Stressed about finals, worried about grades or can’t find the motivation to study? Well according to scientists and psychologists across the country, it doesn’t have to be that way. Tried and tested, these study methods might become your new superpower.

Many would regard finals week as an anxiety inducing time that feels like a century long nightmare, but upon implementing these new strategies you’ll be studying smarter and achieving those goal grades.

Study Method #1: The Pomodoro Method

For those of us who are easily distracted or have a short attention span, this pasta sounding method is proven to improve time management and motivation. Here’s why:

At its core, the Pomodoro method is just a way to divide the amount of work you have to get done into 25-minute increments with breaks in between. Giving your brain designated times for work imitates a time crunch which makes you more motivated to get tasks done!

The method:

Step 1: Pick one task you want/need to focus on

Step 2: Put away distractions (yes, that includes your phone) and set a 25–30-minute timer

Step 3: When the timer goes off take a 2–5-minute break

Step 4: Repeat

Step 5: When you get through 4  cycles take a longer break,  20-25 minutes

Step 6: Mark each successful completed cycle and keep going until you’ve finished your tasks

Study Method #2: SQ3R

Upon first look one might confuse this method as R2-d2’s long lost sibling, but in fact, the SQ3R is an extremely effective study method.

SQ3R increases reading comprehension which means you’ll understand what your reading, the first time you read it! Here’s how it works:

The method:

Step 1 Survey: Start of by surveying the passage to find the subject, the point of view of the passage and the overall purpose (2 min) Skim the first sentence of each paragraph, look at the questions and circle terms you’re unfamiliar with.

Step 2 Question: Form some questions about the passage. This can be anything from what is this passage about? to what questions does this passage answer?

Step 3 Read (R1): Begin actively reading the passage. Circle key words, claims and phrases and make quick notes and annotations in the margins or on a sticky note.

Step 4 Recite (R2): You’re almost done, here’s the most important part!! At the end of each paragraph describe what you read in your own words and recite it out loud. Summary is extremely helpful to memory and saying it out loud is proven to move the information to your long term memory.

Step 5 Review (R3): Refer back to step 2 and answer the questions you made, then summarize the overall point of the passage in your own words.

Extra step: Enjoy looking at that wonderful A in Skyward 🙂

These are just two out of hundreds of effective study strategies that can make your goal grades a reality. Check out the sources below for more information:

Focus booster app

Forbes- The Pomodoro technique explained 

Khan Academy- Active Reading Strategies

My Degree Technique- 25 Scientifically Proven Tips for More Effective Studying

University of Waterloo- Study finds reading information aloud to yourself improves memory