This document provides tips for effective studying. It recommends finding a quiet study space with minimal distractions, committing to focus for 2 hours without cell phone use. Studying with a friend can make concepts more meaningful. The document advises estimating study time needed, taking scheduled study breaks, and getting the big picture before focusing on details. It also suggests making information meaningful, using mnemonics, distributed learning over time, and reviewing material to strengthen long-term memory.

1. By: Karol Wielechowski
AP Psychology Period 1B

2.  Go to a quiet space:
go to a place where
it is nice and quiet,
with minimal
distractions
 Get yourself
motivated: commit
yourself to stay in
an environment for
two hours. Avoid
distractions, such
as cell phones.

3.  If you can’t get
yourself motivated,
try to make your
studying enjoyable.
Study with a friend.
 Studying with a
friend can make
concepts much
more meaningful
because you’re
relating it to your
partner.

4.  Consider the material you need to cover and
estimate how much time you need to study.
 Schedule a specific amount of time to devote
to studying
◦ Depending on the material, how long do you need
to get the information into memory?

5.  Take a 15 minute break and eat something
(maybe a nice brownie. Mmm… brownies.)

6.  When reviewing materials in the book, get the
big picture.
 Once that is established, you have more of an
understanding of what the material is about.
 If you don’t have a big picture of what the
material is about, do you honestly know what
you’re reading about?

7.  Then, go back and
outline all of the
important concepts
and vocabulary you
need to know for
the up and coming
test.
 Going back and
outlining
strengthens
connections in your
synapses by making
the information
more meaningful.

8.  Mnemonics are techniques for improving
memory, by making connections between
new material and information already in LTM.
◦ For example, take the word procedural memory.
Since most people know the word procedure, it
means how to do something. Procedural memory is
simply how you do something; such as, riding a
bicycle.

9.  If you’re using them for vocabulary terms,
write the word on the front and write the
definition on the back.
 Try memorize the definition and make up a
question.
◦ For example, take the word engram. The definition
of an engram is: the physical changes in the brain
associated with a memory.
◦ Come up with a question. What are physical
changes in the brain associated with a memory
called?

10.  Make the material meaningful. Studies have
shown that memories will remain stronger if
the information is approached in a way that
makes it meaningful.
 Strategies
◦ Use the whole method: approach the material to be
learned “as a whole”. For example, when you’re
trying to study for a test, look over the major
concepts presented in the chapter.

11.  Spread your learning overtime. This is called
distributed learning, in which you space out
all of your studying overtime, instead of
cramming it all in one night.

12.  Take steps to minimize interference. Avoid
studying for another class after you have
reviewed the material for one particular class.
 Review things you already have learned. This
is a great way to strengthen synapses in LTM.