Everyone can find studying something of a chore. The purpose of these pages is to show you a number of ways in which you can make this task more profitable and enjoyable. You should find that the skills covered are applicable not only to one subject but to other courses, and beyond. Our aim is to help you develop as a successful, independent learner.
Although this is designed as a self-study guide, some topics will be referred to in your course. The sections need not necessarily be read sequentially; you can just turn to the topics on which you think you need help. But before you begin, bear in mind that you will only master these study skills if you adopt a proactive approach.
At the beginning of each section there is a problems check list , to help you determine whether you have difficulties with a topic. Following this there are skill-building tips , as you read these note down any that are particularly useful to you. Finally pick out the changes that you think you need to make from the skills check list .
Don't try to make too many changes at once, perhaps just up to three per study skill at any one time. You can review a section, noting your progress and implementing further changes later.
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Time Management |
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Improving Your Concentration |
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Reading Textbooks |
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Problem Solving |
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Listening and Note Taking |
Studying takes time - lectures, workshops, laboratories, tutorials, additional time to prepare for lectures, laboratory classes and tutorials, review study notes, write up laboratory work. To keep on top of it you need to manage your time efficiently. It is worthwhile thinking about the best ways of doing this. First think of any concerns you have about studying the subject you choose, perhaps drawing on your experiences from school or college.
| Problems check list - note those problems which apply to you |
| Studying takes too much time, and there is little time for anything else. |
| There is too much work to do. |
| I am constantly rushing. |
| I am late to lectures and laboratory classes. |
| If I take a break I find it difficult to get back to studying. |
| I waste a lot of time. |
| I never know where to begin studying, and put it off. |
| Skill-building tips - read these through, noting the ones you find most helpful. |
| Plan to spend about 6 hours a week on each unit, in addition to the scheduled time spent in the Department. For every lecture you will need to spend some time preparing, annotating your notes, reading the textbooks, working through problems; you should spend one to two hours out of laboratory classes, reading about the experiment beforehand or writing up afterwards. You may need two hours to work on a tutorial or workshop assignment. |
| Schedule a regular time for studying. Studying then becomes second nature, and it will avoid you wasting a lot of time putting it off. You will be able to keep up to date with your assignments without feeling pressured, and you will enjoy being on top of it. A series of short study sessions is most effective. |
| Keep a daily, weekly and semester timetable. On your calendar, write down all your assignments and due dates for written work. Write in all the regularly scheduled activities and include your regular study periods. Each week write down exactly what you are going to work on during your study periods, this will save wasting time deciding what to do. Each day you could write out a reminder about that day's schedule. Give yourself half-an-hour each week to update and revise your timetable; Sunday evening would be a good time. Be flexible so that you can trade study periods if something comes up, rather than loosing them. |
| Plan study sessions of at least an hour. It takes a while to get involved with what you are doing. Take a 10 minute break after each 50 minute period to reenergize yourself. |
| Reward yourself for studying. People work better when they are rewarded for their efforts; but reward yourself afterwards not before. A reward might be seeing a friend, relaxing with a novel etc. |
| Schedule study periods before and after lectures and labs. By previewing the lecture, e.g. viewing Web notes for the lecture, it will be more comprehensible; immediately afterwards the lecture material will still be fresh. Previewing the lab. script will help you organize yourself and get much more out of the lab. work; afterwards you can complete the lab. report while the experiment is fresh in your mind. |
| Schedule some free time. Don't get burned out by studying all the time. If you schedule some free time for yourself each day, you'll find that you can study more efficiently and enjoy it all the more. Use your free time for socializing, going for a walk, playing sport, daydreaming. |
| Look after yourself. Do not overdo it, but look after yourself to get the best out of your time here. Make sure you give yourself time to eat regular meals each day, get regular exercise and get regular sleep each night. |
| Skills check list - prioritize these tips and select up to three that you will implement now. | ||
| 1 | Spend two hours studying for every lecture or lab. class. | |
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| 2 | Schedule regular study times. | |
| 3 | Keep a semester, weekly and daily schedule. | |
| 4 | Make study sessions at least one hour long; after 50 min take a 10 min break. | |
| 5 | Reward yourself for studying by [ ...................... ] | |
| 6 | Schedule study periods before and after lectures and lab. classes | |
| 7 | Schedule some time for recreation and relaxation. | |
| 8 | Take care of yourself - eat, exercise and sleep. | |
| Note the three tips that you want to act on now. Review this list when you have achieved these objectives and decide if there are other points that you would like to implement. | ||
However well you manage your time, if you can't concentrate on the task in hand you are going to achieve little.
