Hello All, I just got back one of my exams and I did not do so well on it. I thought I was well prepared going into the exam but it seems like my study habits are not enough to keep me afloat for upper division courses in university.
Please share any study habits or tips that worked for you in your university days!!! or what works for you currently if you are attending a university. Thank you, it would be very much appreciated.
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Application is key at university! I learned this the hard way and had to teach myself. Lecturers are absolutely useless for teaching you anything like that.
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Study in the library
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make flash cards...it worked for me.
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If I were to relive my life, I would not just study to get good marks in the exam. I would study to understand the subject. To really get the fundamentals. I would do all the tutorials assigned. I would not miss a single class. I would engage the Prof or TA. Go to office hrs with questions. Actively participate in the class. I would ENJOY the learning process.
The grades would take care of themselves.
When I study, I don't tolerate any sound. No radio. No TV. Full concentration.
The library is great idea. These days, the stupid library allows students to have meeting in certain tables. And have "quiet" tables nearby. What the what?
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Tell me about it. I am the same way, I like to have complete silence when I am studying but there is always some distraction, people talking, listening to loud music etc. So many times I have had to change my seat in the library to avoid noise.
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I already study at the library though, I guess I need to put in more hours.
and @KKF
Thank you, I will try using flashcards but I am an impatient person lol
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I don’t know what you study but here is what worked for me, maybe some stuff won’t be possible for you depending on the subject etc.
Skip lectures. I spend the first 2 years of university attending lectures and getting nothing out of it. Attended them out of guilt but what a waste of time. Explore Youtube, there’s so much out there of high quality.
Attend classroom classes/case based classes - but be selective. Don’t attend them if you’re going to sit in the back and not pay attention anyway. Attend them because you’re going to participate, that’s when you learn the most.
Find a place to study where no one can interrupt you. I was married so it worked fine for me to study at home. Some people are into group based study, others are not. Figure out what your needs are and stick to it even if other people suggest otherwise.
Flash cards if you have a lot of things to learn.
Old exam sheets. Do them at least twice if not more.
Fixed time to study: Like 9-5 every day. No ifs or buts. When it’s 5 pm, you shut your books and if you didn’t cover everything for today, that’s just too bad. This will keep you focused and concentrated when you’re actually studying (it will be stressing in the beginning though 
)
Most important - have a study plan. A realistic one. If you’re only able to read 30 pages pr day normally, it makes no sense to aim for 60 pages pr day during revision/exam time.
PS. Turn off your mobile and Wifii on the computer while studying. You will quickly see how much time the internet actually steals from you.
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Thank you Aaze :)
That was very helpful, I am studying Cell, Molecular, and Developmental biology. I did the same exact thing as you the first two years, attended every single lecture whether relevant or not and now I am realizing that it's not necessary at all especially if I find myself constantly looking at the clock.
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^Exactly. I wish I had just skipped them from the start as my twinbrother. It would have been so much easier, but I always felt like I would miss something if I didn't attend them, which I never did because they never said anything important.
Since you're in a science subject, I'm sure you will be able to find good lectures on various subjects online if you feel the need. And I would definitely do the old exam sheets as many times as possible because you will be able to recognize your weaknesses and strengths pretty quickly and hence be able to target study the subjects you're having difficulties with.
Goodluck with your next one. I'm sure you will do fine now that you're aware of your own studying habits.
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^Exactly. I wish I had just skipped them from the start as my twinbrother. It would have been so much easier, but I always felt like I would miss something if I didn't attend them, which I never did because they never said anything important.
Since you're in a science subject, I'm sure you will be able to find good lectures on various subjects online if you feel the need. And I would definitely do the old exam sheets as many times as possible because you will be able to recognize your weaknesses and strengths pretty quickly and hence be able to target study the subjects you're having difficulties with.
Goodluck with your next one. I'm sure you will do fine now that you're aware of your own studying habits.
Insha'Allah :)
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Just my opinion. But doing old exam sheets as many times as possible is simply p repeating for the exam. Without learning a lot. If old exam sheets are from same professor, you will Ace the exam. But may walk away not retaining any knowledge.
I haven't attended classes in a while. In you tube, I have seen some lectures on for example fluid mechanics by some university prof. The way he taught it, one cannot teach oneself if one is not an expert. So yes u will get good you tube lectures. But for. Professsors! Which you are thinking now of not attending! Isn't that backwards. Sit in the front and he engaged. It is up to u how much u extract from a class.
as for flash cards they are like power point. To really learn a subject you have to read the book. Do exercises at end of chapter. Regularly.
