Make guesses on what your professor would put on the exam! (and no not bc you suddenly became clairvoyant or anything)

I take note of the stuff they keep emphasizing/coming back to or give a bunch of examples for. Then based on these I’d think to myself “okay but if I were making the exam, what would I ask about this?” then I come up with a few possible questions before moving on.

I also look at HOW they explain things. If they keep comparing two concepts, I’ll expect something that makes me tell them apart. Also if they keep giving examples, I’ll expect some kind of application question.

Ofc you can never be 100% sure of what will come out in the exams but I just think it makes studying feel less like “read everything and pray” (and it’s always better to have an idea of what I need to know for the exam).

I have tried absolutely everything, studied everything but when I sit down on a test I CANT DO IT.

I suck at essays and have no sense of everything. I have always been this way since I was in elementary school, I would cry everyday for math because I would get so frustrated when I look up and everyone's writing something. Like I try to put my effort in but for some reason I always fuck every tests up. Can't actually remember the last time I actually did very well on exams. I feel stupid and illiterate for everything. I have been wanting to get my brain checked if there's something actually going on with me because gosh damn I am so stupid, slow and get constant brain fog.

Anyone help me please I need to improve.

Took me embarrassingly long to work this out.

Most of uni I reread. Highlighter over everything, reread the highlights, felt good about it. Then blank in the exam. I assumed I was just not doing enough hours.

At some point I actually tried self-testing. Closed the notes, wrote down whatever came out. It felt awful, I was getting maybe half of it, so I went back to rereading. Obviously I was worse at it.

Turns out I'd been measuring it in the one window where it can't work.

There's a 2006 study (Roediger & Karpicke) where students reread or self-tested for the same total time. Check yourself five minutes later and rereading actually wins. Give it two days or a week and self-testing wins clearly, 61% against 40% remembered. The rereaders were also the ones who felt more confident, which is the annoying part.

What's working for me now:

1. Notes closed. Write down what you remember. Ugly is fine, half of it will be wrong.

2. Open the notes. Whatever you missed is the part that actually does the work.

3. Same topic again tomorrow. Not in five minutes.

4. Then spread out, roughly day 1, 3, 7, 16, 35.

I use tryacademee.com, but you can use what works for you or do it yourself for free.

The five minute thing is what killed it for me the first time. Anyone else measure it too early and write the whole method off?

I am in my senior year in high school and words can’t even describe how bad my procrastination has gotten to, It’s horrendous.

It’s gotten to the point that even if I deleted all my social medias I will still just sit there doing nothing rather than actually doing my work early. I physically can’t do any work unless it’s the day before the due date and it’s impacting my mental health a lot. There’s like no cortisol in my body, I have such a lack of urgency and when the due date comes I get a sudden spike of stress. I genuinely don’t know what to do, I tried exercising before my work because I thought I had ADHD and I saw online that moving before doing work helps, which it did work for like 10 min. I literally tried every thing but with no successes at all.

Also when start one assignment the stress of the other makes me just dissociate and I will just sit there and zone out. It’s literally almost 10 at night and I have an art assignment to do but I feel stressed about college app so I just distracted my self with Netflix because if not, I would just zone out and disassociate. Music kinda helps but it’s annoying & distracting to me personally.

But like idk what to do, I have achieved many great things in my teen years that I feel really proud because of this habit my mental and physical health was the price I paid to achieve them. Moreover, I feel as though I can’t reach my full potential and it’s preventing me from a lot of the opportunities I would get if I actually get it together. if anyone has any solutions or tips pls pls pls let me know.

Budgeting is very minimal

I always do my work at home, specifically on my study table or on my bed because it’s comfy.
But, whenever I find myself cramming an output for the next day, and I can’t seem to finish it when I’m on bed since I’d be tempted to lie down, I’d leave my room and stay in the living room.
In our living room, especially at night is very humid, dark, and full of mosquitoes.
It’s really uncomfortable, but I find myself being more productive than in a comfortable, air-conditioned, well-lit room.
I don’t know why.

Hey I'm 18 years old female in class 12th Pcb stream

I failed in 12th last year, that's why I am repeating the year. This year also it is the same, the whole year is about to end but I have not studied anything.

