16 Unconventional but Effective Study Techniques for Acing Exams
Preparing for exams can be daunting, but it must not be dull or overwhelming. Sometimes, the key to success is thinking outside the box and incorporating unconventional study techniques into your routine. Let’s explore 16 unique strategies to help you ace your exams confidently.
Teach What You’ve Learned
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Have you ever wondered why your teachers are so good at their subjects? It’s because they’ve been teaching students like you long. So, whenever there’s something that you want a better grip on, try to learn it to its depth. Then, find someone — a friend, family member, or any of your juniors — and start teaching them. As you do so, questions will arise, which will help solidify your concepts.
Create Mnemonics
Creating mnemonics is an effective way of studying. In this study technique, you relate an otherwise difficult thing to memorize with something you can recall at your fingertips. Acronyms, rhymes, and visual and spatial mnemonics are tools to make studying more effective and engaging.
Practice Meditation
How can you effectively study if you’re not focused and your cognitive functions aren’t performing optimally? This is where meditation comes into play. By calming your mind and concentrating on the present moment, you can effectively study and retain information for extended periods.
Use Scent Association
Scent association is another great way to recall information right when needed. It involves spraying your favorite scents in your study area before you start studying. As you do this, a unique olfactory link will be formed, bringing the studied information to your brain the next time you smell this scent. So, during exams, not only will you be able to recall information more effectively, but you will also be able to keep stress and anxiety in control.
Take Study Walks
Sitting quietly at your desk or in a library and reading through information all the time is one of many ways to study effectively. Research has shown that physical activities such as walking outdoors enhance memory and attention. Therefore, incorporate walks into your study routine and mentally review your learning. These brief study walks will make studying more fun and healthier.
Gamify Your Learning
What makes games most interesting are the challenges and the rewards we get after overcoming those challenges. This is why you should consider your studies a game in which you must conquer the final boss — in this case, the exams.
During this process, assign point values to different study tasks, such as understanding a complex concept or memorizing a topic. As you gamify your learning, your study sessions will become more effective, engaging, and enjoyable.
Experiment with Different Study Environments
Why limit yourself to a single place when you can go out, sit under the shade of a tree, and study to the fullest? Having the same learning environment can be tedious and can cause productivity loss.
That is why it is recommended to experiment with different places and stick to where you can study better. It could be a park, an outdoor café, a co-working space, or your own home.
Utilise the Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro technique involves focusing entirely on a task for 25 minutes, followed by a short break. You can do whatever fun you wish during this short break and then return to your task for another Pomodoro session. After four Pomodoros, take a more extended break of about 15-30 minutes. Doing so can prevent procrastination and efficiently manage your time for maximum results.
Engage in Active Reading
Active reading involves interacting with your textbooks on a deeper level by asking yourself questions, making connections, and summarising key points in your own words. You can employ various active reading strategies.
Active reading techniques involve skimming, scanning, annotating, summarizing, and questioning. By doing so, your understanding of the subject deepens, your retention power increases and your critical thinking skills are boosted.
Create a Study Playlist
Music is an excellent form of expression, and it can also uplift moods and increase motivation. That is why it has been found that music without lyrics—such as classical, ambient, jazz, or instrumental—can improve concentration and assist you in studying effectively. Carefully curate a playlist, and let the music make your study sessions more fun!
Visualise Concepts
Visualizing concepts involves making mental images, diagrams, or maps. When studying, reserve time to visualize all the information you have learned and highlight important parts and relationships.
This is particularly helpful for subjects like biology, geometry, and physics. It will foster a deeper understanding of your subject, develop new insights, and improve your ability to recall information effectively.
Practice Retrieval
Once you have memorized a topic, it is suggested that you actively employ your retention power to recall that information through self-testing or quizzing. You can also utilize flashcards and practice exams to prepare your brain for the tense environment of the exams. Practicing retrieval is a sure way of enhancing long-term retention and learning.
Write by Hand
Writing by hand on paper is like carving your brain. You mentally process and rephrase the information before writing it on paper. In addition, you use different functions of the brain while writing by hand, which results in the strengthening of your memory and better learning.
Join a Study Group
Joining a study group allows you to benefit from different perspectives on the same thing. It also enables you to strengthen your understanding of something by asking your peers for help. Furthermore, you get the chance to test out your concepts and knowledge through discussions and debates.
Take Breaks to Daydream
Take short breaks and daydream during your study hours, letting your mind wander off. Researchers have shown that our creativity, problem-solving, and cognitive flexibility increase when we let our minds go free.
This is because, during daydreaming, our mind naturally gravitates toward the complex concepts of our studies and looks for links that would simplify them.
Reward Yourself
When you know you’ll get a reward for completing something, wouldn’t you be more excited and energetic about achieving that objective? When you reach those small, achievable goals of your study sessions, spoil yourself with a treat, a short break, or an episode of your favorite season. This will result in increased productivity and improved concentration.
Conclusion
Studying doesn’t have to be boring, nor does effective studying mean remaining restricted to a single place with your textbooks in front of you. These 16 unconventional study techniques prove effective and can bring life to your sessions. Therefore, experiment with these and find out what works best for you!
