We may stumble when it comes to mastering concepts and subjects, and we may not feel like studying most of the time. Some of us might despise studying. However, we must recognise that studying is a process of acquiring new knowledge, understanding, traits, skills, ethics, attitudes, and perceptions.
Studying is a science that adheres to specific guidelines. Learning those rules and applying them correctly allows us to achieve excellent results.
By following these six study rules, you can master any subject or concept.
Rule 1
Reading
Reading is not the same as studying. If you intend to study a particular chapter or concept. The first step is to read through the contents, beginning with the introduction and ending with the summary.
Never worry about your exam or anything else while reading; the sole purpose of reading is to gain knowledge.
Instead of rushing through the content, read at your own pace. You must maintain a relaxed and calm manner. Because this is a science, the concepts will be firmly embedded in your mind subconsciously.
As an example, consider the following:
When you listen to music or a song, the lyrics will automatically register in your mind; is this because you are attempting to memorize it? Most definitively not. It registers because the contents will enter your mind involuntarily while you are relaxed and be stored in your long-term memory.
Even if you don't understand everything, reading it all will help your mind connect the unknown concepts to the ones you already know, giving you a better understanding of the subject.
This will rule will work wonders for you, but it will take some time.
Rule 2
Remembering
Remembering is the process of recalling previously read information. It is the ability to recall information from memory.
More reading won't help you if you can't remember what you've read.
To remember what you read, you must be specific and intentional.
We may not be able to recall everything we have learnt. but we must remember the essentials. You'll need to practice to improve this.
After you have finished reading, try to recall and comprehend the concepts you've learnt.
Rule 3
Recapitulation
After you have finished reading and remembering, take some time to summarise everything you've read. Recapitulation should be in an organized manner. From the beginning to the end,
If you have been studying for an hour, spend the last five minutes going over everything you have learnt.
Close your books or study materials before recapitulation and make a summary of what you learnt on paper in the form of a mind map. Visualise the information you learnt in sequential order.
While taking a recap you will get a clear idea of the subject.
Rule 4
Reproduction
This is the crucial self-analysis section, in which you present your knowledge to the rest of the world. It is not about what you read, remember, and summarise. People judge you based on what you give away.
Reproduce what you've learnt by writing a test and correcting it on your own. This will show you how well you understand the subject.
Teaching others is the most effective method. Try to explain what you learnt to your peers who didn't get it. If they can understand it clearly, you can as well. If they still had doubts about the content. You can see that you are not well-versed in that subject.
If you cannot find anyone to teach, pretend you are teaching a group of people; this will boost your confidence.
Take note of where you are stumbling to explain it.
Do not feel bad about your mistakes; the goal of this rule is to discover our flaws.
Rule 5
Rectifying
After identifying your weaker areas and concepts that are less well-understood. Correct your errors by examining where you went wrong. You may have missed some key points while writing or explaining it to someone, or you may have misunderstood the concepts.
Read over those topics again, remember them, and recapitulate everything from the beginning. After you have corrected your errors, you will feel satisfied. Do not be afraid to do so.
By correcting your errors, you will be able to excel in that subject and your presentations will be error-free. The primary goal of reproducing the content is to rectify IT.
Correct your mistakes with caution, and if you are having difficulty understanding it, seek the assistance of others.
Rule 6
Revision
You may believe that your studying is complete after following the above rules. Yes, you are correct, but over time, you will tend to forget those contents. You may be wondering about, how we are forgetting?
Let's take a closer look at,
Why Revision is essential?
To understand this clearly, let's look into an interesting scientific experiment.
Hermann Ebbinghaus, a German psychologist, pioneered an experimental study of memory in 1880. In that experiment, he discovered the forgetting curve.
According to this graph, by the end of day one, we tend to forget 25% of the content, and our retention continues to decline over time.
The outcome of this experiment is, Memories deteriorate with time. If we learn something new but do not attempt to relearn it, we remember less and less of it as the hours, days, and weeks pass.
It is normal to forget most of what is learnt within a few days after learning it unless it is constantly revised to keep it fresh in mind.
If you are learning a new concept, by following the above rules. Revise those contents within a week, and then do it again and again to ensure retention. Set aside a specific time to review what you've learnt.
Do not be lazy about revising because it is an important part of studying. If you did not revise the subjects you had previously studied, you may begin studying that content again.
If you follow these six rules consistently in your studies, you will notice a significant improvement in your grades.
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