Homework & Studying

9 Smart Study Techniques For Any Type Of Test

Use these foolproof study strategies to help your ADHD child review material more efficiently.

Study Techniques should be regular, like the tide
Study Techniques should be regular, like the tide

HAVE YOUR CHILD JOT DOWN NOTES AS HE READS. At the end of a page of a novel or section of a textbook, ask the question, “What’s important here?” This enables students to be active learners, instead of passive ones.

A lot of students read and study online. The problem is, studies have found that comprehension in high school students is compromised when reading is done solely online. A couple of solutions are:

PRINT OUT THE PAGES of the text or purchase a hard copy of the book. Make notes in the margins and take notes while reading.

If your online book is “locked” and you can’t print out pages, try the EDITING OR NOTE-TAKING TOOL that’s provided with the book.

Research shows that having students CREATE THEIR OWN STUDY GUIDE is a great way to improve test grades. Try to predict what your teacher will ask on the exam. Pull out old quizzes, find the important parts of your notes, and ask others in your class what they think is important. Figure out the main ideas from these topics and turn them into questions.

DON’T CRAM FOR TESTS. To have a deeper understanding of the material, and to be able to recall it a month from now, spread out study sessions over time and break the material into smaller pieces. You will be able to remember the information for longer intervals.

SET A TIMER FOR 20 MINUTES, and study before starting homework. Reversing the order of tasks ensures that studying at least gets started, and often gets completed, before digging into actual homework.

MAKE AN “APPOINTMENT” TO STUDY WITH PEERS to provide students with accountability they don’t get from studying alone.

Studies show that you remember more when you TAKE 10-15 MINUTES TO REVIEW what you studied or learned earlier in the day just before you go to sleep.

Research suggests that if you SMELL SOMETHING PLEASANT WHEN YOU STUDY, and when you sleep, you’ll remember more. When you’re studying, plug in an Airwick or place a scented candle nearby. Place that same scent by your bed when you sleep.

GET TO BED EARLY BEFORE A TEST. Your brain is more active at night than during the day. During sleep, you replay the day’s events in your head and rehash information you learned.