How Do the Smartest Students Study?
From teaching a concept to putting an idea into practical use, here are eight answers to the question, “How do the smartest students study?”
- Take an Active Approach
- Study Smart, Don’t Study Hard
- Solve Problems Related to the Study Material
- Dig Deep and Research Thoroughly
- Practice the Pomodoro Technique
- Throw a Study-Party
- Remember, a Little Procrastination Goes a Long Way
- Understand the Theory, Then Implement
Take an Active Approach
One effective study tip for smart students is to engage actively with the material they are learning. This means going beyond simply reading and highlighting or underlining key points, and instead taking an active approach to learning by asking questions, summarizing concepts in their own words, and making connections between different ideas.
Use the “Feynman Technique,” which involves explaining a concept in simple terms as if teaching it to someone else. This forces the student to break down complex ideas and ensures that they have a deep understanding of the material.
Trey Ferro
CEO, Spot Pet Insurance
Study Smart, Don’t Study Hard
Active learning is an important strategy for smart students. It’s not enough to only read or listen to information; that can often lead to passive learning and difficulty in retaining the material.
By actively engaging with the material, students can better understand and remember the information they’re studying. This can include creating mind maps, diagrams, or other visual aids to help organize information, as well as using mnemonics to aid in memorization.
Teaching the material to someone else can be a great way to solidify one’s understanding of the material and identify any gaps in their own knowledge. Overall, the key is to find a variety of active learning strategies that work for one and their learning style.
Georgi Todorov
Founder, ThriveMyWay
Solve Problems Related to the Study Material
One tip for how the smartest students study is to use active learning techniques, which t involve actively engaging with the material, rather than passively reading or listening to it. Practice solving problems related to the material you are studying.
Teach the material to someone else. This can help you understand the material better and identify areas where you may need to study more. Use diagrams, charts, and other visual aids to help you understand the material. This can make the material more memorable and easier to recall.
Sean Harris
Managing Editor, Family Destinations Guide
Dig Deep and Research Thoroughly
When learning, skimming the surface can never help you understand or remember. When you dig deep and attempt to find out more, you gain a thorough understanding of a topic or concept. Brilliant students understand this well and go about their studies accordingly.
Learning in this manner helps you dive into the underlying concept of a topic rather than only memorizing the answer to a specific question. By learning in this manner, you can use your understanding of the concept to come up with an answer to a different question. Practical, dependable, and highly useful, this way of studying makes for students who appreciate what they are learning.
Brendan McGreevy
Head of Strategy, Affinda
Practice the Pomodoro Technique
Taking a break every hour while studying can be a highly effective strategy for improving focus and productivity. This technique is known as the Pomodoro Technique, which involves breaking work into 25-minute intervals separated by five-minute breaks. After four Pomodoros, you take a longer break of 15-20 minutes.
The reason this works so well is that our brains have a limited capacity to focus on a single task for extended periods. By taking breaks, you give your mind a chance to rest and recharge, making it easier to sustain your focus and energy throughout your study session.
Derek Bruce
Senior Director, Onsite First Aid Training
Throw a Study-Party
The smartest students know that a good study session is like a fun party—you need to plan it out, you need to be prepared, and you need to have a good time! One tip to ensure a successful study session is to create a comfortable and organized workspace.
Make sure you have all of your materials, snacks, and drinks, and dedicate a specific area to studying. Clear any potential distractions, such as your phone, and get ready to focus and get the job done!
Aruna Krishnan
Marketing Coordinator, Achievable
Remember, a Little Procrastination Goes a Long Way
In university, I noticed that the smartest girl in the class never got in a hurry to study. She would procrastinate. Meanwhile, all of us were cramming all night before every exam to keep the information.
After she kept acing tests, I finally asked what she did differently, and the answer surprised me. She said she procrastinated, but not too much. Her method was to procrastinate a little, take her notes, wait a couple of days, go back over the notes, wait a couple of days, and go over them again.
When I tried it, I committed everything to memory with ease. And now there are studies you can find online that back this up. Don’t wait until the last second, but wait a little while, and revisit the materials twice. But give your mind time to process.
Kam Talebi
CEO, The Butcher’s Tale
Understand the Theory, Then Implement
The best way to study is to understand the theory behind what you’re learning and put it to practical use. After all, how else would you remember the idea behind what you’re learning and move beyond just the words that make up the answer?
Theoretical understanding helps you gain perspective and understand the root of the problem or question under discussion. Putting it to practical use enables you to experiment with it under factual circumstances so that you see this knowledge as workable and accurate, and not just a notion or random discussion.
Even when such students cannot experiment with everything they learn, they reimagine the theory in practical situations and gain a better understanding.
Ariav Cohen
VP of Marketing and Sales, Proprep
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