SQ3R, which stands for “survey, question, read, recite, review.” Basically, this is a methodology for getting the most out of the reading you need to do as part of your studying. If done properly, this works as well as, or better than, any of the so called “speed reading” courses you can spend hundreds of dollars for.

Well the desire to do well is the first step. But there is no real right answer to your question. The best study habit is the one that works for you. The study technique that works for you is one that works with your learning style, one where you can learn the material well enough to make a good grade, and one that works well with your time and space. Most people utilize a variety of study habits. The best thing you can do is try them out and find what works and what doesn’t. If you can discover what habits work well for you in high school, then you are a step ahead of the average college student.

Some good study tips you may want to try out are:

-make flash cards of formulas, key terms, definitions, or dates, punch a hole in the corner and put them on a ring (you can buy these at any office supply store), and carry them with you. When you are waiting at the doctor’s office, pull them out and study, when you are in line at the store. Turn whenever you have a few spare minutes into good study time.

-read the chapter(s) before class so that the lecture material isn’t completely foreign, and after class re-read the text.

-summerize your notes, focusing on the key points

-review your notes from the previous lecture before going to class to refresh your memory of what you were studying (this is especially useful in science classes since you tend to lose what you learned over the weekend)

-do any practice questions or homework questions in the book, they are good at preparing you for the test questions

-if your teacher gives you a study guide, DO IT. It came from the person who writes the tests so it can only be useful to look at what they think is important.

-if a teacher repeats something twice, it’s probably important

-if your teacher lets you keep your tests, keep them to study with for the final, which is usually cummulative

-don’t cram. Studying a little each day helps you learn better than a major last minute cram session the night before the test.

Honestly, the best study habit to have is simply to study… and not the night before the test (I’m a senior in college and I’m still working on this. Ha!)

Everyone has different ways that they learn and retain information. Just find out what works best for you and stick with it.

go to class. it’ll be tempting not to, but you should. study hard for exams, in a group if you can. discussing things helps a lot. go to professor’s or gsi’s office hours for help if you have a question. don’t be meek about that.