Study Tips

Dear Student,

Several years ago, I asked students who have done well in my classes to describe their study habits. I have collated these behaviors and am publishing them for those who would like to learn what successful students do to prepare for exams.

If I were to characterize the responses I received, I would say that successful students actively work with the material. Instead of passively reading the chapters in the book, they actively think about the concepts they are learning and, in many cases, try to put things into their own words. Then they check and double-check their understanding to be sure they have it right.

These behaviors mirror my own experience in college, and I hope they will prove beneficial to those of you who seriously want to improve your class performance. An adage in the real-estate business counsels that there are three things people should consider before buying a house: Location, location, location. For success in college, analogous advice would urge you to actively study, actively study, actively study. If you do that, you’ll probably get the grade you want.

Good luck,
Professor Brown

Student 1

• I try to read the chapter before lecture, so I know what to expect. When reading the chapter, I first read a major section using a highlighter. Then, before going on to the next major section, I go back and take notes on the material I have highlighted. I try to put things in my own words whenever I can, and then use quotes from the text to solidify my understanding.


• I also try to look over my lecture notes within a few hours of taking them. If I wait days or even weeks to look them over, I often find I can’t make sense of them, so I try to find time to organize them for later reference right away. This is pretty time-consuming, and I don’t always do it, but it seems to really help when I do.


• Two days before the test, I reread my lecture notes and the notes I took from the book. The night before the test, I skim the chapters pretty quickly, referring to my notes or making new ones if I come across something I didn’t catch the first time around. I look these notes over on the day of the test, but I usually know the material at this point, so it doesn’t take much time.

Student 2

• I try to complete the required readings for each week, if not before lecture, soon after.


• While reading, I highlight the main idea of each paragraph, as well as any words in bold. Before the exam, I reread the highlighted points. This gives me a review of all the general concepts discussed in the book, as well as a reminder of all the vocabulary. I also reread any portion that I don't remember reading the first time through.


• Before the test, I read through all of my notes once. Then, I go back through my notes a second time. The second time through, I look at the title or main vocabulary word on each page of notes and try to verbalize as much as I can remember about the topic without looking at the detailed notes. Then I look over that page to see what I missed. Anything I missed I review again until I can verbalize the concepts as written in my notes.

Student 3

• I usually read the chapters after lecture. When reading the chapters, I took notes on the things that I was reading, that way, when I am studying for the exam, since the chapters are way too long and I usually don’t have time to read them all over again, I can always go back and refer to my notes.


• It is important to make your notes to be clear and understandable the first time you take them, that way when you look over them again after three weeks or so, you will not get confused.


• I usually assign one to two sheets of paper strictly for vocabs and things that I need to remember and another sheet of paper for major points, things that I need to understand and examples, from the chapter. So, when I need to study, I can quickly find the things I need to memorize and have extra time for the things I need to understand.


• Writing down and taking notes takes a lot of time, but I feel that just reading and highlighting does not help me understand and memorize.


• Also, once I understand the materials and have read all of the chapters, I take the quizzes on the online study guide that can be found on our class website. I save the quizzes for couple days before the exam (maybe three days), that way if I don’t know anything on the quizzes, I still have time to figure things out, without having to cram everything in.