Study Tips

i♥words · May 27, 2012

I make up my own mnemonics all the time. I've even Googled mnemonics ("mneomic for layers of..."). Usually the ones I make up are completely ridiculous, but they really help me out come test day.

I also use a dry erase board to draw pictures and write definitions over and over again. And I always use different color markers, drawing attention to particular things. I don't have a photographic memory (I wish!) but when I'm taking a test I can remember at least what color I drew something in and it helps me remember.

Sometimes also I outline chapters from the textbook, typing it out in a Word document and highlighting the really important stuff. Then I study off of those "cheat sheet." I remember making one for the endocrine system for A&P 2 lab and that helped me a lot for that test. Also did one for vitamins.

A lot of people say to study in groups, but that hasn't worked well for me. Usually we end up talking about non-related things and don't study much at all.

LovinLife28 · May 27, 2012

What works for me is reading the chapter before lecture..take notes..write down any questions i might have so I don't forget during lecture. As soon as I get home from lecture I rewrite my notes while lecture is still fresh in my head.

I am also a part of a study group. This helps me because if I do not understand something one of my classmates explanation of it makes me understand it. There has been instances during a test where I can hear one of my study buddies explanation of something and I get the right answer. Good luck to you.

leenak · May 28, 2012

What works for me is writing things down, it is the best way I've found to commit things to memory.

nurs1ng · May 28, 2012

def write things down because u never realize what things u can remember from actually writing it down on paper

♑ Capricorn ♑ · May 28, 2012

For me, it was reading. Reading and really understanding the material. Most of the time, my instructors would normally go over important information and it was up to us students to really learn what we needed to learn. Mainly, due to the fact that my lecture classes were only an hour long or so. So, it was unreasonable for them to teach us everything that we read in such a small time frame. I was responsible for the information regardless if he/she went over it in lecture. So, I say find what works best for you.

i♥words · May 28, 2012

What works for me is reading the chapter before lecture..take notes..write down any questions i might have so I don't forget during lecture. As soon as I get home from lecture I rewrite my notes while lecture is still fresh in my head.

That is something I really want to make a habit. I rarely had the chapter read before lecture last year, and rewriting notes? No way. I think it is really smart and I'm going to try it next semester.

Exhaustipated, ADN, BSN · May 31, 2012

The thing that has helped me the most is accessing the material every day in some form or fashion. Some days I read over my lecture notes, some days I listen to lectures in the truck during my drive to or from school, some days I work with my flash cards, and some days I do all those things. As long as I read the material, or listen to the material, or talk about the material every day, I've found I remember it better.

I also take notes multiple times. We get pre-printed lecture notes (for A&P) that we're expected to have filled in by the lecture day, making lecture more of a review than an introduction to material. I first fill in what I can from the textbook, then I fill in what I can from a DVD of lectures we get with our A&P package, then I fill in what I can from the actual lecture. Then I compile my information from all three sources and fill it all in NEATLY in my lecture notes book.

I know...it sounds neurotic. I've been teased endlessly about it. But it works for me.