OAE Online Workshops

Studying Strategies — Distributed Practice

Clock face

Studying across time is vastly more effective than saving everything for just before the exam. It allows you to get to know the material, to really make it your own. That’s why we recommend distributing your study of course material throughout the time between it’s introduced and the time you’re tested on it.

  • Set goals/deadlines for your study. Identify elements to be studied and set up a plan: be specific, check them off when you’re done (here’s a sample).
  • Build in “Grandma’s rule”: eat your vegetables, then you may have dessert. In other words, work on the material you’d rather put off, then do the easier pieces.
  • Take brief (5-10 minute) breaks, to clear your head. But not all breaks are effective–see these recommendations.

When your resources are exhausted, get HELP!

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