In school you will hear about forming a study group. Your instructor may advocate forming a study group or one of your peers may ask you to join. The question is are study groups to your personal advantage? Your study time is a limited resource and is a study group a good use of that resource. This article will explore the pros and cons of a study group.

The advantages of joining a study group.

A study group can help keep you accountable. Many people are better at doing what they need to be doing if other people are counting on them. With a study group you know that two or three other people expect you to show up at a certain time and to be prepared.

A study group will help you test your own knowledge. Different students tend to pick up different things in lecture and in their readings. During study group a fellow student may say or ask you about a topic that you may never have considered focusing on. This may make the difference on a key question on the test.

Explaining to others is a great way to learn. As you explain the material to other students you yourself will get a better understanding of it. This process will also expose missing knowledge that you have on the topic. As you explain the topic other members may start explaining parts to you as time progresses.

A study group can create a sense of camaraderie. It may become just more fun to study. Instead of simply rereading the same notes over and over again you are quizzing each other and interacting. This will make your study session more fun and time pass more quickly.

The group can be of help when you are in need. The Study group can help you out if you need to miss a lecture as well as with an assignment you do not understand.

The disadvantageous of a study group.

The study group is just a gossip session. If the group is not focusing on classwork and just talks about current events or the latest fashion it will not help you exam scores. Whenever people gather there will be some small talk. The problem arises when the small talk expands to the detriment of the the study time. You need to be on guard for this as a whole afternoon can be wasted.

A member of the study group is unethical. It is perfectly OK – depending on the instructors guidelines – to help each other with homework or at the least explain the assignment to a fellow student. The problem arises when a fellow scholar wants to copy your work. You can feel a lot of pressure to comply.

The study group starts late and is out of your way. If you drive to a faraway location to meet and half the group is an hour late this can be a waste of your time. Not only is it disrespectful, but it accomplishes little in the way of preparing for the exam.

Members of the study group are not prepared. It is one thing to help discuss the reading and to ask and answer questions about it, but it is a completely different issue to answer questions for someone who did not do the reading. If all members are not prepared the study group will not function well.

You learn better on your own. For some students this is true. They are focused and get an ‘A’ by locking them selves in their study area and plugging away. Some students say this even though though they are failing because they do not like the idea of a study group. If you have a 4.0 by doing it on your own keep up the good work.

To decide to form or to join a study group is entirely up to you based on your needs and preferences. It is important that you join the right group and analyze if it is a productive use of your time. Not every group of students studying is the same. You may need to bounce around till you find the study group that is right for you.

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Study skills are a subject that is breezed over by students around the world. Each student has a different learning style that needs to be optimized.  When you compare two students one seems to naturally grasp the importance of good study skills.  Another student may face challenges because they don’t know were to start.  Students need to get their minds focused on learning something new every day.  It’s easy to see why students are distracted because study skills are taking second place to all of the technology. Students make sure that their ipods and cell phones are working. They offer a more convenient way to mentally escape from their obligation to study..

Teachers complain about their students poor study habits.  Their student’s lack of study skills is clearly evident on the first test of the school year.  Many students and parents struggle with having a good study plan.  Of course most parents would love for their son/daughter to earn an A+ in every class.  Most parents know the value of good study skills but they struggle to convince their student of its importance.

Good study skills begin with the altitude in the attitudes of students.  A student with good study habits realizes that it takes time to memorize information and to give it a personal meaning.  They know that studying for 20 minutes after school will not lead to success.  Students need a study guide that will teach them how to study.  Books such as the “Seven Secrets of How to Study” offer effective study skills strategies. Students need test taking tips that will launch them into a successful academic year.  There are seven ways to optimize your study skills:

1.         When you read the assigned text book write notes about important points. 

            Review your additional notes everyday.

2.         You can improve your study skills memory by using 3 x 5 cards to review

            important terms.

3.         Create study skills activities that you will use every week.  For example have a weekly session where you write down important facts on a sheet of paper using your memory alone.

4.         Start your own study skills lesson plan for each subject.  Your study skills lesson plan should include test taking ideas that you will use for each class.

