10 Effective Study Techniques for Students

Learning is a constant process that needs to be planned and targeted to yield the desired results. Many students need help to study, learn and retain whatever is being taught or they have read for a long time. This is primarily due to the need for more effective study methods and self-awareness in students. Teachers in the top residential schools in India work to identify and address the primary learning styles of students to make an effective lesson plan that helps boost the efforts students put into their studies. By implementing effective study techniques, students can maximise their progress and utilise their time in revision and targeted learning. Let us learn more about effective learning techniques and their benefits.

What are learning techniques?

Students in different schools affiliated with state, central and international boards, including CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, and IB, often face challenges while trying to study. The curriculum is continuously revised to keep up with the varying educational needs across the globe, and it becomes difficult for students to keep pace with the topics being taught at schools. The learning and retention capacity of every student is different. While some students can easily understand and retain complex topics for a long time, others need help understanding even simple concepts. It is because they need to apply the proper learning techniques. Teachers impart lessons at schools, and then it is up to the students to spend time in self-studies to better understand the topic and clear their doubts regarding the topics taught by the teacher. There are different types of learning techniques, and students study by combining them in multiple variations to understand and learn what is taught to them. Here are a few of the best learning methods for students.

1. Visual learning
2. Auditory learning
3. Reading and writing
4. Practical learning

These are the best learning techniques for students based on the various primary learning styles among students. Parents, teachers, and students must identify the right learning style to make memorising and retaining information easy for a long time.

Benefits of identifying the primary learning styles

Every child is unique and understands lessons at their own pace. This is due to the difference in the primary learning style that varies from one student to another. While some students have an excellent eidetic memory, others learn well by listening or practical engagement in the lessons. The advantages of identifying the primary learning styles are-

1. It builds self-awareness as students explore their learning needs and how to increase their potential. Self-exploration helps in identifying strengths and weaknesses in learning.

2. Students can learn in a systematic, planned and targeted way instead of struggling if they know their primary learning style.

3. It helps maximise learning efforts and yields better results for students.

4. Students studying based on their primary learning style have more self-confidence and self-understanding.

Parents and teachers are responsible for helping students discover their personalised learning methods to reach their learning goals and reduce last-minute exam stress. It is better if learning strategies are formed based on the learning style, as students can choose appropriate study techniques based on the same.

Importance of good study habits for students

Students with good study habits are likely to excel in their careers as it is vital to academic success and overall personal development. It is essential to cultivate healthy study habits to balance studies and personal time, work on self, avoid exam stress and improve retention capacity. Good study habits include:

• Eliminating distractions.
• Studying based on a set timetable.
• Making the most of technological resources.
• Avoiding stress and anxiety.
• Getting enough sleep.
• Revising.
• Assessing yourself promptly.

The importance of good study methods is as follows- 

1. Practising efficient study methods helps increase students’ ability to understand and retain whatever is studied.

2. It helps manage time to study every subject equally and revise what has already been studied.

3. Having a sound study environment helps improve focus and keeps students from distractions by building self-discipline.

4. Students who study and learn actively use their critical thinking facilities and examine every concept. By addressing queries, students can develop a better understanding of the topic.

5. Consistent learning helps keep stress and anxiety away and boosts self-confidence among students.

Challenges in learning for students

Students come across many challenges in effective learning and struggle to adapt to productive study habits for various reasons- 

1. Technological distractions– These days, students spend a significant amount of time with their mobiles and other smart devices and take very little time to study. Social media sites, online gaming and other applications keep students engaged throughout the day, leaving little time for productive studying.

2. Lack of motivation– Students may find a few concepts or subjects complex to understand and likely feel demotivated and clueless. Teachers and parents must constantly encourage their students to study.

3. Poor time management– Some students need help balancing academic studies, extracurricular activities, socialising, and personal lives. Everything gets crammed up, leaving students exhausted and drained. It leads to procrastination and anxiety.

4. Wrong study habits– Students need to study based on their learning style. If students with a visual learning style try to learn by reading and writing, they will struggle and retain little information.

5. Exam stress– It is habitual for students to learn only when the exam dates are close enough. In such circumstances, students study under pressure and tend to forget whatever they study due to the built-up pressure and stress. Students can adopt a better learning strategy by following tips to reduce exam stress.

Effective study techniques for students

The top 10 study techniques that can help students during exams and otherwise are as follows-

1. Feynman technique– The concept was formulated by Richard Feynman, who stated that if students study any topic in a way they try to explain to a six-year-old child, it becomes easier. The Feynman technique breaks down complex concepts into simpler, digestible chunks so that a 6-year-old easily understands every aspect of the topic. The motive behind the technique was that if you have to explain anything to such a small kid, you must master the topic. It helps you to learn more deeply and thoroughly and think more critically.
   
2. SQ3R method – It is a comprehension technique that helps students retain information while reading it. It is an active reading process where students survey, question, read, recite, and review the written information. The purpose is to understand and retain what is being read as much as possible. Based on the topic, students survey what the topic may include before starting the reading and then proceed to put questions they would like to address in the topic. Once they start the reading process, they try to recall whatever has been read and then review it to check if all the previous questions are answered.

3. Spaced learning– It promotes studying over a more extended period instead of trying to study one night before the exams. The brain works harder to recall information if it cannot. Spaced learning helps the human mind build connections between various ideas to help recall one piece of information through another idea that is easier to remember.

4. PQ4R method– It helps students to understand and memorise topics more effectively. It is an acronym for preview, question, read, reflect, recite, and review that must be applied when reading new material. Before starting the reading process, students must preview and build questions they want to address in the topic. After reading, students must try to recall the reading information and summarise whatever they have studied in their own words.

5. Pomodoro technique– This technique revolves around a break and study method where students can time sessions of 25-45 minutes of studies followed by a break of 5-15 minutes where students need to distance themselves from whatever topic they are studying thoroughly. After four such sessions, the break can extend from 15-30 minutes each session. This technique focuses on learning with a brief resting period that accelerates thinking and learning power.

6. Mind mapping– It is a strategic technique, especially helpful in revisions. Mind mapping is building a mental flowchart of every topic or concept to highlight subtopics in the mind that can be explained in detail. Mental imaging of topics is helpful in critical thinking as students may use it during the initial stages of studying a topic. It is helpful when students have a topic and try to map what they expect from it and what queries emerge in that process. All these questions, subtopics and concepts can be cleared as students proceed to study.

7. Revision– Students must revise whatever they study daily to jog their memory and recall whatever they have studied. Daily revision helps place the information from the unconscious into short-term memory, which will help students retrieve stored data in their minds quickly. Students can also note points to remember or keywords that help them remember a concept.

8. Practising question papers– It is always helpful if students know the type of questions they may expect in the exams. Practising previous year’s papers helps build self-confidence as students answer all the questions given.

9. Utilising technological resources– Phones and smart devices such as tablets and laptops can be used to explore and utilise various educational resources, including social media platforms such as YouTube. E-books, Quora, and Google are always available to students to ask questions and get answers to their queries. Various apps, such as Duolingo, are building themselves to teach students in a gaming format.

10. Setting realistic goals– Students must identify their potential and set a practically possible timetable. Start by aiming for smaller goals of completing one topic per day, and as you progress, increase your daily goal. 

Students must implement these 10 effective study techniques in a planned, targeted and result-oriented manner.

SKV is an all-girls boarding school in India that is affiliated with the CBSE board and offers progressive and high-quality education to students from class VI onwards. Our teachers are skilled and experienced and work to encourage students to explore themselves and learn in a targeted way equipped with technology.