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| Effective Study Skills | For sure, you learned yours as a child and are still using the same methods. Look through a number of tips and suggestions for getting the most out of your studying time. When it comes to how we like to study, every one of us is different, but the principles are the same. You will note, that some of these suggestions are just plain commonsense, some not so. There are 4 parts of them- Outlining what constitues a good study environment; Getting info on, and being prepared for the exam; Getting into a routine when it comes to the actual study; and techniques to adopt during the actual exam.
 • Have a dedicated area for studying – and studying only! As difficult as it can be in this busy world, it’s imperative that you find a specific place (or places) where you can study in peace – even if that means leaving your home or work and going to a completely different area. If this place is the right one for studying, and studying only, then you’ll have a better chance of concentrating on the task at hand.
• Don’t use your studying place for other things – socializing, working on anything other than study, etc.
• Fill your study place with motivational objects. For instance, you can plaster your study area with posters of cars that you’d love to own, or places you'd like to go to.
• Your studying area needs to have a number of basic attributes to help you maintain good concentration - adequate lighting, proper ventilation, a decent sized desk where you have easy access to your materials, and good seating - but not too comfortable as you don’t want to be falling asleep. If you study in an environment that’s too comfortable, you mind wander, and you may too easy get distracted. Remember alert by sitting in a position that would make it difficult to sleep.
• Keep a wall chart on the wall with exam dates marked off. This acts as a motivational tool to help keep your concentration.
• Keep a reminder pad. Arbitrary thoughts can pop into your head at any time. If those thoughts are not related to your studying, simply write them down and come back to them later. In such a way you will avoid daydreaming.
• Things that you should not have in your studying area include a TV, stereo, other people, telephones – and that includes mobile phones as well. Sure, it’s easy to ‘give in’ on any or all of these issues, but the bottom line is that you need to be able to concentrate and concentration requires 100% commitment. Any compromises that you make in this regard will be a loss of concentration, and result in longer studying periods. Having said that, a lot of people swear that having music in the background (or the TV, or something similar) helps them to concentrate. You know what helps you study, and you’ll also know when you’re kidding yourself as to whether background noise is an aide or a distraction.
• If you share the environment with other people, teach them to respect your study time. You will have less distractions, once people are aware that you are there for a reason, that’s why you need to tell them.
• Try to build up a home lab. For most people, it is easier to say than do. However, it is better to pay money for the hardware than to someone to teach you how to use it.
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