Almost everyone has had to study or practise for something at some point in their lives, whether it was an exam, a performance, an interview, or a class.

Then there are those who appear to master everything and make you wonder, "HOW DO THEY DO IT?!?" 

Well, we can't tell you how to be perfect at everything since that's unrealistic, but we can give you 10 pointers on how to study efficiently, retain information, and absolutely ace that test that's Ultimately causing you to read this guide. Don’t worry we’ve got you! 

1.   Choose your time and place

It sounds obvious However, select a location that is peaceful and devoid of distractions. Find a quiet place away from other people, phones, and other forms of distracting entertainment. Find a clean study place, such as a desk, table, or library, and set up your workspace properly. Make sure your laptop is charged, books and notebooks are out, highlighters, pens, and everything else you'll need for this session are in front of you and don't forget water! Your brain is about 75% water, and when it's operating at full capacity, you'll be able to think more clearly, focus better, and enjoy more clarity and creativity.

2.   Plan your time

“Oh, I'll finish it later,” they say. Okay, we've all said it, but preparing ahead and writing it down in your calendar when you'll dedicate time to studying makes you take it more seriously. 

Set out blocks of time on your schedule to commit to your study. You should try to arrange some devoted time each day, but due to other obligations, some sessions may need to be longer than others. 

You know your own study levels and how much time you have to finish it, but it's recommended that you study at least once a week (more if you have time) until the week or two before the test, and then study once a day. 

3.   Discover your learning method

No person learns exactly the same way, you may be in a class where you all study the same thing however chances are everyone has their own way of what works best for them. There are actually several categories your learning method can fall into, however here’s the three main ones.

-        Visual Learner

Those who like to learn by observing things are known as visual learners. These sorts of learners benefit from the use of photos, graphics, videos, diagrams, whiteboards, and other visual aids. These learners are adept at visualising information, have a good sense of direction, and enjoy drawing and doodling. 

Training:

When reading, studying, or learning, people with this trait are frequently extremely spatially aware and respond to things like colour, tone, light, contrast, and other visual information. 

Because you're a visual person, unorganised notes will be unpleasant to you. Colour recurring themes in your notes, textbook, and handouts to help you focus  If you're learning vocabulary terms for a test. Watch YouTube videos and documentaries on whatever subject you're researching; chances are there's a specialised community on the internet that can provide you with some more information. 

A concept map (also known as a brainstorm, spider's web, etc) is a fantastic visual brainstorming technique in which you write down all of your ideas and link them where you see appropriate. You'll begin with a fundamental concept, such as "gardening." That will be placed in the middle of your page of the paper. Then you'll branch out from gardening into major topics such as weather, location, soil, insects, and other factors into subsections, then you'll branch out farther from each of those categories.

-        Auditory Learner 

Listening and speaking are used by auditory learners to take in information. These learners like to hear instructions and, on occasion, orally repeat them tocompletely grasp them. 

Training: When someone simply explains how to accomplish something orally, you work best. When you ask questions, you reinforce your understanding of the material. You might find it useful to seek audio recordings of training materials, such as test preparation aids. If that isn't possible, videotape yourself reading the content aloud and listen to the audio afterwards to help you remember it. You can also acquire text-to-speech software that will allow you to listen to your notes. 

-        Verbal Learner 

Verbal learners have a large vocabulary and succeed in tasks such as speaking, arguing, and reporting. They have an easy time expressing themselves and like reading and writing.

Training: Students who need to recall a list of items fast and efficiently might benefit from mnemonic devices. Mnemonics may also be used to turn a dull and uninteresting subject into something more engaging and interesting. Make use of rhymes, rhyming words are simpler to recall. If you're having trouble remembering stages in a procedure, you can utilise rhyming to help you remember them.

Make acronyms; using acronyms makes memorising a lengthy list of items much easier, for example, you may know that 'LOL' stands for 'laugh out loud,' or you may have learned in school that directions like north, east, south, and west may be simplified as "Naughty Elephants Squirt Water."

4.   Review and assess

Take time after class to fill in the blanks if your notes are lacking, for example, take time to fill in the missing parts if you put down dates without any further information. You might also wish to trade notes with a classmate to brush up on anything you missed during the lecture.

5.   Take breaks

Our brains require some relaxation. Don't attempt to push yourself to the limit for hours on end, take a break for a few minutes every hour. 

If you don't take pauses, you're probably reading stuff that doesn't register or stays in your brain. Breaks are beneficial to your mental health, as well as your attention span, creativity, and productivity.  It's advisable to move about and get some fresh air during a break, away from digital screens. 

6.   Absorb Information in smaller sections

Consider how you remember a phone number: The number is divided into three/four smaller parts. It's far simpler to remember these sections than it is to recall the entire thing as a continuous string of data. 

When studying, you may use this approach to break down a long list into smaller chunks. As a group, work on memorising each portion. 

7.   Be the teacher

There's actually a scientific word for this, it's called the protégé effect. Learn the material as if you’re going to teach it to others. For example, you may strive to study the information well enough so that you can explain it to someone else later, and you might look up answers to questions that people might ask you about the subject.  Pretending you're instructing someone on the material has had many scientific results to prove this method works. The more genuine this feels, the more you'll benefit from the protégé effect, furthermore, you may go beyond just describing the topic and pretend that the person you're teaching it to is asking you specific questions about it.

8.   Ask for help

If you're having trouble or just need some clarification, don't be hesitant to ask for assistance. Ask your instructor, who is there to aid you, or your classmates, or even the internet; there is almost always someone willing to assist you.

9.   Incorporate apps/programmes

I know we said we weren't going to use screens or phones, but there are a lot of applications that can assist with productivity and focus. Many apps exist that help you organise your work into smaller pieces, set timers, and stay organised, depending on your device.

10.   Look after yourself

Most importantly allowing yourself to take planned breaks will make your study sessions more productive. Consider a timetable that includes 50 minutes of work and a 10-minute rest.

Stress makes it more difficult to acquire and remember knowledge, according to research.

The following are some stress-relieving suggestions: 

-        Deepening your breathing

-        Make a list of the things you need to do.

-        Getting some mild workout

-        Before you begin studying, try to clear your mind.

 BONUS TIPS

Eat well including lots of brain food

Reward yourself with little serotonin boosts, e.g. ‘once I get over 80% on this mock test, I can reward myself with this biscuit’

Sleep well for a more relaxed and open brain

Use a timer to keep track of time and give yourself time challenges

If you read a little before bed, your brain will reinforce fresh memories and store them in long-term memory, so there's a strong possibility you'll recall whatever you reviewed just before falling asleep. (However, try not to bring work into your bed, since this might make it more difficult to obtain a decent night's sleep.)

Self-testing is one of the most effective strategies to be ready for the real thing. Make it a habit to practise with and without a cheat sheet (notes). Simulate the test time restriction by using a stopwatch.

 We hope this guide was helpful for you, best of luck with your studies!