Depends though. I love Engineering, I still have to study like a demon to do well.
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Efficient time management
- Thread starter Vox Populi Vox Dei
- Start date
Depends though. I love Engineering, I still have to study like a demon to do well.
Look I still do reasonably well, but I really do think that I can do a bit better. I'd just to like to hear from forumites what their time management techniques were at university while studying for tests and exams. Please don't suggest cramming... I really can't do that as I'll get way too stressed out.
I studied at Unisa. About 3-4 weeks before exams, I'd get my books out, make a day-by-day study plan, and until a few days before the exams, do 2 hours a night. During the exams, I'd do 2-3 hours a night, and 6 hours a day over weekends, with up to 10 hours a day the day before an exam.
I always summarised everything, writing it down. Reading wasn't good enough - I had to write to remember anything. My handwritten summaries served as revision notes, and as proof to myself that I had actually studied, and not just daydreamed.
Except for the night before, when I'd study till 11PM or sometimes up to 1AM, I didn't overexert myself; I preferred to plan the studying so that I didn't have to.
Jola
Honorary Master
I read somewhere, a long time ago, that you only retain a fraction when you read, but much more when you write. I always wrote out, repeatedly, important facts. Never kept the paper, threw it (reams of used computer paper) away - although I did also make summaries.
During a serious night's cramming I sometimes used up one or two cheap BIC pens, this forced me to concentrate.
All I can say is - it worked ! If I had to study again, I would follow this method again.
Am considering going back to varsity, sort of enjoyed the place - undergrad BA for me, I think - majoring in Spanish & Philosophy ???
Absolutely. With some of my economics subjects, the summary ran to 90 pages of handwritten, single-spaced A4.
the graduate
Senior Member
with me it was medium of instruction.....went to an english school from Sub A > Matric.....Varsity was in Afrikaans.....even though my mother tongue is Afrikaans...nailed me on average 15%...
now if you were a 70% average pupil.....at varsity you barely make the 50%...55%....that puts you under some real pressure...!
now if you were a 70% average pupil.....at varsity you barely make the 50%...55%....that puts you under some real pressure...!
That's how I study, I just write everything over and over again. People think I am crazy, but it's what works for me.
Mindmaps are also the biggest load of crap i've ever seen in my whole entire life. Maybe it's just me, but I feel that they honestly don't work. Then again I'm an engineering student, and we are a bit different
Mozart could compose quickly and effortlessly in his head while Beethoven had to labour from morning till evening for years on end to finish a composition.
Some people are just able to put in less effort and get the same result. Doesn't mean they're better though.
Some people are just able to put in less effort and get the same result. Doesn't mean they're better though.
P
Picard
Guest
Look ... study when you have to. Party when you want to.
The extra time comes from those times that you do nothing .. of which there is ample. If you can learn to use those bits, you are well on your way.
Example ... weekends / before and after lunch/supper ...
The extra time comes from those times that you do nothing .. of which there is ample. If you can learn to use those bits, you are well on your way.
Example ... weekends / before and after lunch/supper ...
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Good advice, I'm going to try give this a go next semester.
The brain is not always willing though... I have to be in the right mood and frame of mind to study.
scotty777
...doesn't know
Chris, depends on what your geared to.
For some reason, I'm quite good at doing Applied maths, I can easily break a complex system up and decipher forces. off two days of lack luster studying for applied maths, I got 81% in my exam. But with normal maths, I really had to grind stone, and again, I show promise in algebra because it's logical and I think that way, but calculus I just barely passed. This was with 3 days of about 12 hours per day.
You must also remember that some people are just better at retaining information then others. I have a visual memory (but I've been developing my word accosiation), but more importantly, I study by first understanding the work well, then I try to explain how the system works, then I do examples to concrete the information in my head.
The most improtant technique I figured out (last year in matric) is to break things up into smaller, simpler and more universal systems. This meant I could apply those systems more effectively because it's easier to recall smaller things (like a quote) than a massive chunk out something (like a paragraph). Chris, you also have to figure out whether you are studying continuously, a lot of people work every week day, going over the work, and really trying to get an understanding for it... However, that does require a lot of self discipline, and also gets boring fast.
Also, I read that you think that people in the same sets *should have the same academic ability, however, you'd be surprised to find that a lot of people don't really apply themselves at school, and also study very inefficiently, when uni comes, the new environment kicks them into high gear and they start doing better and better. Furthermore, never try compare yourself to others, you almost always will lose out. You can try compete, but otherwise just do your personal best dude.
For some reason, I'm quite good at doing Applied maths, I can easily break a complex system up and decipher forces. off two days of lack luster studying for applied maths, I got 81% in my exam. But with normal maths, I really had to grind stone, and again, I show promise in algebra because it's logical and I think that way, but calculus I just barely passed. This was with 3 days of about 12 hours per day
. You must also remember that some people are just better at retaining information then others. I have a visual memory (but I've been developing my word accosiation), but more importantly, I study by first understanding the work well, then I try to explain how the system works, then I do examples to concrete the information in my head.
The most improtant technique I figured out (last year in matric
) is to break things up into smaller, simpler and more universal systems. This meant I could apply those systems more effectively because it's easier to recall smaller things (like a quote) than a massive chunk out something (like a paragraph). Chris, you also have to figure out whether you are studying continuously, a lot of people work every week day, going over the work, and really trying to get an understanding for it... However, that does require a lot of self discipline, and also gets boring fast. Also, I read that you think that people in the same sets *should have the same academic ability, however, you'd be surprised to find that a lot of people don't really apply themselves at school, and also study very inefficiently, when uni comes, the new environment kicks them into high gear and they start doing better and better. Furthermore, never try compare yourself to others, you almost always will lose out. You can try compete, but otherwise just do your personal best dude
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