Hey guys. So I've decided to bombard myself with all AP courses this year because I definitely need the college credits. Of course, doing so and maintaining great grades in my AP courses is going to be a challenge, but a worthwhile one.
However, all of these classes have made me question my study habits for upcoming tests and quizzes. Generally, I write notes during my classes (sometimes outlines to structure my ideas differently, but I usually just write term definitions and main ideas accompanied by bullet-pointed supporting details). These are how my notes are structured for every class I have except AP Calculus.
After school when I get home, I bring out my notes for the day and then re-type them in Word or something as it because not only does it help refresh my memory, but I can make corrections to my handwritten notes and organize my ideas and thoughts by cleaning up my notes a bit. After my revised notes are finished, I look over them for a few. I've seen that this way of studying really helps!
Even though this way of studying has proven very beneficial for me, I'm curious if there are any other efficient ways of studying that were proven practical and useful to you guys before a quiz/exam/test. I know that everyone studies differently, and that my way of studying isn't the #1 only way to study effectively.
Also, how should I study for my AP Calculus class, as it revolves more around actually knowing formulas and knowing how to solve certain equations than memorizing raw facts and concepts? I'd like to know this as well.
tl;dr - What are you guys' study habits?
Study Habits!
Started by: Tsang | Replies: 26 | Views: 2,559
Sep 25, 2014 6:56 PM #1246557
Sep 25, 2014 7:14 PM #1246561
I've also taken AP Calculus and what helped me the most was just doing practice problems. Honestly, the best way to get good at math is to just constantly solve different kinds of problems and just continuing to condition yourself (or, at least that's what was best for me).
Sep 25, 2014 7:17 PM #1246563
Quizlet is really helpful. Also using the textbook website codes in classes like AP Bio helps a lot.
Sep 25, 2014 8:50 PM #1246574
Any class that gives you access to powerpoints, use the powerpoint to download the "Outlined" version. Just open up the powerpoint and go to print and search through the option for it. You could print out a 100 slide powerpoint for only 4-5 pages and you could bring it to class and write down any additional notes when going through the powerpoint. I did this for my AP Biology, Chemistry, and Anatomy classes.
Anything involving math, you should get a practice book like "5 Steps to a 5" for which ever class. I got one for my AP Physics B class and ended up with a 4 on the National Exam and a 5 on the school's final exam earlier this year. Also going through past national exams are really helpful. I'm probably gonna do the same thing for my AP Calculus class.
I found the best way to figure out how to write essays in classes like AP World History, US History, Language and Composition was to go online and search up past national exams. I would look at the free response and actual student responses. Normally each question would have 3 responses, each scoring high (8-9), medium (4-7), and low (1-4). Just useful for finding out what you should and shouldn't do on an essay.
Anything involving math, you should get a practice book like "5 Steps to a 5" for which ever class. I got one for my AP Physics B class and ended up with a 4 on the National Exam and a 5 on the school's final exam earlier this year. Also going through past national exams are really helpful. I'm probably gonna do the same thing for my AP Calculus class.
I found the best way to figure out how to write essays in classes like AP World History, US History, Language and Composition was to go online and search up past national exams. I would look at the free response and actual student responses. Normally each question would have 3 responses, each scoring high (8-9), medium (4-7), and low (1-4). Just useful for finding out what you should and shouldn't do on an essay.
Sep 25, 2014 10:01 PM #1246585
I have a very unique habit for studying; play video games all day long until the last minute before my homework is due.
Sep 25, 2014 10:35 PM #1246587
"Due tomorrow, do tomorrow"
Sep 25, 2014 11:06 PM #1246591
"What homework? Oh, that homework? Yeah, I didn't do it."
Sep 25, 2014 11:24 PM #1246594
Quote from RaptorQuizlet is really helpful. Also using the textbook website codes in classes like AP Bio helps a lot.
Yeah, I've used Quizlet memorizing words and the like in Spanish class before and it's always been incredibly helpful. I'm not too far in the Spanish curriculum yet this year but once I am I'm gonna have to use Quizlet again.
Sep 25, 2014 11:49 PM #1246599
Quizlet is helpful for any subject that uses terms, which is pretty much all of them. History and Bio in particular have a lot, and simply making the flashcards helps you study.
Sep 26, 2014 12:50 AM #1246608
Quote from Hatchet HaroI have a very unique habit for studying; play video games all day long until the last minute before my homework is due.
Quote from Youwishjellyfish"Due tomorrow, do tomorrow"
Quote from Miracle"What homework? Oh, that homework? Yeah, I didn't do it."
I'm going to have to stop you guys from posting unserious shit like this. Infractions are at the door from this point on
Sep 26, 2014 1:51 AM #1246629
First of all each subject requires a different approach to studying. While a hammer might be useful, you can't use it for everything. So first off maybe list your other subjects.
