Welcome to all new and returning students, happy fall semester! Transitioning from summer fun to coursework can be a brutal adjustment, especially if you are not familiar with different study methods to keep yourself on track. Here are a couple study tips proven effective that you may want to try as you navigate through the semester.

DO NOT: If you are looking to master material, try not to cram. According to the BBC, “Nate Kornell at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that spacing out learning was more effective than cramming for 90% of the participants who took part in one of his experiments” Much of the information that we cram the night before a big exam is likely to be forgotten. Not only because our brains have not had the chance to retain the information in its entirety, but also because our nerves increase when we are put into stressful situations: i.e. exams that determine our final grades. 

Instead, try active recalling. According to Sander Tamm, a writer at e-student .org,  active recalling is defined as “a study method that involves informational retrieval and repeated testing to improve retention, memorization and comprehension.” This can take many forms, but the most popular active recalling method is to write what you know and reread what you do not. Take a full five minutes to write all of the material you remember from class. Do not look back into your notes or slides, allow yourself to fully dig deep into your memory (it is okay if you cannot remember everything). Once five minutes have passed, go back into your notes and write whatever you did not remember on flashcards. Continue to read over the flashcards and test yourself to pass your exam. 

Similar to active recalling, you may want to try reading aloud while studying for your next exam. By drilling information into your brain by reading it aloud, you become the professor in the situation. Hearing yourself say something out loud is much more effective than simply just rereading textbooks or math problems in silence. If you want to go even further, have your friends read it to you or quiz you. 

Lastly, if these methods are not very effective for you, try chunking. Kendra Cherey, a psychosocial rehabilitaion specialist, said that chunking is a “method of facilitating short-term memory by grouping individual pieces of information into larger, more familiar (and therefore, more easily remembered) groups.” Moreover, chunking allows you to make real-world connections to the material for your learning benefit. When our brains are able to group items together, it becomes easier for us to memorize the items. This method is especially useful for science, social science, social studies and language majors. 

Take the initiative to practice one or more of these three study methods during your exams this fall. Feel free to switch them up however you like to best suit your learning. Good luck Lakers!

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