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  • Time for school!

  • And it's no surprise that many of us are determined to study smarter instead of longer.

  • But which study tips and tricks actually work scientifically, and can help you get those perfect grades?

  • First step, research shows that study sessions are most effective in small short chunks.

  • Instead of cramming in a ten hour study session, it's much more effective to spread it out into twenty thirty-minutes sessions over a few weeks.

  • This is because your brain is better at encoding information into the synapses in short repeated sessions as opposed to one large one.

  • And this is why even learning different skills, whether it's swimming, tennis, or a singing lesson often follows the same format.

  • And well, cramming and pulling all nighters may be a ritual, it turns out that this is linked to the lowest grades.

  • After prolonged nocturnal study sessions, reasoning and memory may be negatively effected for up to 4 whole days.

  • Instead, setting up specific times in a day, or during the week, just to study primes your brain by creating a routine,

  • and over time studying actually becomes easier, as your brain is trained to learn in those moments.

  • And well, many of us spend hours passively rereading our notes or highlighting a textbook, studies have shown this to be ineffective.

  • It doesn't improve your understanding of topics nor does it link key concepts together.

  • It can even be detrimental, as it draws your attention to less important information.

  • Flashcards, on the other hand, are proven to be excellent memory reinforcement tools.

  • Whether, during your schedule study times, or during off times like a bus ride home.

  • It also helps to have a specific goal for each study session.

  • Instead of aimlessly studying, pick one aspect you're focused on.

  • Whether it's balancing chemical equations or learning how to conjugate french verbs.

  • If you can't explain it simply, then you don't understand it well enough.

  • In studies where individuals were asked to learn a passage and then half were told they will be tested on the material while the other half were told they would have to teach it to other students

  • participants expecting to teach it, did much better on understanding the main points.

  • When you're expected to teach, your brain organizes the information in a more logical coherent structure.

  • Of course, practice, practice, practice!

  • Not only do practice tests put your brain in the environment but even if you make mistakes, they help identify gaps in your knowledge

  • Practice tests have also been shown to increase confidence, thereby leading to better performance.

  • So where should you be studying ?

  • Research shows that having a designated sacred spot for study, that's well equipped with every tool you might need is best.

  • Just like setting times, this primes your brain for studying.

  • Have an awesome study playlist? Not so fast!

  • Well, some studies have shown that certain types of classical music can help improve concentration,

  • a recent studies has shown that learning with rhythmic background noise can be detrimental to focus and those not using music, very much better.

  • And if you haven't already, put away your phone!

  • This is a no brainer. But your text and social media notifications severely decrease concentration.

  • Of course, exams can be extremely stressful,

  • so if you want some tips on how to deal with exam anxiety, check out our ASAP THOUGHT videos which breaks down some tips for that.

  • Link in the description.

  • And a big thank you to TD bank for sponsoring this video.

  • If you're heading to campus this fall, click on the link below or visit td.com/student to see how TD can help you start school with a plan.

  • We know how hard and tough it can be getting buried in books and bills and TD has some great solutions for you.

  • Be sure to check it out.

  • And subscribe for more weekly science videos.

Time for school!

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