A compilation of
Suggestions on
How to Study
Jeff Fineberg
An interesting quote:
“In the middle of difficulty lies
opportunity” – Albert Einstein
What is a reasonable academic
goal for most students?
 Obtain
the highest grades possible
 Graduate
 Balance academic work with
– Relationships
– Recreation
– work
How can you get there?
– Register for necessary courses
– Attend classes
– Organize and review your notes
– Work on assignments
– Work on projects
– Make Study a habit
– Organize your time…
Organize a schedule to fit the
various activities in a day
(details available in Time Management class)
Sleep-8
Work-8
Class-2
Study-2
Eat-1
Travel-1
Exercise-1
Free Time-1
24 hour day
The Immediate Environment
The environment in which you study can
have a big effect on how efficient your
study time is. Check your place of study
for the following conditions:
 Noise
 Interruptions
 Lighting
 Temperature
 Neatness
 Comfort
 Equipment Copyright - Counseling Services, State University of

New York at Buffalo
http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressstudy.shtml
Techniques for improving your
studying to enhance your
academic performance
Take Notes in Class & Rewrite
Them at Home
Take Notes
 Take Complete Notes
 Use Abbreviations
 Neatness Doesn't Count
 Ask Questions & Make Comments
 Copy Your Notes at Home
 Don't Take Notes on a Computer
 Don't Rely on the Instructor's Lecture
Notes

Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
Study Hard Subjects First &
Study in a Quiet Place
Study hard subjects first. Each night
(or day) when studying or doing your
homework, do those subjects first for
which you need to be alert and energetic.
Leave the easier, or more fun, subjects to
later.
 Study in a quiet place, with as few
distractions as possible. Do not listen to
music or TV: It is virtually impossible to
do two things at once if one of them is
studying.

Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
Read Texts Actively & Slowly,
before & after Class
 Read
actively, not passively
 Read slowly
 Highlight the text in the margin
 Make notes in the margin
 Keep a notebook
 Read literature quickly and passively
the first time
 Read before and after class
Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
Do your homework
 Do
it and do it on time – don’t wait
for the last minute crunch!
 For problem sets (exercises)
– do them on scratch paper, then create a
final copy
– Keep a copy for your reference
– Don’t just write the answers – show
how you got the answer
Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
Study for exams (scheduling)
 Begin
around 1 week before (1 hr per
day)
 The day before the exam, try to
spend the entire day/night studying
 Final exams – spend as much time as
possible
Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
Study for Exams (cont.)
Make a study outline (of important points)
 Use
recopied notes, highlighted text
and your notebook
 Condense the material onto the front
sides of 1 or 2 pieces of paper
 Do your studying from these sheets
Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
Study for Exams (cont.)
Write sample essays and solve sample
problems
Simply looking over your material may
not be enough to prepare you for doing
well on an exam
 Try to anticipate what questions may be
on the test and try to answer them
 Practice past homework assignments
 Practice past quizzes / tests
 Practice solving problems from text

Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
When do you stop studying?
 Not
when you’re tired of studying
 Not just because you reviewed all
the material a single time
 When you feel confident that you
know the material
 When you’re actually eager to see
the exam to find out if you guessed
its contents correctly!
Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu)
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
Additional ideas
Try to see the interesting aspects of ALL
classes you take. The more interest you
generate, the better you will do.
 Look at more than one book on a subject
if necessary (go to the library)
 Go to class with your assignments
prepared
 Avoid procrastination – remember…work
before pleasure
 Time is a precious resource – use it wisely
 Any others?

Good Luck…don’t wait!!!
Start using some of these
techniques today!
References





Dr. William Rapaport – University at Buffalo
http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~rapaport/howtostudy.html
Copyright © 1999-2005 by William J. Rapaport
(rapaport@cse.buffalo.edu) file: howtostudy-2005-0203.html (see topic “Manage Your Time”)
UB’s Student Affairs website on “Time Management”
http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressstudy.shtml
Copyright - Counseling Services, State University of New York
at Buffalo
http://www.how-to-study.com/ - a Study Skills Resource Site
Barron’s “A Pocket Guide to Study Tips”
Harry Maddox “How to Study”