Hey, I find that you're really practical when it comes to giving study tips, so how can I study effectively if I absolutely don't have the time to make notes?
Thanks anon! Been a while since I’ve answered some asks so here we go:
Despite what studyblr thinks, it’s entirely possible to study without making comprehensive, picture-perfect notes beforehand (though it that helps you by all means go ahead! + the caveat being what one defines as “effective” is up for debate: is effective studying = A in an exam? Or passing an exam you thought you would fail, even if it’s by 1%).
I think that people forget that the act of “writing notes” is, in itself, a studying strategy. So if it works for you and if you have the time for it - great! If not, dw you’re not going to fail.
Step 1: Find out what you’re going to be tested on
Firstly, it’s important to understand what you’re going to be tested on and how you’re going to be tested. Are you going to be examined on everything you’ve covered in the semester? Or only parts of it? Are some topics going to be skipped because you’ve already had an assignment/ quiz on the topic etc.
The best way to find this out is to:
Look at your course syllabus/ course guide
The “review/ revision” questions in your textbook (if you have one) or have been set by your teacher/ prof/ lecturer etc
See what topics have come up in past exams
Ask your teacher - they’re literally paid to help you
So, if you’re really under the pump, I suggest you start with a practice/ mock exam/ past paper.
Just fucking set a timer and do it. Stop when your time is up.
Because heck, you’ve been sitting in the classroom for, lets say, 10 hours per semester learning this subject. Sure, you probably weren’t paying attention half the time, let alone absorbing or applying the information you were taught, but the point is you were there (college students do not read this).
So let’s see how much went in by osmosis.
If you don’t have enough time to sit a prac exam at once, do specific questions within the time limit prescribed.
Step 3: Target the areas you need to pass
Now go through the answers - if you aren’t given model answers, then look through your class materials/ textbook for similar questions and base your answers off that.
Then re-write that answer/ use your answer as quick notes for revision. Revise by reading aloud, look cover write check - something you can integrate into your commute/ daily life.
If you’re really under the pump, be strategic about what answers you need to get right to pass. If your exam requires you to pass 3 sections, and let’s say you’ve got 70% correct in part A, 55% in part B and 51% in part C - dedicate your time to questions in part C.
Focus on specific types of questions - is essay writing your weakest skill? Then tough luck buddy, your next study session is going to involve allllllll the practice essays.
Why this works when you’re under some time pressure/ don’t have time to make notes
The whole point of studying is to learn (arguably in some subjects it’s more wrote learning patterns and making links between material you’ve already learned but WHATEVER, NOT A RANT FOR NOW) and then apply what you’ve learnt to novel questions which you have to complete within a strict time period, otherwise known as an exam.
You know those people who study for “ages” and still get a shit mark? It’s cause they haven’t been training for the particular/ style of exam they’re going to take. They may have revised/ memorised all the information but they haven’t practised how to apply that information in exam conditions.
It’s like an athlete who has been training all their lives for the 100m track… only to realise at the last moment they’ve been placed into the figure skating singles or whatever.
It may be different in some countries, but at least in Australia, teachers aren’t supposed to grade you on things that you haven’t been taught.
So for example, for a chemistry exam, if you haven’t covered redox, they can’t test you on redox in that test.**
This doesn’t mean that the exam will be easy.
This means that they’ve given you the foundational concepts which you apply to answer questions. So the exact scenario they give you, or the theme they’ve ask you to write an essay on may not be something you’ve covered specifically in class.
However, if you covered the basic concepts in class and show that you understand those basic concepts, that’s basically a pass. Sure, it might be an ugly-oh-fuck-i-passed-by-half-a-mark pass, but it’s a pass nonetheless. You won’t get the higher marks because you haven’t demonstrated your ability to apply those concepts or to draw inferences/ conclusions from those basic concepts - but it’s still a pass.
Understanding how teachers award grades (aka what framework and guidelines they have to follow when marking your exams) may give you an idea of what grade you may get and ultimately how to tailor your studying technique (aka what to study and what to leave out).
A good way is to get onto your Education Board/ Department’s website and search “assessment criteria/ grading criteria”.
So for example, the NSW education website lists the outcomes (aka what teachers need to be able to see that you can do). Then they provide model answers.
Use these as your notes, as your guidelines, as a starting point to save you time.
**putting aside obvious exceptions such as standardised testing and weird subjects where you have a preliminary ‘test’ to introduce you to the concept, which is followed up by a substantial exam.
TL;DR THIS IS HOW YOU STUDY SMART.
Practice the thing you gotta do, in the way you gotta do it. Build upon materials and guidelines already provided to you. Know what you need to pass.
[sorry for the typos, shit grammar and all that jazz. been a long week at work.]
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