Study Skills Checklist

Study Skills:  Study Smarter Not Harder

Memory

• Repeat to remember. Study and practice using the information regularly
• Talk out loud about what you’re learning. For example, explain out loud to a friend, your goldfish or yourself.
• Review notes and readings within 24 hours of learning the information.
• Use mnemonic devices such as acronyms and acrostics.
• Make up songs that will help you remember important information.
• Associate new information with information that is already familiar to you.
• Create colorful visuals that correlate with new information you learn.
• Use flash cards to memorize vocabulary terms.

Note Taking

• Focus in class. Avoid all distractions (put your cell phone away!!)
• Use neat handwriting.
• Leave space in between main points to fill in later.
• Review your notes within 24 hours and add key words, visuals, and other tools that will help you summarize, understand and recall information.
• Identify topics you have difficulty understanding with a “?” or another symbol – review these topics with your tutor or during professor’s office hours.
• If you fall behind when taking notes, leave blank space and get the notes from a classmate or the instructor after class.
• Use a binder and loose leaf paper (writing by hand improves memory).
• Differentiate between essential and non-essential information in lectures.

Planning

• Identify at least three concepts, strategies, or tasks that you can learn from each course you take and determine why the information is important.
• Set challenging, but realistic goals for each course every semester.
• Introduce yourself to your instructors.
• Introduce yourself to at least one person in every class and exchange contact information with that person.
• Identify study partners that you can count on if you need help or want to schedule consistent reviews.
• Locate a distraction-free study environment.
• Identify your strengths and weaknesses as a student.
• Keep track of your grades and semester and cumulative GPAs.

Reading

• Preview the chapter before you read it. Pay special attention to the bolded words, definitions and any pictures or diagrams in the chapter
• Read the chapter introduction and any learning outcomes, if available.
• Break large reading assignments into smaller chunks.
• Ask questions about the material before you read the chapter, and then work to answer those questions as you read.
• Underline or highlight 10% or less of the reading assignment.
• Review what you have read within 24 hours.
• If you find words you are unsure of, use a dictionary or online resources.
• Read summaries at the end of each section or chapter, if available.
• Complete practice quizzes at the end of each chapter, if available.

Test Taking

• Test Prep
  • Review material daily, weekly, and monthly.
  • Predict test questions.
  • Ask the instructor what to expect on the exam.
  • Form study groups.
  • Study in advance. Avoid taking in any new material the night before the exam.
  • Test yourself before the exam to be sure that you know the material.
• During the Test
  • Read the test directions carefully.
  • Scan the entire exam and plan your time accordingly.
• After the Test
  • Review the exam after it is returned.
  • Conduct a post-exam survey.
  • Talk with the professor about questions you missed on the exam.

Time Management

• Maintain an assignment calendar.
• Schedule your study time.
• Plan to study two hours outside of class for every hour in class.
• Create prioritized to-do lists.
• Use a planner.
• Create balance between academics, work, and social time.