Top Ten Study Tips For Improving Your Grades  

There are as many different ways to study as there are different people. The following is a list of tips that have worked best for the greatest number of people. Some of them may work for you, some of them won't, but try them all and work out your own study plan. You cannot change the number of hours, but you can decide how to best use them.

1) Study in the Same Place
Find a secluded place, away from distractions, with plenty of space to work. Once you've found it, study at the same place every time. It could be a desk in your bedroom, the kitchen table, or the local library. Laying down on your bed or sprawled across the living room rug are generally not good study places. Also make sure that you keep your spine erect for better level of concentration.

2) Study at the Same Time
Figure out a suitable time of day you can concentrate best, and what works into your schedule. Use that time every day to study. Try to make sure it is not too late in the evening. It is important to have uninterrupted study time.

3) Use a Homework Box
Keep all your homework supplies in one place, ready to be used. Keep them organized, and you won't need to waste your time searching for resources.

4) Cut out All Distractions
If your Study Place is too warm, you might become sleepy. If it is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become unclear. The TV should be switched off, other people's conversations should be in another room, music should be turned down, and phone calls should be taken after you've finished studying. Any other thoughts in your mind should also be set aside for a later time.

5) Do the Hard Things First
If you are dreading a particular assignment, or you are aware that it requires a lot of extra effort, do it first. Your brain will be fresh. Besides, you won't have to dwell on it while you are working on other homework.

6) Schedule Long Term Projects
Larger projects need to be broken into smaller components to make them convenient. For example, these components could be such things as gathering notes, writing a rough draft, making corrections or additions, writing a bibliography, and completing the final copy. Set yourself a deadline for completing each component and make sure you stick to it.

7) Review Regularly
Homework is not just that which is assigned every night. A regular review of your notes should be a part of your homework plan. This takes just a few minutes each day, but will pay off considerably when it comes to test time.

8) Write up a Contract
Each Sunday before a school week, prepare a Weekly Schedule. Update it as the week goes on. Be sure to include times for completing assignments, working on projects and studying for tests.

9) Schedule Each Homework Session
When you sit down to do your homework, make up a quick schedule as to how you are going to use your time. Break it up into blocks of time that you will spend on each task.

10) Avoid Doing a Marathon
If you've followed the previous tips, this last one should never happen. However, you need to know that marathon study sessions are the least productive way to study. So don’t keep your things pending till the last moment to avoid unnecessary hiccups.
 

Homework, Now Is That Boring?

Most of us suffer from homework blues. Especially if “Gladiator” is running on HBO, I’m not even going to look at my books. Let alone trudge through the day’s homework. But sadly, you know it has to be done even if it is the last thing on earth you want to spend your valuable time on. Here are some tips to improve your motivation to study:

Set small goals for yourself. For instance, if you need to write an essay then you could probably set a target to get an A+ in the essay. It is not a major goal but it will give immense satisfaction if you do get an A+. (Maybe that cute chick might see it too!)

A significant factor towards motivating yourself to do homework is to do it with friends. You can also clear some doubts while doing the homework or simply just look over your friend’s shoulder and copy the homework! (We did not tell you to do this!)

It is a good idea to start your homework with a subject you like the least. Once you are through doing it, you are significantly motivated to finish off the rest quickly as the worst has already been done. Ditto for homework, you find most difficult, do it first while your mind is still fresh. But, if you have a truckload of home work in the subject you find revolting and in one that would call for Einstein to help…flip a coin and start. (It is the best way and it always works!)

Okay, we’ve gone hoarse telling you this and we’ll yell it out a thousand times more. Set yourself a timetable and write down your schedule to meet it. Before you trouble your grey cells and begin to wonder the point of writing it down, we’ll tell you why… Something about the written word makes it harder to ignore. Once you've written that you'll do it, it is harder to not do it. (We are trying to touch your conscience. Er… Do you have one?)

One of these tips could work for you. So go ahead, try them out.
For Better Studying

Here are some basics that should help you in your routine study:

• Make a schedule for yourself wherein you commit a minimum amount of time everyday to study (this should ideally be the time when there is going to be the least amount of distraction in the environment.)
• Make up your mind with firm determination that during this hour you will be dedicated to only studying.
• Firmly believe that this studying is going to be truly beneficial for you (however much you hate that subject).
• Before the scheduled time brush off distractive thoughts and focus only on things related to the study material.
• Make study fun by introducing innovative studying techniques. For instance: Create stories or link up the study topic to something that you can more easily remember.
• Another important aspect to bear in mind while studying is to ensure that you are not distracted by environmental noises like a blaring TV or radio. A quiet and peaceful environment leads to better concentration.