As for maths, you are wasting your time. You aren't marked on how to take notes, you are marked on how you answer questions. What I would recommend is to ask if your teacher can give you the powerpoint slides, or finish all of your note taking by the time you finish class; at worst you should just be spending as littlest time as possible rewriting it. It is not a rote learning subject as some may be inclined to believe. The best way to learn for maths is to actually do the questions! Often your school will prescribe you with a textbook or a booklet filled with exam questions. Search for past papers themselves (but save these until later). Actually doing questions is an active way to learn and it can help you identify your weaknesses in which notetaking does not do at all (for me at least). The only time I took notes, was for concepts I did not understand while doing questions. For these, I wrote down the stuff in big texts and visuals on an A4 piece of paper and stuck them to my bedroom wall.
Now, usually your teacher will set you with questions. Do these first. Circle any questions that you are not sure how you go wrong and the next day discuss with your teacher as soon as possible; trust me you do not want a mound of question that needs addressing on the day before the exam. I find that this is where a tutor is handy. You get 1 hour with a person who can help you with all your questions, something in which a teacher might not have time to do. Do them open book, refer to your notes when stuck or google search, yahoo answers. Watch youtube videos such as Khan academy or PatrickJMT (these two have PLENTY of resources for maths).
While this circling of questions may seem trivial what it essentially allows is, in 10 weeks time, a highlight of the things that you had trouble with. If at this point in time you are able to answer it like that, then you know the content. If not, you have to go back and revise. Also I would like to point out, is if there are too many questions for you to get through, be selective e.g. do every second, or perhaps the second half of a set (ignoring the easy ones if you have confidence), there maybe no point in doing something like 1+1 ten times, because it is just a waste; save these for revision. However, do ALL questions your teacher sets out.
Now for exam preparation. How I used to prepare was doing practice papers. Try to find 10. The more the better. The first 2 you do open book, no time. Once again, after each exam done, circle the questions you aren't sure of and resolve your weaknesses i.e. redo textbook questions or exam booklet questions. Next phase, do 3 closed book un-timed. And then do the remaining closed timed i.e. exam conditions. Essentially, you want to build up speed, and minimize the amount of time you have to think about each question.
Oh, and do all your questions on loose leaf paper and organise them in a folder (separate each section (topic) using plastic pockets). Think of it as an archive. If you were to look at it in 10 months time, you should be able to recognize how you were able to solve the problem; this means it should be neat and you should have complete working out. Give it to a stranger, and they should think it is a solution manual.
Maths is about understanding concepts, not memorizing stuff bit for bit (while there is memorizing involved, that is not the tough). Memorizing should come naturally when you have done enough questions. Identify weaknesses, and resolve them. Maintain a tight schedule, because maths is an easy subject to fall behind which is just a snowball of disaster.
As for maths, you are wasting your time. You aren't marked on how to take notes, you are marked on how you answer questions. What I would recommend is to ask if your teacher can give you the powerpoint slides, or finish all of your note taking by the time you finish class; at worst you should just be spending as littlest time as possible rewriting it. It is not a rote learning subject as some may be inclined to believe. The best way to learn for maths is to actually do the questions! Often your school will prescribe you with a textbook or a booklet filled with exam questions. Search for past papers themselves (but save these until later). Actually doing questions is an active way to learn and it can help you identify your weaknesses in which notetaking does not do at all (for me at least). The only time I took notes, was for concepts I did not understand while doing questions. For these, I wrote down the stuff in big texts and visuals on an A4 piece of paper and stuck them to my bedroom wall.
Now, usually your teacher will set you with questions. Do these first. Circle any questions that you are not sure how you go wrong and the next day discuss with your teacher as soon as possible; trust me you do not want a mound of question that needs addressing on the day before the exam. I find that this is where a tutor is handy. You get 1 hour with a person who can help you with all your questions, something in which a teacher might not have time to do. Do them open book, refer to your notes when stuck or google search, yahoo answers. Watch youtube videos such as Khan academy or PatrickJMT (these two have PLENTY of resources for maths).
While this circling of questions may seem trivial what it essentially allows is, in 10 weeks time, a highlight of the things that you had trouble with. If at this point in time you are able to answer it like that, then you know the content. If not, you have to go back and revise. Also I would like to point out, is if there are too many questions for you to get through, be selective e.g. do every second, or perhaps the second half of a set (ignoring the easy ones if you have confidence), there maybe no point in doing something like 1+1 ten times, because it is just a waste; save these for revision. However, do ALL questions your teacher sets out.
