Common mistakes students make when learning and preparing for exames are those little things that majority of online students tend to neglect.. Other students tend to rely on some myths on how people study. And misconceptions on what really works can mar them from employing effective learning strategies.
Having a low grade or test score can have a great impact on a student from graduating from college or university. Some research deduces that most college undergraduates have an unhealthy understanding of which study techniques are most effective, and constantly prepare for exams using inefficient learning tactics. While other students assume, they’re using the best learning strategies, the methods they’re employing are not as vital as they believe.
Most Common Mistakes Students Make When Learning or Preparing for Exams According to Research
We have carefully researched on these most common mistakes students make which can mar them from achieving their desired goals. They include the following:
Taking Your Breakfast for Granted
According to this study, over 60 percent of teenage boys and 70 percent of teenage girls neglect their breakfast knowing well it’s vital for the day. Skipping breakfast has been found to have negative impact on an individual’s memory and attention. Another research shows how students who neglect breakfast or only had energy drink significantly exhibit poor attention and memory tasks compared to those who didn’t skip theirs. Here are unlimited benefits of consuming breakfast in the morning as a student.
Always Re-reading Your Notes for Revision
This is one of the most common mistakes students make and its rate is increasing in an alarming rate each day by students. A recent research shows how 84 percent of students re-read their notes while revising and 55 percent use it as their ultimate strategy.
You only end up skim reading the text when re-reading your notes which is an unhealthy study technique. This implies that you fail to process or consider important contents in the notes. Why not test your brain which is a much more effective technique for studying? Here online students generate answers to question to equip their ability to recall the material.
Multi-tasking While Doing Their Homework
Most students have this misconception about multi-tasking. They believe that they can effectively focus on several things at once like playing with their mobile phones while doing their homework. Don’t be deceived as it’s impossible to multi-task and it can mar your productivity immensely. Multi-tasking can make a student to be prone to errors easily. You only end up wasting your time and energy alternating between tasks.
Always Listening to Music During Revision
Many online students dwell with this myth that listening to their favorite songs can make them revise effectively. They assume it boosts their motivation and improve their mood. A recent study deduces that students who revised in a serene environment performed over 50 percent better in an exam than those who incessantly listen to music while revising.
Always Taking Pictures of Lesson Slides
This is a common practice by most students. A recent study shows that this doesn’t have a positive effect on their memory, as they’re not actually interacting with the material. For optimal performance in your exam, learn to add notes with copies of the lecture slides as you go along.
Writing Down Lecture Notes Words for Words
It’s not nice for a student to take notes verbatim on what their teacher says. This is a poor learning technique and brings about shallower studying. Try to be selective and write notes in your own words. And dedicate time processing the information and absorbing it in your brain.
Using pen and paper is an ideal way of reducing verbatim note taking which is found among students with laptops. Why not make this task less discouraging and more effective by teaching students how to use the Cornell Note Taking Method?
Read Also: Tips To Boost Your Learning With Ease: 9 Best Tips
Not Enjoying Adequate Sleep
Studies have shown how 45 percent of teenagers fail to achieve the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep required to perform well during the day. Not having enough sleep is a problem for students. And it can mar their learning ability in school thereby making them perform low in exams. Sleep is very essential in improving memory. And the brain needs it to create new connections while prioritizing the most vital information.
Learn to have adequate sleep as it’s important for all students. Research has shown that observing a minimum of 8 hours sleep a night during exams brings about better grades than revising late at night.
Always Cramming or Memorizing While Revising
You see most students tend to rush in the course of trying to gather much information quickly in the last few days before their exams. It’s a poor learning technique that leads a student to start cramming to complete revision.
Recent study shows that those who spaced out their revision had about 74 percent compared to others who memorizes. It also shows that people who memorized only had about 49 percent when exam was conducted in an interval of just a week.
Not Enjoying Adequate Cool Breeze
In this 21st century, students dedicate more time to their phones or play video games than enjoying the cool breeze. Getting enough fresh air helps improve your memory immensely and you assimilate things with ease. Recent research shows how going for a short walk, even for at least 12 minutes, can boost attentiveness, happiness and confidence.
Always Leaving the Difficult Problems Untouched till The End
Have in mind that the more difficult the task, the more energy and focus you need to get it done. It is advisable to attempt hardest tasks around 10 am when your daily biological clocks make you most active. Avoid leaving tasks later in the night as it makes them more difficult and you stand a chance of that task being carried over to the next day. This is because by this time, you may be completely worn out and may feel tired to complete them.
Read Also: Apps Every College Student Must Have: Best 25
Summary
All students are advised to put in their 99 percent first instead of looking for the extra 1 percent to excel well in their exams. The following are other common mistakes students make while preparing for their exams:
- Not being certain on the grades they’re vying for
- Not reading in its earlier stage
- Depending on their teachers to assist them
- Not having a definite goal
