Academic Skills Center

Study Skills: Avoiding Study Traps

The following are a list of traps that students have while studying for classes, tests, research, and other areas. After reading them, take some time and read through the worksheets and online resources (in the menu to the left) to help you become a stronger student.

• "I Don't Know Where To Begin"
  - Take Control Immediately.
  - List all things that you have to do.
  - Break your down your work into manageable blocks.
  - Prioritize & schedule your time realistically.
  - Don't skip classes near an exam. You may miss a review.
  - Use that hour in between classes to review notes.
  - Begin studying early and slowly build as the exam approaches.

• "There's too Much To Study And Not Enough Time"
  Preview The Information
  Survey your syllabus, reading material, and notes. Be sure to identify important topics emphasized, and areas you do not understand.

• "This Stuff Is So Boring, I Can't Stay Awake Reading It"
  Attack The Material!
  Get actively involved with the text as you read. Ask yourself, "What is important to remember about this?" Take notes or underline key concepts. Discuss material with others in your class. Study together.

• "I Read It. I Understand It. But I Still Can't Get It"
  Elaborate
  We remember the things that are most meaningful to us. As you read, try to elaborate upon new information with your own examples. Integrate what you're studying with what you already know. You will be able to remember new material better if you can link it to something that's already meaningful to you.

  Chunk The Material
  This is an effective way to simplify and make information more meaningful. For example, suppose you wanted to remember the colors in the visible spectrum (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet); you would have to memorize seven "chunks" of information in order. But if you take the first letter of each color, you can spell the name "Roy G. Biv", and reduce the information the three "chunks".

  Mnemonics
  Try using a memory-assisting technique that helps you to associate new information with something familiar. Check out some of our online memory resources.

• "I Think I Understand It"
  Test yourself by making up questions about key areas in notes or reading and what the professor has discussed in class. Take time and examine the relationships between concepts and sections.

• "There's Too Much To Remember"
  Organize, Organize, Organize!
  Information is always recalled better if it is represented in an organized format. Some methods to help out include: writing chapter outlines or summaries &and grouping information into categories or hierarchies, where possible.

• "I Knew It A Minute Ago"
  Review, Review, Review!
  After reading a section, try to recall that information. Answering questions you made up for that section. If you can not recall enough, re-read portions you had trouble remembering. The more time you spend studying, the more you tend to recall.

• "I Like To Study In Bed"
  Put Yourself In Context!
  The greater the similarity between the your study setting and test setting, can give the greatest likelihood that material will be recalled during the test.

• "Cramming Helps Me Before A Test"
  Space Your Studying Time
  Start studying now and keep studying as you go along. Start out with an hour or two a day about a week before the exam, and then increase study time as the exam approaches. Your recall will increase as study time gets spread out over time.

• "I'm Going To Stay Up All Night"
  Avoid Mental Exhaustion At All Cost!
  Take short breaks when studying. Try to relax and unwind mentally, as well as, physically. Before a test, be sure to get a good nights rest. A daily habit of eating well, sleeping well, and excercising well will help build your mental and physical abilities.