parikhs

Okay I read a post earlier about Study Skills and I need suggestions for a book......I'm one of those people that study the night before for hours...and dont get the A they shoot for...example: AP Macroeconomics..I have a test Monday and I plan on studying today/tomorrow...but I am having trouble applying what I'm learning to actual problems...I'm really confused. I just think my study skills suck.

spunkiegirl

Mine are pretty bad too - I just read the material and try to memorize it, and I know I should do more. *shrugs* Seems everyone but me somehow learned how to study right by now, it's kinda good to know I'm not alone in this.

KrazyKow

When you're initially reading assigned material, don't leave it until late at night. Read it during the day when you're fully awake so that you can remember things. Rather than just reading it, as you go along, mentally ask yourself questions about the stuff to make sure you're understanding it. If you aren't sure about it, reread the section. If it still doesn't make sense, go on, but ask a friend/teacher about that later. If you can, try to make connections between what you're reading and what you already know from that class or another class, and it'll be easier to remember. It takes longer to read something this way, but if you do, you understand it more thoroughly and will need to study less later.

eireann

I have similar issues. I think for me it's partially not having good study skills and partially the self-discipline to make myself apply them.

spunkiegirl

Yeah, that's probably my problem too

adconard

It's not a skill. It's something you develop out of discipline and motivation. Obviously one reason might be you simply don't care about the subject. If that's the case, then why are you in that major (of course if it's general education, then I understand because those classes can be quite boring and thank god I'm finished with general education).

jimbob1225

Just DO PRACTICE PROBLEMS especially in math/science. That's what'll work. It takes more time but actually the time is better spent in terms of what you gain for the test. If you lack self-discipline like I do, what I've learned to do is...
1. A couple days before the test circle the exercises in your book (if there are some) that you plan to study with for the test. Maybe pick 3 per section. If it's not a problem-kind-of-class, list the key terms from the unit. In summary, set specific study goals.
2. The day before the test (yeah I don't think at this point we have much hope of getting rid of THAT habit)...do the exercises. This helps because now you only have a limited # of things to do, and you don't have to stay up late trying to cram it all in.. Once you've done one problem, go down the list. That's it, and you did "the bare minimum." Same goes for key terms.

So for economics...if you have trouble applying a concept, do more application problems. Make a list of them beforehand, maybe when you start the unit, and then as you go along with studying, do them. Go and ask your teach for help too!