Have you ever stayed up till midnight or even later to cram in some type of studying the night before a huge test? Studies show that the kids who study regularly and more effectively tend to perform better and have a deeper understanding of the topics they are learning, while the kids who have a knack for procrastination and little to no interest in the topics tend to be more disengaged and have lower performance rates. So how can we improve those study habits?

Sometimes it’s not always about how much you study, but about how you’re doing it. When you’re studying and trying to make things stick, it’s important to include repetitive factors into your learning. Just by saying something repeatedly can help your brain get more familiar and comfortable with the topic making it easier to remember. 

Studying isn’t just limited to repetition though, students have found success in using flashcards, games, study guides, and even just going through all their notes in general. 

After being asked if he could give any advice to someone else about preparing for exams and important assignments, Tahoma High School student Evan Horton answered with, “I can definitely say revising with a friend is so so helpful and especially talking out loud.” 

For bigger tests and assignments having good time management is crucial. Taking the time to study a few days in advance can really help your brain comprehend the new information it’s learning rather than waiting all the way till the night before.

Current Spanish teacher, Megan Walsh, expressed that her students had better success rates with materials, like study games and attention in class even stating that, “I feel like, they tend to have the best results with Quizlet and Conehogemos, the online games or flashcards are helpful, but in addition, we do a lot of practice in class, so I would say just paying attention in class is also really important.” 

She also noted that, “I think there’s a mental component to, like, worrying about something, and then making a bigger deal out of it than it actually is when you try.” 

The aspect of waiting to study or just the pressure in general can cause a lot of unnecessary stress and worrying that could end up affecting one’s performance even more.

After going over all of this you might find that study games are just your thing or for other’s maybe its flash cards, but overall, it’s important that you find the best study strategy that works for you and also note that trying new tactics could eventually lead to better results.