U will get As using short cuts. But u will be wasting ur education.
Anyway there are tips from an old furt which may not be relevant for this generation. But I think it is relevant for all yugas, including Treta yug
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Been to a dozen exams and never seen a complete repetitive exam sheet, so not sure how anyone is going to get As just by making old exam sheets. As I clearly pointed out in my 2nd post, old exam sheets are a way to recognize your weak spots, but clearly not something I expect some people to comprehend. Age ka masla you see.
Again - not sure what kind of youtube videos some people been searching for or looking at but there are lots of youtube videos which are really awesome to learn from (an example for medics would be Dr. Najeeb videos and for other subjects Khan academy seems popular) and you can do it on your own time as you can pause when you start zooning out, which isn’t really possible in a class room even if you sit in the front
It’s not about studying hard, it’s about studying smart and according to how you learn best.
if short cut ways for As are that easy I’m let to wonder why everyone isn’t getting As then
:halo:
Amazing how some people claim to be so openminded, yet have so much trouble seeing and comprehending a different point of view or method, meh.
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Looks like you took it personal. We all have our experiences. And we share it to help OP. We don't have to see eye to eye on any or every issue. There is simply no need to make judgments on a person's open mindedness or lack of it. If you disagree on what is being discussed, simply state ur position. I don't need a certificate of open mindedness from you.
So just chill.
As for you tube videos the best ones I found were from University profs. So was simply making the point that attending a lecture can be fruitful.
I don't care a hoot abt whose opinion is better. Just sharing my life experience and what I would do if I were a student again. I could not care less if you concur or not.
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After some more thinking, I do agree that practicing old exam sheets is a good idea. In fact an excellent one.
There were some guys in our batch who did that. And they were toppers. Yes, it does allow you to identify your weaknesses and work on them.
The exam.sheets should preferably be tried after studying the coursework diligently, attending class, actively engaging the instructor etc.
People go to Uni to learn. You tube can be used as support. Not as prime means of education. The professor in the class is a good you tube. He or she is an expert in the field. Underestimate him or her at ur own risk.
Unless a student is working ga job to pay for education there is no reason a full time student cannot find time to attend. If one is a GEnius one doesn't need a prof. Else one would be I'll advised to not avail oneself of opportunity to interact with learned experts in the field.
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^Obviously. Most universities offer classroom sessions along with lectures. Personally I’ve always found classroom sessions much more focused and of better quality than lectures
That’s funny since you usually don’t seem to hold back giving out these “certificates” to others yourself, but soft spot I guess or just 
I’m pretty chilled out, you need not worry about it. You didn’t just share your opinion, but since you seem to have understood my point, I will not write more here.
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Looks like you have some issues. Not sure where I have judged you here. In ur hurry to judge you appear to miss that I actually changed my mind and AGREED with you on practising old exams!
Keep on judging. I could not care less what u think are my soft spots. Because this thread isn’t abt what you think abt me. Kapish?
There are only 3 topics when I call into question people’s open mindedness
Beyond that I don’t care what people’s views are. So bringing that into a discussion of study habits is a bit over the top.
Cheers.
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As I have stated, I am just sharing what I would do if I had a second chance. Maybe my proposed approach is not practical. Maybe flash cards, missing lectures etc are the way to go. In my opinion, over the long run - I am talking 30 years after graduation, it is the fundamentals that stay with you. Because understanding fundamentals requires love for the subject.
IMO, a person is an excellent student if he or she studies the subject even AFTER exam is over. For the pure love of learning. I wish I did that. That's all I am saying. And hoping that students of today get to hear that - may impact a student or two to get up each day and look forward to studying with ENTHUSIASM. At that stage, time constraints won't be an issue for a full time student.
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For me the following worked:
1. Fixed place to study. Does not have to be quiet and secluded. I can tune out my surroundings and focus.
2. Study smart. When you are in school the purpose is to clear the exam. So focus on that and study the material accordingly. Learning is a life long process, you will not stop learning once you get out of school. It just depends on how passionate you are about the subject. The joy of such learning is that it is not limited by a syllabus and a semester.
3. Get up early ( maybe around 4 am ) and review the important sections one last time before the exam.
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^ beginning to change my mind a bit more.
I do tend to highlight stuff that are important or difficult. I guess flash cards serve that purpose also.