| Problems check list - note those problems which apply to you |
| My mind wanders when I am trying to study. |
| I am easily bothered by noise while studying. |
| I often get hungry while studying. |
| I find it hard to concentrate on course work. |
| I often can't find the materials (pencil, calculator etc.) that I need. |
| I keep being interrupted by friends. |
| Reading the textbook is boring. |
| I end up daydreaming instead of studying. |
| Skill-building tips - read these through, noting the ones you find most helpful. |
| Find a study area that is free of distractions and interruptions. You may find it easier to study in the Library rather than your room; use an individual study place and don't sit near a window with an interesting view. If you are interrupted go through a basic ritual, such as straightening the papers on your desk, to tell yourself that you are ready to start studying again. |
| Only use your study area for studying. This will make it easier for you to focus on your studies while sitting there. |
| Your study area should be comfortable and well lit. If the lighting is poor you will strain your eyes and find it difficult to concentrate; glaring lights also make studying difficult. Have all your materials handy when you begin studying (textbook, lecture notes, paper, pencil, calculator). |
| Put aside personal distractions. Set aside other time to deal with personal problems and daydream. If one of your worries keeps bugging you while you are studying, note it on a separate piece of paper and set aside some time to think about it later on. |
| Don't get discouraged. Try to relax while studying. If you have difficulties understanding or tackling a problem do the best you can but don't worry about it; your tutor will be able to help you. Remember that he was once in a similar position. |
| Get actively involved with your studying. Highlight important phrases in your textbook. Work through the example problems. |
| Skills check list - prioritize these tips and select up to three that you will implement now. | ||
| 1 | Distraction free study area (a restart ritual), and interruption free study period. | |
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| 2 | Study area for studying only. | |
| 3 | Study area comfortable, well lit and organized. | |
| 4 | Put aside personal distractions, daydreaming and personal problems. | |
| 5 | Maintain confidence while studying even when the material is difficult. | |
| 6 | Get actively involved with your studying. | |
| Note the three tips that you want to act on now. | ||
On any course, you will be expected to learn independently from course textbooks, and you will need to become familiar with new terms. Reading a textbook takes time and concentration, but there are skills that you can develop to help you become a more efficient reader and to retain more of the information.
| Problems check list - note those problems which apply to you |
| I often don't remember what I have read. |
| I don't know the basic terms used in the text. |
| The problem examples look easy but the end of chapter problems are too difficult. |
| There is too much to know to understand the text. |
| I understand things well when I read the book, but then I forget everything. |
| Skill-building tips - read these through, noting the ones you find most helpful. |
| Skim through the textbook. Look at the table of contents, the preface and appendices. It is useful to see the framework of the book and know what reference data etc. you have access to. |
| Skim each chapter before reading it. It is worthwhile getting an idea of what topics are covered. Read the subtitle headings and think how they relate to the chapter title. |
| Scan the beginning of each paragraph, and the tables, figures and diagrams. If you have a particular section to read, look at the first sentence of each paragraph to see what is going to be important in that section. Don't worry if some terms are unfamiliar, by glancing at them and giving them some thought it will prove easier to understand them later on. The pictorial information offers a brief overview of the highlights and the important details. |
| Now "actively" read the section. Read the text sentence by sentence, working on each to understand it. Stop periodically and ask yourself about what you have read. Don't go on until you feel you understand each new concept or new term. You won't retain the information unless you understand what you read. If you have difficulties make a note to ask your tutor. By actively reading, asking yourself questions, working at new concepts and testing yourself you will find learning and retention much easier. |
| Highlight important points and make notes of terms. Highlighting (or underlining) will help you to remember important material. Read the paragraph first and then go back and highlight the important points. Write key words in the margin to help you in a later review. As you read the chapter also make notes on unfamiliar terms and definitions. |
| Work through example problems. It is easy just to read through a sample problem and learn nothing. Working through the problem tests your understanding and will make it easier when you come to the end of chapter questions. |
| Review the section you have read. Cover the text with a piece of paper and try to recall, in your own words, the key concepts, and terms - using your margin cues as a guide. Then remove the paper and check. This is an ideal way of learning, and in gaining confidence in your ability to master the material. Immediate review is important but you should also review the material later in the semester; but remember that active review is much better than passively reading a chapter - you will spend more time on the material you find most difficult. |
| Skills check list - prioritize these tips and select up to three that you will implement now. | ||
| 1 | Skim through the textbook. | |
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| 2 | Skim each chapter before reading it. | |
| 3 | Scan the beginning of each paragraph, and the tables, figures and diagrams. | |
| 4 | Now "actively" read the section - ask yourself questions. | |
| 5 | Highlight important points and note key words (in margin) and terms. | |
| 6 | Work through example problems. | |
| 7 | Review the section you have read. | |
| Note the three tips which you will act on now; when you have mastered these review this list and implement the others. | ||
Short questions, such as those found at the end of chapters in textbooks, may be easy to understand. Some of the workshop and tutorial problems are rather more involved, and more interesting. You usually need to dissect these longer problems to understand what is being asked.
