Effective Study Skills

“In the end we retain from our studies only that which we practically

apply.”                                                                                                                              

        −Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

Everyone is different: for some students it is natural to be inspired to learn,

while for others it is not. Your success at the IBA is dependent on your

ability to study effectively and efficiently. The results of poor study skills

are wasted time, frustration, and low or failing grades, which in turn will

affect your life, your time, and your future. All that can be said, upon

reflection, is that time is precious and not to be wasted. 

The following tips will help you to study more effectively and hopefully

with better results. Remember, though, that the results largely depend on

your motivation to study and how much you want to succeed. 

Read Read actively. Read to answer questions you have asked yourself, or

questions the instructor or author has asked. Always be alert to bold or

italicized print. Also, when you read, be sure to read tables, graphs and

illustrations, as they can convey an idea more powerfully than written text.

Question yourself Ask yourself questions as you read or study. As you

answer them, you will help to make sense of the material and remember it

more easily because the process will make an impression on you. Write

your questions in the margins of textbooks, on lecture notes, or wherever it

makes sense and can be easily referred to. 

Recall Try to recall main headings, important ideas of concepts presented

in bold or italicized type and what graphs charts or illustrations indicate.

Try to develop an overall concept of what you have read in your own

words and thoughts. Make an attempt to connect things you have just read

to things you already know.

Review  A review is a survey of what you have covered. While reviewing,

it’s a good time to go over notes you have taken to help clarify points you

may have missed or don't understand. It is best to review once you have

finished studying something. Don’t wait till the exams to begin the review

process.

Identifying important details Extracting important details mean that you

locate in your reading the basis for main ideas. The more links you can

make between details and ideas, as well as ideas themselves, the more

powerful will be the efforts of your study.

Taking notes Note-taking is a skill which must be learned and refined.

Taking notes helps to reinforce what you have read and learned and is an

essential factor for becoming a successful student. Learn to keep notes

logically and legibly. Make it a habit of using your notebook to record all

your notes, and use dividers for the different classes you take. When taking

notes during lectures, try to paraphrase what the teacher says and then

write it down. Identify important points and highlight them. Organize your

notes for easier and faster reference when you study.

Make a schedule You must develop a study schedule if you want to be

organized and not waste valuable time, especially before the exams.

Prioritize the subjects and topics you need to cover and follow your

schedule consistently. There is no point in making a schedule if you do not

adhere to it.

Taken from IBA Student Handbook