The school and college years are characterized by a lot of nervousness, stress and anxiety among students.

Many people wonder: how can I face the study to optimize my academic performance? Are there any study strategies or techniques that can help me?

Study techniques that will help you pass the exams

It is proven that memorizing whole texts from top to bottom is not effective at all, traditionally this has been considered the way to study, but this idea is totally outdated.

Fortunately this is no longer the case , we now have more modern techniques that offer better results , in addition they are much more dynamic and entertaining. These techniques improve performance and learning ability.

Below we offer you some of these techniques, a total of eleven effective strategies to study better .

1. Always underline

The best known and simplest is to highlight, with a marker or a pencil, the most important part of the subject .This does not mean eliminating information but synthesizing it, separating the straw from the grain.

We can also use different colors if we prefer, so it will be easier to organize the reading. First we must read the text as a whole to extract its meaning and then underline what is most relevant and then continue with the study.

2. Make your own notes

Another very common technique along with underlining is making notes. It consists of summarizing the text by extracting the most important part , noting down all the key parts. We can use our own language so that it is easier to understand what we have noted. You can use pencil and paper or if you prefer a word processor.

3. Make your mind map

Organizes and synthesizes ideas by creating a mind map . A well-done mind map will help us to better manage the time we invest in studying and to settle our ideas effectively.

4. Draw

Associating concepts with drawings facilitates their memorization, a good advice for people with good visual memory . It is a great idea for most subjects and a great mnemonic method. You can also complement these images with your mind map mentioned above, this will multiply your assimilation capacity when studying.

5. Make a file

Uses study cards, which are remarkably effective in absorbing concrete data , for example numbers, words or dates. In this way the learning is much more dynamic and simple since they can be easily consulted.

6. Use mnemonic rules

A method or mnemonic rule is relevant when memorizing lists of words or sets . This method consists of associating a concept or a list of words with a term that is easier to remember and more familiar.

There are endless mnemonic rules, practically like people. A trick to give an example would be to use the invented word “CHON” to remember the chemical elements essential for the existence of life, that is, Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen.

7. Do practical exercises

Very often the theory becomes more understandable if we illustrate it with a concrete practical case . This system is essential for subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry or logic, and in general all those subjects that contain numbers, symbols or problems.

So as we learn the theory it is advisable to complement it with a practical case at each moment to be able to understand how it applies. As the logical problems, an example would be the following exercise:

It’s either sunny or cloudy.

It’s not cloudy.

So, it’s sunny.

Whose solution would be:

↓ p ↓ q

¬q

Therefore, p.

8. Take tests to evaluate your knowledge

At the end of the day it is very interesting to test yourself by doing tests . The tests will help us to identify those parts that are weakest, so that we can focus on areas that we need to strengthen.

In addition, if we perform test exams or if we exchange them with a colleague, we will be able to make sure which points we have left out. So create tests, take mock exams, and swap them as a final method before examining yourself.

9. The “Brainstorming”

This technique can be done in a group and is a lot of fun . Brainstorming, also known as “brainstorming” and literally “creative meeting”, consists of getting together with other colleagues to add questions and ideas related to a particular area.

It is important when we work in a group, so that we take all perspectives into account. However, it can be used in the same way to prepare for an exam by exchanging the roles of examiner and examiner, especially if the test is oral. In any case, using a mind map (see technique 3) is ideal for better organizing ideas.

10. Make a study plan

Finally it is essential to be organized through a study plan. Usually, many students do not take this into account by making a huge mistake.

Create a study schedule bearing in mind the objectives previously set and the time available. In a manner of speaking, it is a way of administering oneself. Just as a climber does not climb Everest in one go, you must establish your base camps and determine concrete objectives within a time frame in order to finally reach the goal. This is the first step and the key to success in any subject.

11. Brain training tips

If you still want to squeeze more and better out of your mnemonic skills and your ability to optimize your study hours, we recommend that you read this article. Good luck with your exams!