It's very easy to make
the mistake of thinking
you've learned
something when you
study, yet not have the
understanding to
translate it into success
on a test. This can
even happen if you've
read the material
multiple times and
understood it when
you read it or tried it.
For many students,
this experience can be
very frustrating and
cause anxiety. Why,
you might wonder, is
this stuff not sticking?
If you've had this
experience, don't
worry. Chances are it's
not that you're doing
anything wrong.
For most people, this
kind of struggle just
means there are some
other things that need
to be done as part of
studying. Fortunately,
there are many easyto-learn study
techniques that can
help move you from
simple understanding
to mastery of the
material.
A Helpful Technique: SQ4R
SQ4R (stands for survey, question, read, recite, record and
review):
 Survey: Before starting, look through the text for main ideas,
reading headings, subheadings, captions, etc.
 Question: Formulate a question from the first section of the
text by turning the heading of the section into a question,
considering your initial survey or simply asking yourself,
"What is this section about?"
 Read: Read the first section to answer the question you
generated.
 Recite: Look away from the book and a) recite the answer to
your question, b) write down the question and answer and c)
repeat the question and read and recite steps for each part of
the assignment.
 Record: As you read, create a bullet-point outline for
everything you read. This will capture the most essential
information and serve as a study guide for your test
preparation.
 Review: Look over your notes to get an overview of the
entire reading—its main ideas, its supporting ideas. Jot down
a few examples that illustrate those ideas, and then write a
one-paragraph summary.
Be an Active Reader… You’ll learn more
Write as you read. When you read, always make notes. Note-taking keeps your brain actively thinking about
the information, even if only long enough to put it in some organized way on the page. This kind of activity
helps form stronger memories and deepens understanding. It also makes material easier to study and review
once you're done reading it.
Develop a study network. Connect with people who can support your work. You have others in your learning
community. Your professors, your friends or the Academic Enhancement Center's peer tutors can help you to
speak it, hear it, rethink it, practice—and all of this helps you to remember more easily. And of course, these
people can help explain and clear up confusion when you are stuck! Being confused can be very frustrating,
and really hold up your study progress.
Create an active study environment. Different students read more effectively in different environments, so
get to know your needs. The key is to find places that help you to focus and remove distraction. Choose places
that are well-lit and well ventilated to keep you alert. Keep all of the materials you will need to read actively—
textbook(s), notebooks, index cards, etc.—near you.
Take advantage of "in-between" time. Instead of planning to read all at once, study for many short
periods—even five or 10 minutes at a time. Carry a book, notebook or flashcards with you always. Study
between classes, while waiting for an appointment or a friend, etc. Try to review right after class and right
before. Your study times will feel less tiring, and you'll get a lot more hours in each week.
Give your brain a break. Set a modest goal, such as making notes on a few sections in a chapter, and then
give yourself a 10-minute break. You can focus and think more clearly when you take short rests.
Don't just read—study. When we read, our brains focus energy on understanding—not memorizing or
analyzing. To memorize or think about information, we need to do something with it—like write, talk or make
visuals to go along with it. It isn't always best to read a chapter from start to finish.
These active techniques will help you get the most from the information in your books:
Begin at the end. Copy down the review questions at the end of each section or chapter. Then, as you read
through the chapter and make notes, look for answers to the questions and write them down.
Make and take your own tests. After you've made bullet-point notes, turn important information into
questions in your notebook. Then, close the book and test yourself. When you finish answering what you can
remember, change to an open-book test. Go back into the book and find the answers to the questions you didn't
get.
Make portable quizzes. Make notes on index cards. Convenient and portable, they allow you to study
anywhere. Write the information on one side and a test-type question about that information on the other side.
Do it again. Reread and rewrite your notes and chapters regularly to reinforce the information you've
learned—the more often you're able to review information, the more you'll remember.
Don't give up. Write down questions you have from your reading and bring them to class or to a tutor at the
AEC. Or just do your studying at the AEC so that tutors are there when the questions come up!