Studying is necessary to succeed in college. The document outlines the basic rules for effective studying: study at the right time (40 hours per week), place (quiet, distraction-free), and under the right conditions (organized, prepared). Different classes require modifying strategies, such as using concept cards for sciences, annotating texts for humanities, and practicing problems for math. Following basic tips like taking notes and quizzing yourself can help students receive the grades they want through adequate preparation and study.

1. STUDY SKills
Lunch and Learn
Student Success

2. Worried that you don’t really
know the best ways to study?
Concerned that you can study
“hard” and still not earn good
grades?
Think that you should study
biology the same way you study
history?

3. What is the
right way to study?

4. The Basic Rules
Studying is necessary to succeed.
You should approach You need to study at the
studying in the way right time, at the right
you would approach place, and under the
a regular job, giving right conditions so that
class and study time you will give yourself
at least forty hours of adequate preparation
your time every week. and maintain the
correct attitude.

5. “The Forty Hours Rule”
Let’s do a little math…
40 Most regular jobs require employees to
work for forty hours during the week.
15 The average college course load
includes fifteen hours per week in class.
25 You need to study / do classwork at
least this many hours per week.

6. The Requirements of Quality Studying
Time Place Conditions
Preparation Attitude

7. The Right Time
•Make and keep a regular study schedule.
•Set aside certain hours each day for class
assignments.
•Remember “The Forty Hours Rule” – treat
studying like a regular job.
•Manage how much time to study based on how
well you know the material and how much you
want to succeed.

8. The Right Place
•Study in the same place everyday.
•Choosing the correct place can eliminate
concentration problems.
•Choose a place with ZERO distractions.
•Pick a spot for yourself – where do you study
best?
•Group studying can be helpful, but remember
you’re the one taking the test.
•Wherever you choose to study, make sure it is
well-lit, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature.

9. The Right Conditions
•The right place is useless without the right
surrounding conditions.
•You should study with ZERO distractions from:
• music, television, movies, or video games
• friends, classmates, and the telephone
• computer, instant messenger
•Surrounding conditions include the proper
equipment to study (chair, desk, light, notebooks,
books, pens, and pencils – whatever you need).
•If you need a snack, take only a short break and
eat something healthy, such as fruit.

10. Adequate Preparation
•Get organized before each study session. Ask
yourself:
•What am I going to study?
•Do I have all the materials I need?
•Formulate a plan before you study. What is it that
you are going to accomplish during this study
time?

11. The Correct Attitude
•The only way to make studying successful is to
recognize the need to study and then actually
want to study because of it.
•Don’t wait for the great “Study Inspiration” - it is
not coming!
•Don’t start to study while you’re stressed. You’ll
get frustrated and it isn’t going to help de-stress
you. Clear your mind for a little while and study
when you can focus on studying.
•If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll
always get what you’ve always gotten!

12. Modifying Study Strategies for
Different Classes
•The Sciences
•Chemistry, Biology, Physics
•What to Expect:
•Tests tend to be Objective
•Multiple Choice, True / False,
Matching, Problem Solving
•How To Prepare:
•Concept Cards, Concept Maps,
•Practice Problems, Studying with Others

13. Modifying Study Strategies for
Different Classes
•The Humanities
•Literature, History, Religion,
•Fine Arts
•What to Expect:
•Heavy Emphasis on Writing
•Compare / Contrast, Interpret, Analyze, Identify
•How to Prepare:
•Humanities are Varied – You Need Many Different
Strategies
•Annotation and Reflection, Time Lines, Question and
Answer

14. Modifying Study Strategies for
Different Classes
•Mathematics
•Algebra, Statistics, Calculus
•What to Expect:
•Problem Solving
•How to Prepare:
•Stay Current, Read Textbook Explanations,
•Review and Practice Daily, Take Good Lecture
Notes
• Use Concept Cards, Ask Lots of Questions
•Take your time- don’t make thoughtless errors

15. Modifying Study Strategies for Different
Classes
•Foreign Languages
•Spanish, French, ASL
•What to Expect:
•Memorization
Vocabulary, Grammar Rules, Sentence
Construction
•Dialogue
 Listening and Speaking
•How to Prepare:
•Do All Practice Activities,
•Practice Speaking with Classmates,
•Concept Cards, Get into the Culture with Festivals or Trips

16. Quick and Easy Study Tips
 Keep an organized • Write notes in the margins of
notebook. your textbook.
• Keep a careful record of
assignments with the • Become familiar with a
syllabus and a planner. chapter in the textbook
• Use flash cards to learn before reading it - study the
specialized vocabulary. textbook in this order:
titles, sub-titles, bold
• Use index dividers in your
words, pictures, graphs, and
notebook.
then the text.
• Take good notes during
lectures – the more you
• Over-learn the material –
write, the better!
don’t just be able to recall it.
• Quiz yourself while studying
– cover up the notes and see
if you can repeat them out • Review frequently.
loud to yourself. • Try acrostics, word
associations, and jingles.

17. You’ve got to study to succeed!
We’re not all Rocket You can receive the
Scientists…most students grades you want by
won’t succeed in college taking the time to study
without putting in the time and prepare for your
and effort to study for their classes.
classes.
There are no miracle
secrets or magic
formulas for getting good
grades.