It is not that I have not studied anything, it is that whatever I study, I do not understand anything, like I do not even know the basics of anything, this time I really want to pass 12th with good marks.

And if I am not able to do this then my family will get me married and now I am afraid of this thing, should I not do this, there is no one here who can help me in getting good marks in the exam.

I have just joined this app two days ago, I don't even know how to use it, I have been posting since yesterday two days and I have not received a single DM or reply, does no one want to help me

One of my tuition mates told me about this app that it is very useful for studies, so I am trying it here one last time, my post does not get any views than how can people connect with me?

Please help me dm me or comment I hope this post get enough reach

It’s easy to just focus on the obvious stuff like headings, bold words, definitions, and whatever looked important BUT don't forget to pay attention to the random parts in between too!! (cuz well they aren’t really random).
when studying a chapter, I try not to skip:
little examples after a concept
explanations between 2 main points
diagrams+the text explaining them
side notes or footnotes that add context to whatever’s discussed
those sentences that explain why something works
sometimes the main definition makes sense but the example right after it is what supports or completes the topic. so now when I study a chapter I try not to just hunt for the “important” parts. I read the stuff around them too esp if I’m sitting there like “ok I kinda get it...but not really”

Like the title says, I don't understand how you guys effectively notetake or know what to write down. It feels like when I write something down it ends up being useless information and stuff I thought was unnecessary turns out to be extremely necessary. What I'm trying to say is, HELP. What i've been doing is summarizing each paragraph or putting the topic of each in bulletpoints but it's been 4 chapters and i'm already 3/4ths of the way through this notebook. Please i need suggestions.

Woke up to a nightmare about failing in exam. and I think I needed that.
Couldn't study properly for 1day and at all for 2 days straight because of my job. and when I came home one of my cousins came and just doing constant chitchatting. How do you say No to someone, specially to whom who does understand that you don't have time, but still continues to waste your+their own time. I couldn't avoid her because I'm staying in their house and doing job and study here.ugh.

This may sound backwards but try putting wrong answers into your study sessions on purpose.  After I learn a topic, I’ll make up and write down a believable mistake and then try to figure out where it goes wrong.
But it’s important to not just make the wrong answer. Keep in mind that you still have to explain why it's wrong+what makes the correct answer different (that is the point in the first place).
It’s useful for situations where I keep mixing things up cuz I’ll learn to tell the reasoning behind an answer and not just memorizing the “right” answer.

The syllabus is one of the students’ most overlooked things once the semester actually starts BUT it can make studying less confusing esp. when you have a million slides, pdfs, readings and reviewers sitting around.

I’ll drop a few things I do with mine & you can do these with yours too:

CHECK THE TOPICS BEFORE STUDYING so you’ll know what you’re supposed to cover

USE IT TO ORGANIZE YOUR FILES. if I have 5 pdfs open and don't know where they belong, I check the syllabus

LOOK AHEAD at the next few topics so I know what's coming instead of getting surprised by a new unit

MARK TOPICS YOU’VE ALREADY COVERED so you can see what's left

FOLLOW THE TOPIC ORDER when you have no idea what to study first. for me it usually gives me a decent starting point.

I don't use it as a strict schedule or anything. more like a map when I start getting lost in all the study materials.

Mine

For a while, we wanted to improve our processes and workflow without burning out, and we discovered a highly effective method: a "brain dump" combined with strict time blocking (assigning specific, uninterrupted 45- minute slots to a single task). It completely transformed our workflow.

Basically: first, get everything out of your head and onto paper, then filter for what really matters today. This prevents your brain from seeking distractions and keeps the focus solely on priority tasks.

If anyone is currently struggling with task paralysis, give this a try! How do you all organize your daily tasks?

After studying a topic, I tell myself to explain the main idea in one sentence. It’s my quick check to see if I really understood the topic or if I just recognized the words while reading.

You can think of it as what if someone asked me what this is about, what would I say in one sentence? just ONE (not a paragraph or whole page). Then attempt to say it without looking at any notes.

If I can get the sentence out without staring at the ceiling for 5 minutes trying to remember what I just read then. if I have the word mitosis, I'd close my notes and try to explain it in one sentence. If I can get the basic idea out on my own, good enough.

