Even in just high school, a good work ethic coupled with proper study habits can dramatically improve people’s academic performance. Natural intelligence may not play as large of a part into school as one may think, and instead it is work ethic that can change success both inside and outside the classroom.The biggest issue students have is finding the method that is most efficient and effective for them. Sadly, finding the right study habits can take many years, and habits vary so that imitating the most successful student in class may never be enough.

In general, in their early high school years, most students have developed a study routine that is similar to ones they have been forced to follow in previous years. For example, if a self created study guide or note checks are due on test day, a student may find comfort in familiar tasks that were previously effective in earning a desired score.  Unfortunately, these study skills can be found ineffective as soon as they are applied to different or more advanced material, as they may rely on memorization rather than understanding, hindering students from applying and recalling knowledge in unconventional testing settings.

Though memorizations is helpful, it is found that the best and most general way to both learn and remember something, is to rely on time and repetition. By giving the brain time to absorb information, and having repeated active recall and exposure to that information, students are able to have a strong grasp on difficult material and are able to regurgitate that information during an assessment.

Clare Sparling [Senior], has almost mastered her study routine, as her rigorous course load demands efficiency and productivity. While most of students can be seen relaxing when we first come home from school, Clare utilizes that time to plan her studying for the night. As she allots the estimated amount of time needed for each assignment, scheduling her time by the hour and prioritizing assignments based on their due date. If an assignment is taking more time than expected, Clare will choose to either change her schedule accordingly or “come back to that assignment” at a later time.

Clare admits that her biggest distraction is her phone, and when studying, she likes to disable instagram in order to prevent procrastination. Also, she feels that “when my desk is unorganized it’s really difficult for me to be productive.” Though Clare is strict on herself about procrastination, she understands it’s necessary to take breaks sometimes and will spend time with her family in order to do so. “Coming from a large family, I am sometimes forced to take a break and play with my little brother,” she revealed.

When it comes to more specific study skills, Clare will change the skills she uses according to the class she is doing work for. For example, for science classes, she creates diagrams that help her both understand the big picture, and capture small details. For both history and english classes, Clare will practice using old AP prompts, allowing her to understand the way she is being graded and to adjust accordingly.

As a final piece of advice, Clare Sparling recommends that students seek help when they need it, as she reveals,”when I didn’t understand what was going on, I pretty much went to my teachers classrooms every morning and eventually, I figured it out.” Clare also recommends that every student should put less focus on memorization and instead, “put information into context or connect it to material from other classes.” Her study skills have been developed from trial and error, and its important for everyone struggling academically to continue to work hard as improvement is a process.

In contrast to Clare’s routine of structure and productivity, Anny Liu [Junior] admits that her schedule is less than ideal, as she relies on last minute cramming and spontaneous bursts of energy when preparing for an exam. While students like Anny are not hard to find, unlike the stereotypical procrastinator, Anny strives for improvement as she tries to “keep her goals in mind, like majoring in business in college.” The main conflict Anny faces when studying is balancing her work and social life. “I used to be in a study group, with some of my closest friends. We would never get work done when we were together, and I realized that maybe studying in a group is not for me,” Anny admits. Anny realizes that hanging with friends serves as her main stress reliever, but in response to her new revelation, will only accept plans from others, never instigating a hangout. “Things just get in the way of school,” she declares. Anny is the voice of countless students at Oakton, who struggle with finding the time and putting in the effort to achieve their highest academic success.

It is important to acknowledge that academic success looks different to everyone, and many students feel the pressure of unrealistic standards they feel they cannot meet. Through improvement of work ethic, any students is able to be more productive as long they have the motivation to work hard, regardless of their starting point.

This compiled list of study skills and habits are just a few that have been proven to work by successful students, and may come in handy as Oakton students move on to second quarter.

•  Tying material back to learning objectives

  • Creating concept maps to link up important information in an organized and systematic way, incorporating images and graphs

• Working on actively recalling information

  • Reading and re reading is not always going to work; test yourself using practice questions/ask yourself to explain material to someone else

• Treating studying as if it is your 9-5 job (or 8-6 etc.)

  • When having a flexible schedule, having a set time to spend on work keeps students committed to being productive

• Organization: having a standardized template for how to approached study days

  • Similar to #2, organization helps students stick to studying when feeling unmotivated

• Efficiency: every minute of studying counts!

  • Wasting time by studying ineffectively means less time spent on activities that you enjoy

• Resources: utilizing every resource you have!

  • Teachers, textbooks, and peers can all help you find new (better) ways to learn material/ test

• Keep at it: breaks are great!

  • The key to staying motivated is by understanding that studying/learning how to study is a gradual and individual process and will be frustrating. Also, it is important to make time for not just school, but for life.