Now for exam preparation. How I used to prepare was doing practice papers. Try to find 10. The more the better. The first 2 you do open book, no time. Once again, after each exam done, circle the questions you aren't sure of and resolve your weaknesses i.e. redo textbook questions or exam booklet questions. Next phase, do 3 closed book un-timed. And then do the remaining closed timed i.e. exam conditions. Essentially, you want to build up speed, and minimize the amount of time you have to think about each question.
Oh, and do all your questions on loose leaf paper and organise them in a folder (separate each section (topic) using plastic pockets). Think of it as an archive. If you were to look at it in 10 months time, you should be able to recognize how you were able to solve the problem; this means it should be neat and you should have complete working out. Give it to a stranger, and they should think it is a solution manual.
Maths is about understanding concepts, not memorizing stuff bit for bit (while there is memorizing involved, that is not the tough). Memorizing should come naturally when you have done enough questions. Identify weaknesses, and resolve them. Maintain a tight schedule, because maths is an easy subject to fall behind which is just a snowball of disaster.
Sep 30, 2014 3:47 AM #1247887
For tests and the like, I have found procrastination to give me an advantage. Studying/mentally going over your shiz last minutes is a more effective form of study[1] as information is fresher and you don't the problem of getting stuck and not remembering things. Also simply not studying works as long as you hear/listen to the lecture and/or take notes but, you should probably have a good memory. Sure, I may have issues with homework due to my laziness but, I ace every exam so, I don't have to stress over that. I am currently working on a variant of my method optimized for mathematics.
How about people like me who legitimately are described perfectly by those statements? If I posted that then, it wouldn't be tongue-in-cheek, it'd be serious.
[1] some Cracked article, don't feel like looking for it now.
Quote from HewittI'm going to have to stop you guys from posting unserious shit like this. Infractions are at the door from this point on
How about people like me who legitimately are described perfectly by those statements? If I posted that then, it wouldn't be tongue-in-cheek, it'd be serious.
[1] some Cracked article, don't feel like looking for it now.
Sep 30, 2014 7:12 PM #1248126
Well I don't know how to study for the life of me (cause I never had to yet) but the only way I can help you is by manipulating sleep for memory
If you want to remember what you learned for the long term you study how ever you study and take a nap or actually fall asleep because the brain goes through your day while sleeping over and over again and the most fresh thing in your head is memorized
If you are cramming for a test, then don't sleep at all... The longer you go without sleep the more short term memory have but you won't remember what you studied that well a couple days later, so try to keep a regular sleep cycle
If you stay up for than 6 days in a row your short term memory will be so short that counting backwards from a hundred you won't make it half way through without forgetting what you are doing
Hopefully this helps you
If you want to remember what you learned for the long term you study how ever you study and take a nap or actually fall asleep because the brain goes through your day while sleeping over and over again and the most fresh thing in your head is memorized
If you are cramming for a test, then don't sleep at all... The longer you go without sleep the more short term memory have but you won't remember what you studied that well a couple days later, so try to keep a regular sleep cycle
If you stay up for than 6 days in a row your short term memory will be so short that counting backwards from a hundred you won't make it half way through without forgetting what you are doing
Hopefully this helps you
Oct 1, 2014 1:12 AM #1248240
Speaking of napping. I've found power napping to be quite useful when you start dozing off while studying. The aim is not to fall into a deep stage of sleep so you end up with grogginess when you wake up, but rather just bordering this stage. I found that no more then 15 minutes tends to work for me, others may be different. I'd say anything more then that is too much. Don't worry if you don't fall straight to "sleep", it is just a period for mind to take a break. I usually do this between my lecture breaks, or the start of an early 9am lecture.
Oct 1, 2014 2:58 AM #1248287
I have a question about napping: What's more effective...
a) Study then sleep or
b) Sleep then Study
My cousin actually does the latter, so he almost never "wakes up for school". He says thats when the brain works hard the most. It's unhealthy but does it really work?
What you are describing is not a study habit. It's procrastination. That's like saying you work hard to get paid by robbing banks. It's completely out of scope.
You may actually have study habits lest you would have already dropped out, but it's probably something you take for granted or don't notice. And if you legitimately already know or are smart enough, then you must have another way that knowledge is coming through you.
a) Study then sleep or
b) Sleep then Study
My cousin actually does the latter, so he almost never "wakes up for school". He says thats when the brain works hard the most. It's unhealthy but does it really work?
Quote from NaimadHow about people like me who legitimately are described perfectly by those statements? If I posted that then, it wouldn't be tongue-in-cheek, it'd be serious.
What you are describing is not a study habit. It's procrastination. That's like saying you work hard to get paid by robbing banks. It's completely out of scope.
You may actually have study habits lest you would have already dropped out, but it's probably something you take for granted or don't notice. And if you legitimately already know or are smart enough, then you must have another way that knowledge is coming through you.