How to Study Smarter, Not Harder?

How to Study Smarter, Not Harder: Proven Study Techniques That Actually Work

Do you often feel that you study harder, but it is still not enough? Well, it’s because you just need to study smart to help you get over the slump. No, you do not need to try new things or get more books to mug up the topics. By adjusting a few things here and there and then following the steps mentioned here, you can be as smart as the person next to you!

Why is Studying Smarter Important? 

Smart studying is important because the study pattern until high school is not enough for the hard and vast syllabus of college. In college, there is no personal involvement from the teaching faculty, and you are completely on your own. 

In addition, the age-old study techniques that you follow, such as taking notes and getting study guides, may prove redundant. So, don’t delay anymore and start practising to be smarter at studying right now. 

✨ Heads up! Some links here are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting BioSmartNotes!

10 Tips on How To Study Smarter, Not Harder

Without further ado, let’s dig into those smarter techniques that you can follow. 

Set up a Study Space

Let’s start by setting up a quiet, comfortable, organised and dedicated study space. If you have books scattered around, organise them. Ensure that you have space for every essential item on your study table. While doing so, ensure you have enough space for your books and for taking your notes. 

Create a Study Cycle

A study cycle consists of different aspects of learning, such as attending classes, taking notes, studying, reviewing your progress, taking periodical tests, etc. For example, reading the lesson or chapter beforehand, then attending the class and taking notes. After coming home, you read through the lesson once again, understand the portions, and complete the studies. In the next step, you do a self-test to assess your understanding. If it is still not thorough, you repeat the lesson. 

To help you plan better and follow the Pomodoro technique, here is an awesome exam planner that help you plan up to 9 subjects. Click here to grab your planner now!

You need to have a schedule and stick to it to succeed in having an effective study cycle. Do not hesitate to dedicate more hours to tougher subjects, especially maths!

Do Not Cramp Up Your Day

While creating a schedule, focus more on allotting ample time for those tougher subjects, such as maths, science, and social science, every day. At the same time, provide sufficient time for the languages, especially during the weekends. You can also break the primary subjects into their components, such as chemistry, physics, biology, or the social sciences, into history, geography, economics, etc. The schedule must be such that you study each subject at least twice a week. Don’t forget to add recess time so you don’t feel too cramped with the studies and homework. 

Start Early and Space Out

Starting early is a smart move. As we are in a new academic year for the higher graders, it is a good time to start studying earlier. You have easy access to lessons on social media platforms. 

Take up at least two chapters from each subject, for the next 3-4 months. This way, you will have enough time to understand the concepts, clear your doubts, and have enough time to answer a few question papers before the next exam season. 

An early study will also give you ample time to spread out the lengthier chapters and break them down to bite sized portions so you can understand them thoroughly. 

Practice Intense Study Sessions

Smart studying means to keep your study sessions focused and intense, without wasting time on anything else. If you feel you get distracted easily, eliminate anything that could distract, from the vicinity or from the room itself. Instead of wasting hours on passive learning, make efforts to have at least an hour of intentional studying. 

Don’t Ignore the Textbooks

Most students use the textbooks least. They mostly rely on the guidebooks, question banks, etc., for their studies. Even if you rely on those additional books, it is important not to neglect your textbooks. Textbooks are crucial for the CBSE and NIOS boards. 

NCERT books are one of the most important books that help you perform better in the exams. So make it a habit of reading the chapters beforehand, right after coming home, during weekends and once a month to keep in touch with the concepts. Make note of those important points so that you can revisit them easily. This takes us to the next point!

Less Highlights More Notes

Are you a fan of highlighting the important points in your book using cute colours? Well, to be smarter, you need to stop doing it. Yes, you can still highlight points, but make sure that you don’t make every page of the book colourful. Keep highlighting to a minimum. 

For example, you can highlight those short single sentences if they are important. On the other hand, use the brackets if the entire paragraph is important. You can also add a small mark next to it rather than highlighting every line. 

In addition, keep a notebook to make your notes. Instead of highlighting the textbooks, make questions out of those important sentences or paragraphs and make a note of the page number. 

Trust the Sample Papers and PYQs

There are multiple question papers, practice papers, sample papers and PYQs (Previous Year Questions) readily available online. Make full use of it, especially when you are 4-5 months away from the exams. They must be your go-to resources when all the portions are covered. These sample papers provide the exact pattern for the paper and also give you an idea about the type of concepts the boards look for. 

On the other hand, PYQs could very well be a quick window to your exam paper itself. CBSE often repeat questions for important topics. Solving those PYQs will help you assess yourself, polish your preparations, and help you ace your exams. Those starting their exam preparations at the last minute can save time by solving PYQs. 

Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

As good and smart as the schedule is, it is not easy to stick to it. This is why you must focus on the progress rather than perfection. It also applies to those hard-to-crack chapters in mathematics. If those chapters are not easy for you, then give more focus on the easier chapters and make them perfect rather than trying to mug up everything. As you focus more on your studies, you will learn when to rely on progress and where to look for perfection. 

Stay Focused and Motivated

To be a smart learner, you must stay focused and motivated. It is not an easy task, but practice makes it perfect. Try meditation and brain exercises to stay focused. Try writing down your goals, which will help you in the long run. Creating a schedule that you would love to wake up to is the key to staying motivated. This schedule must include study hours and enough time for leisure and to connect with your loved ones. 

Conclusion

When it comes to implementing a study cycle, there is no one-size-fits-all technique. You are the best person to understand what is best for you. So take all the tips and tricks and make them suitable for you as you deem fit. The key is to understand your weakness and make amendments. This is how you become smarter. I hope you now have a clear understanding of how to study smarter, not harder. So, start your journey today. 

Related Topics

• Managing Study Stress During Exam Season
• What to Do in Study Breaks?
• Steps to Achieve Academic Goals