How do the most successful students study?

Question

This is a question I have spent years researching, learning by experience, and honing an answer to - all based on the neuroscience of mind/brain education (MBE). The key to studying that the most successful students practice, whether they realize it or not, is probably different than you may think! To explain, the core concept to keep central when thinking about study skills is NOT how to remember all of the necessary information, but rather how to AVOID forgetting said information. When one shifts their study approach from trying to cram things into their memory to instead strategizing on how to not lose items they encode into their memory, the act of studying becomes an entirely new exercise that is both more intuitive and efficient for the brain. 3 key practices to avoid forgetting when studying content for any assessment are:

1. Become ACTIVE with the material! Simply reading over notes, books, and powerpoints creates what we call the "illusion of fluency"; leading a confident student to do poorly on a test and wonder why, also feeding into a negative loop of spending too much time studying in the wrong way. To truly avoid forgetting material, one most interact with it. Make study materials, speak it aloud, teach it to someone else, rewrite their notes over and over - just DO something!
2. Practice spaced retrieval. While cramming is a successful method for last-minute items, it welcomes forgetting more than any other method of studying. Instead, practice spacing out the retrieval of information on a test over time. This works in tandem with how the brain consolidates and encodes information during sleep and long periods of downtime.
3. Self Test with plenty of time to make corrections before the assessment. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of testing yourself as a last step in your study process. After interactively building study materials and then spacing your studying and retrieval out over time, you MUST leave time to test your knowledge before the test. That way, if you are still finding points of confusion, you have time to meet with your teacher, tutor, or dive back into your materials to find the answers before assessment day.

Answer 1

The most successful students have some great study habits that help them do well! Here’s how they study:

1. Set Goals: They start by setting clear goals for what they want to achieve in each study session. This helps them stay focused and know what to work on.
2. Stay Organized: They keep their notes and materials neat and tidy. Using folders or binders helps them find everything easily when it's time to study.
3. Create a Study Schedule: They make a plan for when and how long they will study. This helps them manage their time and avoid last-minute cramming.
4. Take Breaks: They know that taking short breaks while studying can actually help them concentrate better. A quick stretch or snack can recharge their brains!
5. Use Active Learning: Instead of just reading, they engage with the material. This can be through summarizing what they read, teaching it to someone else, or doing practice problems.
6. Ask for Help: If they’re stuck, they aren’t afraid to ask teachers or friends for help. They know that getting clarification can make a big difference.
7. Review Regularly: Successful students review their notes and study materials regularly instead of cramming all at once. This helps them remember things better!

By following these habits, successful students make studying more effective and enjoyable, which leads to great results!