| Problems check list - note those problems which apply to you |
| I have trouble reading and understanding problems. |
| I never know where to begin. |
| I get frustrated when trying to do the tutorial work. |
| I have no idea if I have got the right answer. |
| I can't follow the answers given in the tutorial. |
| Skill-building tips - read these through, noting the ones you find most helpful. |
| Example Problem (Chemistry) |
| Skills check list - prioritize these tips and select up to three that you will implement now. | ||
| 1 | Read the entire problem and note everything you are unfamiliar with. | |
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| 2 | Identify the topic of the problem. | |
| 3 | Write down all the information given. | |
| 4 | Identify the real question. | |
| 5 | Plan your method of attack. | |
| 6 | See if you have enough information. | |
| 7 | Make sure you discard irrelevant information. | |
| 8 | Solve the problem in an organized way. | |
| 9 | Include units in numerical solutions. | |
| 10 | Check your answer. | |
| Note the three tips that you want to act on now. | ||
Listening to and understanding any lectures is easy once you have grasped the basic terms and concepts. Of course, some material will be new and you will not be familiar with it. It is then valuable to make notes so that you can take stock later to understand the material, and so that you can revise from them. It is difficult to concentrate if you don't understand a lot of the material; nevertheless it is important to take coherent and well organised notes.
| Problems check list - note those problems which apply to you |
| I often find it difficult to pay attention during a lecture. |
| I often can't follow the lecture. |
| I don't seem to be able to write fast enough. |
| I feel overwhelmed by the amount of material covered. |
| I tend to fall asleep in lectures. |
| I can't decipher my own lecture notes. |
| I never feel that I understand the material. |
| Skill-building tips - read these through, noting the ones you find most helpful. | ||||||||
| Attend all the lectures. You will be better able to understand and remember the important concepts and follow the major themes if you hear the lectures yourself. However, if you happen to miss a lecture, copy up notes from a friend before the next lecture. | ||||||||
| Complete any self-study assignments and review your notes. You will find it much easier to listen if you are familiar with some of the terms that are being talked about. | ||||||||
| Be prepared. Get to the lecture in good time and have pen and paper ready for when the lecture starts. | ||||||||
| Focus your attention on the lecturer and take notes. "He listens well, who takes notes" (Dante). By taking notes you will become more involved with the lecture, and will have written notes for later review. Research shows that most people forget 80% of what they have heard within two weeks, and in four weeks you perhaps retain just 5%. | ||||||||
| Just listen to complex explanations, subsequently making notes. If the lecturer moves on before you have finished then ask for more time. | ||||||||
| Ask questions. If material is unclear be sure to ask the lecturer for clarification. The rest of the class is sure to be just as mystified as you. | ||||||||
Organise your notes :-
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| Use abbreviations and symbols. But make sure that you know what they mean and that you use them consistently. | ||||||||
| Write notes in outline form. Write headings for each topic, starting at the left margin. Indent secondary headings and supporting detail. Leave a space when the lecturer moves from one aspect to another. Don't try to write everything down, just the key points and phrases; you can add to these later when reviewing your notes. | ||||||||
| Mark important points. If the lecturer emphasises a point make an appropriate mark in the margin of your notes. Make sure that everything the lecturer writes down, on the board or overhead, is in your notes or on a handout. | ||||||||
| Note any questions and any ideas you miss. Write your own queries within brackets so that you can easily identify them later. Leave spaces when you miss material, and as a reminder make a mark in the margin. You may be able to figure things out later for yourself, but if you can't be sure to see the lecturer. | ||||||||
| Take notes right up to the end of the lecture. Sometimes lecturers will try to finish off a topic before the end of a lecture, and may speed up a little if time is short. | ||||||||
| Edit your notes soon after the lecture. Going over your notes will allow you to fill in the gaps and correct any mistakes, but you must do this while the lecture is still fresh in your mind. You could add extra information in a different colour. | ||||||||
| Add highlights when reviewing your notes. You will be able to use your notes to help you with your tutorial work and to help you revise. You may find it helpful to highlight important points and add margin notes, in the same way that we suggested for textbook reading. |
| Skills check list - prioritize these tips and select up to three that you will implement now. | ||
| 1 | Attend all the lectures. | |
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| 2 | Complete any self-study assignments and review your notes. | |
| 3 | Get prepared. | |
| 4 | Focus your attention on the lecturer and take notes. | |
| 5 | Ask questions. | |
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| 7 | Use abbreviations and symbols. | |
| 8 | Write notes in outline form. | |
| 9 | Note important points. | |
| 10 | Note any questions and any ideas you miss. | |
| 11 | Take notes right up to the end of the lecture. | |
| 12 | Edit your notes soon after the lecture. | |
| 13 | Add highlights when reviewing your notes. | |
| You will meet a variety of lecturing styles: some lecturers may give comprehensive handouts while others may want you to take full notes. You will need to adapt to each situation, ensuring that you have an appropriate set of structured notes for later reference. Note the three tips which you will act on now, but remember to review this list later. | ||
Pages last updated 21st September, 1998.
© University of Southampton