The second semester is officially in full swing, meaning students must once again get accustomed to the endless cycle of lectures, notes, exams and repeat. It’s common knowledge that the best way to prepare for exams is to study, but what methods are the most effective? Most students take the traditional approach of copying notes from the lectures and rereading them, but that isn’t necessarily the best way to absorb information.

There is no “right” or “wrong” way to study for a class, but the way one takes notes and studies often depends on the subject at hand. Trying a more effective approach may reap better results.

For math and science, one of the best ways to study and absorb information is active recall and practice questions. These subjects have definitive right and wrong answers, it isn’t possible to write around the question to get credit. To feel confident in the material, use flashcards and practice exams, pro tip: using Quizlet to make study sets provides a better variety of active recall methods. Repetition is a man’s best friend in these subjects and it makes memorization so much easier.

History is a subject with a lot of dates, people, and documents to remember, and there are a few techniques that can be utilized to do so. Flashcards, again, can be helpful, especially when memorizing people, but a good visual to use is a chronological timeline for dates or specific events. For more complex concepts like old documents or even book chapters in English, the Feynman method can be a great tool. There are four steps to the Feynman method; step one is to choose a topic and study it, maybe even write a small summary; step two, teach it to someone else, preferably someone who isn’t familiar with the material; step three, fill in the gaps by looking for important details that were missed; step four is to finally simplify the explanation and try to make analogies for better understanding.

Studying for five to seven different classes at once can be a grueling task, and it is not uncommon that test days will overlap for many classes. It can be so easy to get overwhelmed and give up altogether, but believe it or not, there is a study method for burnout. Pomodoro is more of a time management technique than a way to study, but it is a great way to view things one at a time instead of everything all at once. For Pomodoro, make a list of everything that needs to get done, start with the first topic, and spend 25 minutes of focus time on it. Once the 25 minutes is up, take a five-minute break. During the break, it’s good to get up and do some stretches or walk around to get the blood flowing and to wake up, then after the short break, start on the next objective. Repeat this process four times and then take a longer break. Several apps will help with Pomodoro by setting a timer and will even give the option to block apps for the duration of the timer, a couple examples are Flora and Study Bunny.

School can be extremely demanding at times, but it is important to believe in one’s capabilities and stay positive. It’s even possible to make studying more enjoyable by lighting a candle, getting a cozy blanket, and listening to some instrumental music. Everyone struggles in different subjects, but trying a more effective study method might help fill in those knowledge gaps.