Ace the Test: Our Mega Roundup of Study Tips for College

Studying at college can be stressful. You need to balance reading for all of your classes, any assignments that you have, and juggle a social life, and sleep at the same time!

We know how stressful it can be, which is why we're going to take a look at some effective study tips for college that can help you get great grades while still keeping some spare time for other activities.

Are you ready to learn these essential study hacks and become a more productive, well-rounded student?

Then read on and find out how to study effectively, no matter your major!

1. Set Time Aside for Studying

One of the best ways to be more productive is to set aside some dedicated studying time. This will be a lot easier if your college offers flexible programs, but even if you have set hours, you should still create a timetable so you know when you need to study.

Perhaps you've got a full-time job and are studying part-time, in which case you'll want to dedicate a few hours after work to study. Maybe you work the swing shift, so you can study before you go to work.

Having dedicated time to study, rather than whenever you get a free minute, will help you to become more productive. It's just good time management.

2. Don't Feel the Need to Be Silent

Some people can only focus in silence, while others like a background buzz to keep them focused. Some people concentrate best while they listen to metal music. 

If studying in the silence of a library isn't for you, then you could consider working in a coffee shop or from home while listening to music. The right environment can make a massive difference to your study, so find the perfect ambiance for you!

3. Plan Ahead

You may know what you need to study this week, but what about next week or the week after? Creating a big list of everything that you need to read and when you need to have read it by will help you a great deal.

If you're not quite sure what you should be reading this week, consult your study plan to find the main text and any supporting materials such as journal articles.

You can combine your study plan with the timetable from our first tip if you like, as this combined approach can help prevent you from having to cram before an exam.

4. You Can Always Ask for Help

Your college's faculty are there to help you complete your degree, and their support doesn't end the moment your class finishes. If you're ever wondering what a particular phrase means or have any difficulties with your study, you can send an email to your professor and ask them for help.

They'll be only too happy to help you out, and you'll be able to complete your work with far fewer issues.

You shouldn't ever worry about asking questions in class, either. We can almost guarantee that there's someone else in your class who has the same question, even if it feels like you're the only person who doesn't understand the topic.

5. Take Breaks

If you try to study non-stop for the whole day, you're going to end up exhausted and burnt out. Taking breaks will increase your productivity and refresh your energy levels, allowing you to do better work when you're back from your break.

There's evidence that resting plays an important role in the formation of memories too, which means that you may be able to remember your studies better if you take regular breaks.

We'd recommend that you go out for a walk or take some other gentle exercise during your break, if possible, as this is excellent for both your physical and mental health.

6. Use Flashcards

It can sometimes be difficult to know whether knowledge has sunk in or not. One of the best ways to tell is to use flashcards.

These little cards have a question on one side and the answer on the other, and you can use them alone or have someone else quiz you. Study with these cards until you can recall most of the answers from memory. This is especially useful for exam prep or when you need to give a presentation to the class.

7. Consider Color Coding Your Work

If you struggle to discern the most important information at a glance or use one notebook for multiple classes, color coding your work can help a lot.

You can use different colors for each subject and then within that subject, you can use different colors to make the most important information stand out. You can go as far down this rabbit hole as you like: if you want to use a specific color to denote less important, but still useful information, go right ahead!

8. Pace Yourself

This goes hand in hand with taking regular breaks: make sure that you pace yourself so you don't get burned out. Working at your own pace makes studying far easier, and with great time management, it's easy to still get everything done.

If you feel that you'd study better by studying in shorter intervals over a longer period of time, then you can do this. There's no need to sit down and study from the start of one day until the end of it.

Use These Essential Study Tips for College

We hope that you've enjoyed this look at some helpful study tips for college. If you're looking for a college that allows for extra flexibility, we can help you. 

At California Coast University, we want you to study when it suits you, and at a pace that suits you. This is why we have low tuition, no set meeting times, no group projects, and no exam dates.

For more information about how you can study with us, take a look at our admissions process.