But if I’m sitting there thinking “wait... the chromosomes do something..then the cell splits...what was that again” then yeah back to my notes.

I have 3 hours travel from uni and home a total of 6 add an hour or two for getting ready and getting fresh after coming home. how do I not waste this time I spend travelling? my parents aren't cooperative about renting out a hostel nearby for some reasons I can't really explain. I don't even know why im making this post im really distressed that they're not understanding the fact that 7 hours a day is more than 25% of my time just doing nothing my eyesight is worsened im depressed and helpless too I sometimes think of jumping before the train i go on but im really scared if I end up amputated I'd never have a second chance at dying and I gotta spend atleast a year or two like this until im able to make some amount to live alone. should've marked nsfw but there doesn't seem to be an option I'M SORRY take this down if it's against any sub rule

Hi everyone. I’m 19, and i’m already on my second university because i just can’t seem to make it work where i am. I’m studying psychology, but i don’t want to work in that field later on. I do enjoy helping people, but i really dislike studying online—which is what i’m doing right now. I read somewhere that if you want to find a job you’ll actually enjoy, you should focus on the things that come most easily to you. The problem is, none of the things i do are likely to earn me any money in the future. What should i do?

Iam a software engineering student in my first year at university and i cant study for along period any one would like to study with me … encourage each other and whatever else ?

Hey!

I am a psychology undergraduate 4th year student. My semester ends are coming close with entrances for postgraduate.

But i don't feel motivated to start the preparation. I know time is running, tried talking to my friend and mentor but still I feel exhausted even with the idea of sitting for studies.

If anyone can help with this will be great. I just need some motivation or a less exhausting way of starting things.

Hey everyone,

​I’m a 24F back at university studying Psychology. I tried uni in the past, but it wasn't serious back then because I was working full-time alongside other things. Now that I'm back, I hear 18 and 19-year-old classmates saying how much easier it is to study now because they "love the subject."

​Here's the thing: I genuinely like psychology—that’s why I chose it! But I do not love the actual process of studying. I never voluntarily sit down to study. Even though the topics interest me, I always have to force myself, and I would honestly rather do anything else (even stare at a blank wall) than open my notes.

​Is anyone else in the same boat? How do you force yourself to get things done when you enjoy the discipline, but hate the grind of studying itself? Any tips for mature/returning students would be hugely appreciated!

Ps I am old and I have no time to waste ( procrastinating or being lazy ) hahaha just being honest. So any advice would be helpful thnx

I'm planning to give my study corner a complete makeover on a budget .

Thinking of adding wallpaper , artificial vines, warm fairy lights and some minimal aesthetic decor to make it cozy and motivating.✨

I want that pinterest- style study vibe without spending too much.😭

What should I add or remove to make it look better ? Any budget friendly ideas are welcome ! 🤗

Budget approx 1500 INR

I had my bachelor degree (license en économie et gestion) in 2017... in that same year i started work. Been away from studies for 10 years now I signed up for master management and gestion des projets at ISCAE. I have a test this Saturday and I can't memorize anything. I have all my notes ready but when I try to memorize some definitions or methods... if I managed to remember one thing today I forget it the next day. Can someone help with some tips and tricks ?

The night where you promise, tomorrow will be different. Then tomorrow comes and nothing changes. For over a year, I’ve had things i needed to do. Every morning I wake up knowing exactly what I should be doing and every night I go to bed wondering why I didnt do any of it. What a strange feeling to fear failure while simultaneously feeling too emotionally numb to prevent it. todays gonna be different I guess...day 214932

Remember this, if your entire page is highlighted, nothing is highligted.

I used to highlight my notes like it was some sort of coloring book I failed to have as a child. I use all sorts of colors; yellow, pink, blue green, pastel - you name it.

The page looked beautiful but I couldn’t remember a single thing.

These is how you should highlight texts;

1.) Read the full section - finish an entire paragraph or page before you pick up a highlighter.

2.) find the core idea - stop and think about the main point before marking anything.

3.) limit your amout - restrict yourself to one sentence or key phrase *per* paragraph.

4.) use a simple color system - keep colors minimal. stick to 3-5 colors max so you don’t overload your brain. assign clear meanings for each color. be consistent.