Do you feel overwhelmed with the gargantuan workload you have whilst also trying to study for exams? Perhaps, you are getting stressed just thinking about your revision plan. Did you know, it’s been proven that the method of studying which most students follow is unhelpful or ineffective in the long-term recall of information [1]. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there, and in this article, I have listed some handy revision points that I put in practice while I prepare for exams of my Master’s in Energy Storage!
Read assigned readings before class:
If your professors assign readings to be completed before class, it is highly advised to complete them. These readings will form the basis of your understanding for the following class. The further you delay the reading, the more difficult it will be to catch up. So, it is suggested that you read the pre-assigned readings and preferably make notes for quick reference.
Take notes during class:
The best time to retain information is during class. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to the professors and take notes which will not only help in maintaining your attention but also in information retention. To take notes faster, it is recommended to use abbreviations. Abbreviations and acronyms are great ways through which information can be connected faster when you study!
Quiz yourself after each unit:
Once you have thoroughly read each unit or section once, quiz yourself either through the sample questions at the end of the unit or by formulating your questions based on each sub-topic [2]. This is a great way to understand how well you’ve conceptualised the material that’s due for the exam.
Visualise your information:
One of the best strategies to effectively study for exams is to make a visual representation of your study material. This could be done in the form of diagrams, flowcharts, tables and/or visual simulations.
As an engineering student of EIT InnoEnergy Master’s School, there are situations where I have courses that are quite collaborative and require a lot of conceptual understanding. We are trained to be equipped with both technical and entrepreneurial skills. This means that I have to process a lot of varied information for most of my courses.
Visualising the information has been a tried and tested method for me and it has helped me perform well for my exams. For example, if you compare the performance of different systems, the best way to visualise the data is by creating a table with the systems being rated against the common parameters. This makes it easier to compartmentalise the data and remember it for longer!
Dedicate a few hours during the weekend to review notes:
Studying during the weekend may seem monotonous and highly unmotivating. But, if it is possible, I recommend dedicating just half an hour every day during the weekends to review the notes. It will make a big difference in setting the tone for the following week. It will also be much easier to connect the information from the previous week and understand how itis relevant for the information in the subsequent week.
Smart work rather than hard work:
As much as cramming seems to be the norm amongst us, itis true that smart work proves to be more effective than hard work. By dedicating a specific time every day to study for the courses, it will be less stressful as well as more effective in memorising the content [2]. Spacing out your studies will also help in long term revision which might be beneficial if a similar course is going to be taught next semester or academic year.
Final words:
In conclusion, I hope that these tips will prove to be beneficial for you as you try them out. It isn’t easy to follow a structured pattern especially if you are new to it, but practice makes perfect and hopefully, you will be able to credit this article for your next best score!
By Sharon Santhosh, EIT InnoEnergy Master’s in Energy Storage Student
References
[1] Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel, Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning Hardcover – April 14, 2014.
[2] https://www.vox.com/2014/6/24/5824192/study-smarter-learn-better-8-tips-from-memory-researchers