{"id":2699,"date":"2011-12-14T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-12-14T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stonebridge-blog.positive-dedicated.net2\/study-tips\/study-tips-from-stonebridge-2"},"modified":"2019-07-17T11:33:49","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T10:33:49","slug":"study-tips-from-stonebridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stonebridge.uk.com\/blog\/study-tips\/study-tips-from-stonebridge\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Tips from Stonebridge"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Stonebridge, we know that studying isn’t always easy. But there are little things that you can do to make the process easier. We have collected a range of ideas and study tips from our students and provided you with the top 8 to help you make the most of your study. You’ll never be late finishing our coursework or unprepared for an exam again (hopefully)!<\/p>\n

Please note that study techniques vary from person to person, so give these a go and discover what works best for you!<\/p>\n

Positive Thinking<\/h2>\n

One of the most daunting parts of revision and studying is actually getting started, especially when faced with reams of material. One way around it is positive thinking; if you look at all the work you need to do and get afraid, that will carry on throughout your revision and it will get worse, leaving you fretting about getting everything done in a rapidly reducing timeline. Instead, you should break up your\u00a0workload into smaller, more manageable chunks\u00a0and mentally note that you can do this! Your work will instantly appear less daunting and you will get through each section much quicker.<\/p>\n

Re-writing<\/h2>\n

Re-writing can be one of the most effective forms of studying (providing it isn\u2019t a subject like Mathematics). By writing out your course notes and any additional information and then continuing to re-write them, you will condense the information and make it easier to retain. This technique is ideal for kinaesthetic learners as you are putting energy into\u00a0writing the words down on paper, creating shapes and patterns, thereby making study a physical process. Plus, this technique also prepares you for continual writing which is great in exam conditions.<\/p>\n

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No cramming<\/h2>\n

Cramming in study is a definite no! Studying a year\u2019s course in one night or writing and proofreading a piece of coursework in a matter of hours\u00a0to an acceptable standard is impossible. The stress and anxiety, as well as panic, will overcome you and the amount of knowledge you take in will diminish, leaving you susceptible to blank outs in the exam. One final night revising is perfectly normal but you must have had at least a full week studying beforehand; everything you look at the night before an assessment should purely be to re-jog your memory on\u00a0the key points. So, make sure you know all the main facts and figures weeks in advance by giving yourself plenty of time to grasp the information early on in your study programme.<\/p>\n

Take Breaks<\/h2>\n

Studying endlessly for hours is not only unwise, it’s\u00a0unhealthy. Your mind needs regular breaks as it can only absorb so much information in a short space of time. We can all remember a time in school when our minds started to wander – this was your brain attempting to take a break! An ideal routine would be to have a break every hour for at least 10 minutes. For example, if you start studying at 9am, take a break at 10am and then commence work again at 10:15am for another hour. Repeat this throughout your study period. Your brain needs to absorb what you are trying to remember and continually working and not stopping will not help. Simply getting away from your computer screen to make a cup of tea or taking a quick walk will allow your brain to digest the information you’ve been looking at, leaving it refreshed for the next phase of study.<\/p>\n

Study Tools – Laptop, Notes, Cue Cards<\/h2>\n

The study tool you use depends on how you prefer to learn.\u00a0If you prefer to study and type up notes on a laptop or PC, make sure you have your tech ready to go before you study, so you’re not distracted by updates or notifications popping up on screen. A good way of continuing your study is to print off electronically-made notes and read them through after each computer session, adding an additional information to them as and when required. If you prefer manually writing notes then stay away from a computer as it will be a distraction. Ensure that you have all the stationery you need for the task\u00a0available beforehand so that your study session isn’t interrupted by popping to the shop to restock on pens etc. Another useful method for study is the use of cue cards. They are great tools for\u00a0memorising points as their limited space requires you to fill each card only with important and essential information. Therefore, they are perfect for remembering the foundational information of any study programme. Plus, you can take them out and about with you, as they are less bulky than a laptop of chunky notepad, so you can refresh your memory on the go!<\/p>\n

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Revision Rewards – \u201cStudy without ambition is a bird without wings\u201d<\/h2>\n

A very simple way of motivating yourself for study is to have a reward system in place. For example, for every module completed you may want to reward yourself with half an hour of TV or a slice of cake from your favourite bakery. Whatever you choose, you’ll find it much easier to get through all the information in front of you.\u00a0These little rewards all help you on your journey towards an even bigger reward:\u00a0success and qualification at the end of your course.<\/p>\n

Colour Coordinate
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Colour coordinating and coding your notes or course material is a great study method\u00a0as your brain will associate certain colours with specific information. You could highlight specific types of information\u00a0in certain colours or choose to write out your notes in coloured gel pens. Here’s an outline of how you could colour coordinate\/code your study material:<\/p>\n