perseverance are in fact two fundamental factors that a university student must consider if he or she wants to prepare for and succeed in examinations.
Some students arrive at university with a well-defined methodology to approach study that they had acquired during middle and high school, others not, often finding themselves in difficulty, failing to prepare for all the exams scheduled for the session.
But it is never too late to start. If you too are among the students who have not yet found their own method, then this article will be of great help to you.
How to acquire a study method for successful university examinations
By following these tips you can quickly get an idea of how best to organise yourself to successfully pass even the most difficult exams.
First step for your study method: Do not procrastinate and determine in advance the hours to be devoted to each examination.
We often fall into the mistake of putting off preparing for an exam because the session still seems far away, but then we find ourselves falling behind schedule and having to prepare exams in a hurry and at the last minute.
Even though there are still several months separating you from the next session, start organising your days now by devoting a few hours to studying the upcoming exams.
Don’t know where to start? Rely on University Training Credits
Take the University Training Credits as a reference and plan approximately 10-15 hours of study per UTC.
Do you have to study for a 12 UTCexamination?
Then you should allow between 100 hours for simpler exams and 180 hours for more complex ones.
Now take the calendar and divide the hours you need by the weeks you have before the exam.
Take into account the commitments you have, the number of exams you have to take, and allow 20% of the total time for revision.
If you are a working student, organise yourself in such a way that you study at least one hour a day before going to work.
Alternating fast and silent reading with reading aloud
If you study mainly in environments where there are other people you will often find yourself preparing for exams only through silent reading.
This method implies the exclusive use of the eyes and therefore the activation of only the photographic memory which is short-term and does not allow you to fix many concepts.
Instead, we recommend alternating silent reading with reading aloud, which allows you to memorize the main notions in the long term.
Create mind maps and repeat to fix concepts
At the end of each chapter take a sheet of paper and write down 3-4 key concepts. Then leaving a space between them where you can elaborate and explain each one. Then take the book and paper away and try to repeat one chapter at a time.
If you have not managed to remember everything, take a highlighter and underline the parts you have not memorized, then proceed to the next topic. Once you have finished, pick up the sheets you highlighted, read and repeat until all the concepts are well fixed.
Change the study environment
Don’t always study in the same room and at the same desk. Changing locations helps to stimulate your approach to studying and optimize your concentration (if you are looking for tips on how to improve concentration also read the article: 4 ways to improve concentration in studying)
In-Domus have different spaces designed for studying, from your room to study rooms or, on sunny days, you can take advantage of the outdoor spaces.
You can study while breathing fresh air and maybe even getting some sun, so you will arrive at the exam not only prepared but also healthy.
Conclusion
All this may seem complex to you, but you’ll see that soon it will become a real habit,
then you will have acquired your study method!
Having a study method helps to maintain enthusiasm for one’s education and to face exams in a more serene way and with a more mature approach.
Remember that any change can be scary at first and you may feel like you can’t cope, the important thing is not to back down and go back to your old ways.
Go ahead and don’t give up!
You just have to get started!
Live, study, feel In-Domus
