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The Study System:

THE STUDY SYSTEM

How to succeed in college

Easy......., just pass all your required classes!

So how do you do that?

For most classes, passing the class means passing the tests in these classes. The study system is a strategy to help you successfully pass the exams in your classes.

The questions on all your tests will come from lectures (in class or maybe some out of class presentations) and/or class readings (the text(s) and any other assigned readings).

Your first task as a student is to generate questions from the lectures and the readings. Your next task is to quiz yourself over these questions.

LEARNING is defined as "a permanent CHANGE in behavior as a result of experience

STRESS is defined as "your body's reaction (through mental or physical tension) to CHANGE! Learning is stressful.

The way that stress usually shows up for students is as TEST ANXIETY! But the study system can help you manage the stress and be successful.

If you give my suggestions a try, that will be a CHANGE. In other words, it will be stressful. It is hard to break a habit, even if we really want to. It takes a lot of willpower and effort.

"The Hurwitz Study Principle"

"Don't waste time studying what you already know."

When you take notes or read your textbook, you begin forgetting immediately. But, you don't forget everything. So when you review, only review the stuff you forgot, or don't know!

"But how do I know what I know?"

How do your teachers know what you know? They test you. So for you to know what you know and what you don't know, you need to test yourself.

"Review study should be self testing!"

Review study constitutes almost 75% of the studying you will normally do. If all you do to review is to reread your notes or your text, you are wasting your time. Use the questions you generate while taking notes and while doing your initial reading of your text books to continually test yourself. This will build confidence and reduce test anxiety.