5.         Don’t allow test anxiety to creep into his emotions.  Reduce your test anxiety by spending more time preparing for each test.  Spread your test preparation time out over five days.

6.         The main helpful study skills resource is your teacher or tutor.  Don’t be too prideful to pursue help when you need it.

7.         Write down notes on important facts so that you can review them the morning of your test.  If you are involved in a math or science course write out all of the important formulas on one sheet of paper and review these formulas the morning of your next test.

Study skills as a way of life is the key to your success in school.  Prepare a list of questions before you go to class.  If your questions are not answered during class meet with your teacher or send an e-mail that contains your questions.  You need to be pro-active in using creative study skills activities that tap into your own learning style.

Lastly, maintain a positive attitude and don’t let test anxiety overcome you.  Expect to have success on every test and you will.  A belief that you will fail will lead to failure.  Develop a new study skills list each day and follow it.  Implementing all of these study skills strategies will lead to a successful learning strategy and the best grades possible.

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Check out my blog, which shares study tips and scholarship resources at www.studyskillscholarships.blogspot.com

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For twenty-six years, Dr. Jones has delivered presentations on numerous topics including how to study, leadership, effective communication, and innovative management practices. He is the author of two books one is titled “Seven Secrets of How to Study” and the second is the “Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide.” The book provides an easy understanding of the seven pillars that are essential to learning effective study techniques. His URL is www.sevenbooks.net.

For most students, the most difficult part of any exam is the actual studying. Typically, there is so much material to study that students begin to procrastinate, putting off studying until the night before. After a late-night cram session, students arrive at the exam tired and feeling dazed by the sheer amount of information they’ve tried to absorb. The easiest way to study for an exam, and avoid the cram sessions, is to make a study plan. />

Group or solo? – The first step to making a study plan is to decide whether you want to study alone or in a group. When planning study times and organizing study sessions for a group, the needs and schedules of the group are a factor. As a result, you must decide whether you will be studying with a group before continuing with making a study plan.

Time – There are two time elements that are crucial to an effective study plan. The first time element to consider is the amount of time you have until the exam, while the second is the amount of time during the day that you can set aside for studying. Try to study for at least two hours per day for major exams, like entrance exams, and at least thirty minutes per day for lecture exams. If you are limited on the amount of time until the exam, such as one week or less, then you will need to increase your daily study time. Set up a schedule with clearly marked study times for each day.

Content – The content to be studied depends on the type of exam. For placement exams, entrance exams, and licensure exams, there are no specific textbooks or prior lecture notes. There are, however, commercially available review guides, and textbooks and lecture notes from past classes often contain a great deal of material that will help with the exam. By looking at the content areas of the test, you can determine what readily available material to study. For course-based exams, textbooks and lecture notes are both ideal study content. Break the content into chunks, and then assign specific chunks to the study times that you have listed on your schedule.
Chronological – Assign chunks of material to study times in chronological order. In other words, study the material in the order that it was presented. Remember to allot more time for studying the most important information.
Critical first – Assign study times so the most critical method is covered first, and then work down to the least important information. Allow more time for covering the most critical information. If you are having trouble with the most important information, re-assign time from the least important information.

The Studying Process

Once you have set up study times and assigned material to them, it is time to study. When reading textbooks, take notes on the information. With lecture notes, write notes in the margin. Use a highlighter. The idea is to make key information readily available for review. In addition, making notes and looking up ideas to supplement notes reinforces the material in your mind. Quiz yourself as you finish each area you are studying to determine what you still need to review.

Study plans are as unique as the person making them. The most effective study plan will take into account your schedule, the times each day when you are able to study without interruption, and the amount of material that needs reviewed. By spreading out the study times and breaking up the information, you make it easier for to absorb and retain the necessary material before the exam.

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What every student needs to know about sitting for an exam…101 FREE Study tips and Study Skills,

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My friend said study for 40 minutes then rest for a while then continue to study for another 40 minutes.

Maybe there is another way to study? So I don't get bored easily? And much more effective?

About Author

Robert Mckenzie is a teacher and expert on tests, testing and studying. Visit his web site for more information on College Study Skills and free tips on studying and how to study.