22 Effective Study Tips for College Students

In high school, you might have been able to delay studying until the night before tests or quizzes. However, your college workload may be more challenging to handle. Luckily, with the right study habits, you can balance your academic workload with your other student responsibilities successfully. These 22 best study tips for college students will assist you in studying smarter, not harder.

1. Make a study schedule--and stick with it

Early in the semester, you should sit down and schedule time in your calendar to study. You can designate certain nights of the week or certain times of the day for studying. A study session might include reading assignments, reviewing concepts, or preparing for an exam, depending on the class and week. While unique events or emergencies may pop up, try to stay as consistent as you can with your study routine throughout the semester.

2. Take good notes in class

Many professors design their exams and assignments around the course material they cover during lectures, making it crucial that you attend class. Yet, attendance alone won’t help you absorb the information. You need to pay attention by actively participating, including taking notes and asking questions. Focus on writing down the key points. To better retain the information, try to draw connections between the material being taught and what you already know. 

3. Use pen and paper

While your laptop may be useful for researching or turning in assignments, you might want to rethink taking in-class notes on your computer. Research shows that the action of writing on paper helps you remember information better. This is because writing by hand activates more parts of your brain than typing and helps with memory retrieval. Plus, you’ll be less tempted to shop online or scroll through Instagram if you’re using old-fashioned pen and paper.

4. Review and revise your notes at home

For your next study session, focus on reviewing and revising the notes you took during class. Highlight any unclear concepts and do further research online or in your textbook to better understand the material. Try to organize your notes, and if you prefer, you can type your handwritten notes into a digital document to be printed. Typed notes make it easy to include images and graphs, which will enhance your studying.

5. Find a good study spot

Whether it’s a spot on the second floor of the library, a cozy coffee shop off-campus, or simply the desk in your room, try to find a study space that encourages learning. Your study area should be quiet, but it doesn’t have to be completely silent. It's essential for the space to be comfortable and practical to boost productivity. Don’t be afraid to try different locations until you find a spot that works for your studying needs. 

6. Eliminate distractions

To study well, you need to get into the right headspace and set the environment. Creating the ideal study space involves eliminating potential distractions. Clear your desk, turn off the TV, and put your phone on silent. Additionally, try to distance yourself from the less obvious distractions like roommates or pets. You might be surprised at how much more productive you are once you remove anything that hinders your focus.

7. Find your learning style

Everyone learns information differently. There are many studying techniques available, but they are useless if they don’t suit you. When you actively study, you choose to engage with your education in a meaningful way that leads to increased understanding and comprehension. Popular learning styles involve teaching others the content, utilizing practice tests and quizzes, or following the SQ3R approach, which involves surveying, questioning, reading, reciting, and reviewing.

8. Choose your music to match the task

If you have headphones in, choose your music wisely. It’s best to match your music to the task you’re working on. If you’re reading, you may consider silence or instrumental classical music. If you’re working on creative tasks, you might listen to your favorite playlist or genre. Tailoring your music to the task you’re working on can boost your productivity.

9. Eat healthy meals or snacks

You don’t want your growling stomach to distract you from your work. Make sure to eat a healthy, balanced meal before you start to study. You can also keep snacks, like nuts, fruits, granola bars, or dark chocolate, in your backpack. These healthy foods can help you stay energized and focused during your study times.

10. Make a to-do list

It’s easy to waste time when you’re not sure what assignments you’re supposed to be working on. To avoid procrastinating, make a to-do list. You can organize the list by due dates, size, or order of importance. Having a list can help remind you which assignments still need to be completed, and it may even boost your productivity.

 11. Focus on comprehension over memorization

It may be tempting to repeatedly read the same passages when studying. While repetition can aid certain tasks, simply reading your notes doesn’t qualify as studying. The key is to study to understand, not solely to pass a test. Even if it takes more time during your study sessions, focusing on long-term retention is a more beneficial study method than relying on memorization.

12. Join a study group

If you find it hard to stay on task when you’re on your own, you might study better with a friend or in a group. Ask a few classmates to meet up and set a time each week for your study group to gather. Once you have an established study group night, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of studying with others, such as getting a new perspective on a topic, being able to ask questions about things you don’t understand, and having fun as you study. 

13. Create your own study materials

Whether you’re working in a study group or on your own, it may be helpful to make your own study materials. You could put together a study guide, build a quiz, or make flashcards. Not only do you get to know the information once when you create the study material, but you also get to practice the material multiple times as you quiz yourself. 

14. Use downtime to your advantage

If you ever have a canceled class or an extra 30 minutes before a club meeting, use it wisely. Instead of immediately pulling out your phone, you can use the small time increment to study. By using your downtime to your advantage, you will get to study in chunks, which helps with retaining the information. Plus, you won’t have to worry about cramming it all in before the test.

15. Plan ahead for exams

The majority of the time, you know when your exams are coming due to your class syllabus or an in-class announcement. Therefore, in the weeks leading up to big exams, try to allocate a little extra time for your studies. You should also attend group study sessions if they are offered and take extra care of your mind and body. 

16. Focus on yourself

In college, you’re surrounded by other students. It’s easy to compare how much time each person spends on homework or studying in the library. You may also feel FOMO or pressure from peers who are going out every night while you’re stuck in the library again. Remember, not all majors are created equal, and everyone is taking their own path to graduation. Try to focus on your own grades, homework, and academic journey, so you’re not distracted by others. 

17. Take regular breaks

While it may seem counterintuitive, stepping away from your textbook or laptop could help you be more productive. Just like your phone battery, you have a limited pool of mental and physical resources. Taking a break can recharge your mental battery and help you regain focus. During your break, you can engage in activities like exercising, browsing social media, socializing with friends, or taking a nap. Just remember to return to your work afterward.

18. Reward yourself

It may make sense to reward yourself after completing that big test or project, but you should also try to incorporate little rewards along the way. Small treats, like going for a run, getting ice cream with a friend, or taking a good nap, may be exactly the motivation you need to finish the task. These rewards can give you a much-needed break from studying and increase your enthusiasm for the end goal. 

19. Get a good night's sleep

Sleep impacts your studies. When you don’t get quality sleep, it’s easy to become distracted during class or study sessions. You can attempt to get a good night's sleep by creating a consistent bedtime and morning routine for yourself. Additionally, doing your best to avoid screens for at least an hour before bed may help you unwind and fall asleep faster.

20. Stay healthy

If exam stress is getting to you, you might find yourself spending hours studying to prepare. While you may insist you don’t have time for exercise, focusing on your physical well-being could increase your mental sharpness. Consider fitting in some exercise during breaks or before/after study sessions to stay healthy and potentially boost your study performance.

21. Reach out for help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Your college likely has many resources to help you get the most out of your studies. You can utilize office hours to meet with your professors, schedule an appointment with a tutor, ask a friend for their finals week study tips, or explore other student academic support services. There are also free online resources, like Khan Academy, that provide clear explanations and practice exercises for many subjects. 

22. Know when to call it a day

If you find yourself making mistakes, falling asleep, or unable to focus even after efforts to eliminate distractions, it’s a sign to call it a day. Although your studies are important, they aren’t the only priority for a college student. It’s also important to balance your social life, regular exercise, and non-academic duties for your overall health. Recognizing when it's more beneficial to stop studying than to push through can help you manage stress and prevent burnout.

We hope these study strategies will help you do well– and maybe even ace your next exam. Make sure you prepare for success, eliminate distractions, and strive to fully learn the material rather than just memorize it. Good luck and happy studying!