Study Skills
Student Support Services
Daytona State College
Know Yourself
 Know When You Study Best
 Are you a morning or night person?
 When are you most productive, awake, alert?
 Do you let everyone know when it is your time
to study so that you will not be disturbed.
 Have you formed a habit of studying the same
time each day?
Know Yourself cont..
 Know Where You Study Best.
– Consider these distractions
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T.V.
Talking
Windows
Music
People Walking by
Telephone
Family and Friends
Quiet Please
 Choose a place to study
that is free of
distractions.
 This may be the library,
the Academic Support
Center, your own
bedroom.
 Be sure the environment
you are studying in is
comfortable.
 Avoid studying in
bed…you may just fall
asleep.
Ready…Set…Study!!
 Gather All Materials
Needed.
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Reference books
Writing Tools
Tests
Class Notes
Folders, Notebooks
Assignment(s)
 Set Your Mind to
Study.
 Intend to have
focused, effective
study time.
 Set realistic goals
 Strive for quality as
well as quantity.
Ready…Set…Study
 Map out a time line
 For long-range assignments
set short range goals.
 Short-range “chunks” of
work are easier to focus on
and handle.
 Divide time between
subjects.
 Study the hardest subjects
first while your mind is
fresh.
 Leave routine and less
difficult tasks for last.
Ready…Set…Study
 Review familiar
material first.
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Titles/subtitles
Boldface type
Vocabulary Words
Review questions
Class notes/handouts
Apply It!
 Apply knowledge of how you learn to warm
up and study.
– Write things
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Vocabulary words
Lists
Definitions
Diagrams/Charts
– Make a tape of things to memorize
– Write important information on 3 x 5 index
cards to review at anytime
Break Time!
 Take a Break!
 Take a 5-10 minute
break for every 45
minutes of study.
 Take a short break
between topics.
– Do something physical
– Get something to eat
– Walk
Study Tips
Break It Down!
Break Down To Study for a Test
Chapter One
Sunday Night
Chapter Two
Monday Night
Review all 4 Chapters
Thursday Night
TEST!
Friday
Chapter Three
Tuesday Night
Chapter Four
Wednesday Night
I Can Not Remember It All!
 It is less tiring to “spread out” study periods rather
than to “cram.”
 Too many ideas at one time are confusing.
 The human brain can successfully process 6-7 ideas
during one time period and maintain good retention of
the information if enough repetition is used.
 Good grades most often are lost due to lack of
organization rather than a lack of information.
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
 Repetition is the key.
 The more you review
your book, notes,
handouts, etc. the more
likely the information
will be retained.
 You must review often
so the information can
be moved from shortterm to long-term
memory.
 This is when true
learning takes place.
Quiz Questions
(Please answer the quiz questions and give a copy of the answers to a
SSS staff member)
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What should you know about yourself before you start to study?
Where do you study best?
What are common distractions when studying? How can you avoid
them?
What materials should you have before you start to study?
What should you study first; difficult or less difficult material?
What material should you review first?
What is the benefit of index cards and other study aids?
Should you take breaks when studying? If so, how long and when
should you take a break?
Why can cramming for a test lead to failure?
Why is repetition important?