2.  I have to read every word.  One reading is sufficient.  If I skim or read too rapidly my comprehension will drop.

3.  Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review  Survey: Gather the information necessary to focus and formulate goals.  Question: Help your mind engage and concentrate.  Read: Fill in the information around the mental structures you’ve been building.  Recite: Retrain your mind to concentrate and learn as it reads.  Review: Refine your mental organization and begin building your memory.

4.  Just like mapping out study times, students should map out reading times.  Consider times when they are best able to focus.  Break large reading assignments into more manageable chunks.  Take breaks when needed, and review notes later to make sure the material has sank in.

5.  Determining main ideas in textbooks is very important. -First determine the topic of your reading, generally found in the title. -Encourage students to create an outline in their head or on paper to visualize how the main ideas support the topic. -Main ideas are often found at the beginnings of paragraphs.

6.  Choose a moderate amount or one chapter to begin.  Get a feel for the organization. Scan for titles, headings, subheadings, and topic sentences. Note pictures, charts and diagrams.  Look for summaries at the ends of chapters and read them.  Check the beginning and end for leading questions and exercises.  Read first for what you do understand and determine difficulty.  Mark what you do not understand to review or ask questions later.

7.  Periodically look away from the text.  Ask yourself a stimulus question related to the text.  Respond or restate in your own words.  This is a great way to increase comprehension and check for understanding.

8.  Make connections and associations!  Try to keep yourself engaged by looking up words you do not know that may be important to your understanding.  Read to the end – ideas become clearer the more you read. When you finish reading, review, check what you understood, and go back to areas that were unclear.  Organize your notes by connecting ideas – consider concept mapping.  Use pictures, colors, graphs to visualize key ideas.

9.  Encourage them not to panic. They can try re-visiting the reading another day if their brain may need time to process it.  If it still does not seem clear, encourage them to consult. Visiting a professor during office hours may be appropriate or consulting with a classmate. They may need your help with some additional reading tips or clarifying questions.

10.  Two Column Notes: Left side = main ideas, right side = supporting details  Outline Style  T-charts: Good for comparing and contrasting  Cornell Method: Smaller left column for ideas and facts, jottings, questions. Larger right column to record full meaning and details. Summarize and reflect key points at bottom.  Flow Charts  Highlighting  Making Symbols in Margins: ?, *, !

11.  Copy down formulas carefully and clearly leaving plenty of space so they are easy to find.  Copy down every step clearly and carefully in the exact order given.  Number each step so you remember how many steps there are to solving this type of problem.  List all vocabulary words and make sure you list what formula or type of problem they relate to.  Make your own sample problems to practice formulas and include these in your notes.  Use different colored highlighters to highlight the different parts of the formula and use those same colors to highlight in the steps where those elements are used in solving the formula.  Review your notes daily.

12.  True/False  Multiple Choice  Short Answer  Essay  Oral  Quantitative/Math  Open Book

13.  Test prep begins on the first day of class.  Budget your time and create a plan.  Go to review sessions and pay attention to hints your instructor gives. Take notes.  Ask questions about any things that are unclear or causing you confusion.  Pay attention to details given about the format of the test, point values, etc.  Go over any material from practice tests, homework, sample problems, review materials, class notes, the textbook, etc.

14.  Put main ideas and information onto a study sheet that can be quickly reviewed many times.  Don’t pull an all-nighter, instead consider studying a bit the night before and waking up early to review briefly.  Show up at least 5 minutes before the test begins.

15.  Consider bringing a watch so you can pace yourself.  Keep a positive attitude and try to relax.  When you get your test, quickly survey it so you can budget your time.  Do the problems you know first. You can go back to harder problems.  Consider point values when budgeting your time.  Pace yourself, don’t rush.  Read all questions carefully and pay attention to details.  Don’t worry if others finish before you.  Review your answers if you finish early. Make sure you didn’t skip any. Only change an answer if you misread or misinterpreted the question. Your first answer is usually correct.

16.  When you get your test back, look over it and make sure you understand mistakes.  If you don’t understand, look it up, ask a classmate, or talk to your professor.  If the test is reviewed in class, take notes on what the teacher was looking for and what you missed.  If you aren’t satisfied with your grade talk with your teacher about how you can study better next time, if there is any extra credit, or make up test opportunities.  Save your notes and test for future cumulative tests.

17.  Usually there are more true answers than false.  If there is no guessing penalty than guess.  Pay attention to qualifiers and key words like Never, Always, Every, Usually, Sometimes, Generally.  If any part of a question is false, than the entire statement is false.

18.  Read the questions carefully.  Come up with an answer in your head before looking at options.  Eliminate answers you know aren’t right.  Read all choices before choosing your answer.  If there is no guessing penalty, guess.  Your first choice is typically right unless you misread the question.  Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information.  If an option is all of the above, don’t choose this answer if you are certain one response is false.  If an option is none of the above, don’t choose this answer if you are certain one response is true.

19.  Use flash cards – write key terms, dates, and concepts on the front and write definitions, events, and explanations on the back.  Anticipate questions that will be asked and prepare for them.  Try not to leave an answer blank. Explain your thoughts. Partial credit may be given.  If you don’t know the answer, come back and guess. The answer or clues may be in another question.  Read the questions carefully and make sure all parts have been addressed.

20.  Read directions carefully.  Make sure you understand the question. Rephrase it in your head, reread the original question, and make sure your interpretation matches.  Write key words/points that come to mind.  Budget your time. Outline.  Only use your opinion if appropriate.  Try to have one main idea per paragraph.  Don’t get caught up in your intro and conclusion. Make sure your body paragraphs are complete.  Proofread at the end.

21.  Anticipate questions and prepare answers. Write possible scripts and practice.  Practice with another person who knows the material, another classmate.  Practice out loud.  Show up at least a few minutes early to avoid feeling rushed.  Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher to repeat or clarify if you don’t understand.

22.  Repetition is key. Practice, practice, practice.  When practicing, try to solve on your own. Then look at the answer and seek help if you are having trouble.  Work on practice problems ranging in difficulty for each topic.  Make a sheet with all the formulas you need to know.  When you get your test write down key memorized formulas first at the top so you can reference them if you forget later.  Read directions carefully.  Make estimates for your answers.  Show your work – partial credit may be given.  Check over your test when you finish. Look for careless mistakes, like missing decimal points, missing negative signs, etc.

23.  Spend just as much time studying as you would for a closed book test.  Flag pages for easy reference and highlight key information.  Write down key information if allowed and make notes in your book.  Bring all allowed resources.  Answer questions you know off the top of your head first, then use the book when needed.  Use quotations from the book to support your view when appropriate, but don’t over-quote. Give your own commentary and insight.