The written school-leaving exams are almost over, but the oral ones are still to come!
Many students have trouble with the oral exam topics, since a lot of material has to be learned in a relatively short time. On top of that they are not always exciting, which makes memorising them even harder. It is easy to let your mind wander, and one would rather tidy up, clean or do any other activity that in normal circumstances one would find harder to get round to.
So that you can prepare more easily, we have brought you a few tips that can help with effective and fast learning!
Put your surroundings in order!
It is harder to concentrate at a messy desk, you cannot easily find what you need, and on top of that everything distracts your attention. Before you start studying, put away everything that is unnecessary! Let the desk be clear, the markers and writing implements organised, and let there be enough space in front of you for taking notes.
Take notes!
While studying it helps if you write out the important things, but it matters how you do it! Take notes consciously, and only write out key words from a given section, in your own words. That way you will remember it better, and looking back at it you will sooner recall what you meant. Although taking notes on a computer is certainly more modern and cooler, numerous studies have shown that handwritten notes are more effective. That is also why it is good to make a crib sheet by hand. You would not even think it, but while you are collecting the material for the crib sheet, you are continuously learning the lesson as well!
Take a break!
And we do not mean looking at Facebook, Insta or TikTok, but quality rest, when your brain can also recharge. Studying requires a lot of energy, so our brain needs a little recharging in the meantime, while it digests the new information and makes room for more. It is much more invigorating if, while studying, when you get tired, you lie down and sleep for half an hour! With this you will memorise the newly acquired knowledge more effectively!
Drink enough!
Taking in the right amount of fluid is important in any case, especially when you have to prepare for a serious exam! Dehydration reduces your brain’s performance capacity, and as a result studying will be less effective. Make sure that there is always enough fluid to hand with which you can hydrate, thereby also refreshing the working of your brain!
Try out several study methods!
It also has an invigorating effect on your brain if from time to time you swap your study methods around! The more regions you make work, the more effective you will be. Make notes, record the material to be learned as audio and listen to it while travelling, cooking or training. You will be far more successful if you deploy this method too!
Study in parts!
Do not try to grind through the whole thing at once; instead divide the processing of the material into smaller parts. It will go much better if you do not want to learn the whole thing straight away, but set a time for each part and within that master the given chapter. Then when you have finished, go over the whole thing again as one, and with that it will stick better too.
Use an app!
Today there are a great many ways in which you can support your studying, among others with certain phone applications! It would be useful to make the most of these options; they can help you with brainstorming, taking notes, maintaining concentration and in other areas too.