Studying Page 1 of 4

STUDY STRATEGIES
Improving your memory
Reading for meaning
-write down the main ideas and keywords u would like 2 retain
-its what u understand that counts
Remembering the facts u understand
-use memory strategies(mnemonics)
Classification
-use headings 2 group information on the same topic
Acronyms
-use acronyms 2 help u remember an organization or idea
Visualisation technique
-use visual images in your mind 2 help u easily remember info
2 make visual associations effective, your images should be
• visual and vivid
• bizarre
• include some kind of interaction between your
images
Concentration
Time Management
-plan 2 study in shorter sessions
-take short breaks
Short-term objectives
-set clear objectives for each study period.
-use your weekly schedule 2 plan for specific subjects and specific pieces of work 2 b done

Note making
Two approaches 2 note-making
Visual note making
__mind maps
__spider grams
__branching notes
__cluster grams
__tables
__flow charts
__organograms
Narrative note making
__linear notes
__listings
__time line notes
__key word and paragraph method
__question method
__segmenting and labeling

Time Management
Use the 60:30:10 Principle
Use 60% of your time on general preparation 2 complete and submit all the assignments
Use 30% of your time, 4 intensive study, and 2 grasp concepts included in the course content
Use 10 % of your time for exam preparation
 answering questions
 going over past exam papers
 discussing questions with other students and lecturers
Short-term planning

Draft a master schedule which u can use as a basis for weekly and daily planning
Example of a master schedule
Hours Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

0800-0900 c
0900-1000 h
1000.1100 Tea Break u
Studying Page 2 of 4

1100-1200 r
1200-1300 c
1300.1400 Lunch h
1400-1500
1500-1600
1600-1830 Relax Relax Relax Relax Relax Relax
1830-1900 Dinner Prayer Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner
1900-2000 x meeting x x x x x
2000-2100 x x x x x x x
2100-2200 x x x x x x x
2200-2300 x x x x x x x

x = available study time

Example of Daily Planning
60 min Quick skimming for superficial understanding; identification of major points, asking questions study reading
for clearer understanding
10 min break
60 min Making summaries and gaining more understanding by formulating questions and noting correlations
30 min Break
60 min Testing your knowledge by asking and answering questions

Exam preparation

What is exam prep all about

It provides an opportunity 2
 Plan and manage time (be4 and during the exam)
 Use memory strategies (acrostics; imagery; keywords; story telling;
loci)
 Apply knowledge (essays; multiple choice questions; problem
solving)
 Indicate how well u have progressed as a learner (critical thinking)
What are the most important steps for exam prep
The most important steps are
 Plan and manage your time
 Think about the way you learn best
 Experiment with different note making methods
How do I prepare for essays
 Review the content
 Check the theories
 Look at the academic vocabulary
How do I prepare for multiple choice questions
 Master an overview of the work
 Check out the relational issues
How do I prepare for problem solving questions
 Do examples again and again
 Make sure you know the values or definition of formulas
 Master an overall view
Why should there b a frame of reference?
To:
 Have an overview of the course/book (bird’s eye view)
 Start recognizing the headings and sub-headings so that you can form
a mental picture of how u understand the work
 Know what you should expect form this study task
And
 It is quick 2 do
Which note making methods can I use for a frame of reference?
Use a visual note-making method to illustrate your understanding (mind maps; spider grams; branching
notes; cluster grams; table; flow charts; organograms)
Why do I revise/test my knowledge about the frame of reference
To:
Studying Page 3 of 4

 Write down what I know

 Ensure that I understand the information encoded in my memory
 Test how well I can recall the info
 Apply different memory strategies if I experience difficulties
How?
Make another mind map (for example) from memory

What is the role of expanding the knowledge base?

To:
 Concentrate on detailed info
 Read through a section and then highlight
 Select content keywords and supply interpretation keywords
 Make detailed notes in order 2 understand the interrelationships
among chapters and to be able 2 selectively apply the info
Which note making methods can I use 4 the frame of reference
Use a narrative note-making method to illustrate your mastery of the course or topic (segmenting and
labeling; question system; keyword and paragraph system; timelines; listing; linear notes)

Important distinction
 By using time lines, listing or linear notes you are following the basic
ordering idea of the author
 By using segmenting and labeling, question system and paragraph
and keyword system, you are imposing your own ideas and systems
of understanding on the text
Prepare
 Be mentally alert (set up a time table and make a commitment 2
study hard) be physically prepared (exercise, eat enough and get
sufficient rest) for the exam.
 Learn 2 handle your stress. Have a positive attitude 2 cope with exam
anxiety
 Stick 2 your timetable and study daily
 Arrange for study leave
 Contact your lecturers if u are unsure about aspects of your work
 Contact fellow students for peer support
 Try to be so well prepared so that you can pack away your books the
day before you write
Revise
 Set up your revision time table by counting all the pages in your
study guide and textbook and divide them into the days left before
you write your paper. It is NOT a good idea 2 cram the night before u
write. Definitely get sufficient sleep.
 Make sure u have all your tutorial letters and check through them for
guidance
 Revise your assignment answers and pay special attention to the
comments of the lecturers
 When revising build up a framework of keywords and phrases for all
the study units and chapters
 Consolidate the work of your study guides and associated textbooks
by summarizing the key concepts from heading and sub-heading on a
single piece of paper.
 Look for questions when u study. Also set and answer your own
questions by turning study objectives and headings into questions.
Evaluating how much you know: put your books away and practise
answering questions
 Now write a mock exam by setting time limits when practicing 2
answer questions. Make sure that you know which format(s) of
questions u need 2 deal with: e.g. multiple choice questions, short
questions, essay type questions, true and false etc.
 In problem solving subjects such as mathematics, Physics, Computer
Science and Chemistry ensure that you can solve at least one of each
Studying Page 4 of 4

of the types of problems found in every section or study unit. Practise

solving problems from the sections u find more difficult.
Write
 Check on which day and what time you write each paper. Be on time
 Make sure you have your student card and ID document
 Don’t study new material just before u enter the hall; you will end up
confusing yourself
 Pay attention to the exam rules and instructions
 Be positive and be yourself
 Take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand
Manage
 Read the exam paper instructions carefully and read all the questions
 In the case of the essay-type exam, decide which ones 2 answer and
mark those ones
 Start with the question you know best. Analyse the question by
underlining the keywords. Plan your answer by making notes in the
back of your exam answer book. Make sure you know where 2 start
and stop with the answer. Be exact and accurate. Do not include non-
required information.