23 secrets of the best students

Studying at an institute or university seems difficult. However, this is also the most carefree time in life, which you want to spend fun and informative. How to combine the pleasant aspects of studentship and the successful mastery of knowledge, which oh, how useful after graduation? The problem seems contradictory, but in practice it is completely solvable. The best students are far from always cumbersome and sometimes have time all - and have fun, and get excellent grades in the student's record-book. The uninitiated are often surprised by the apparent ease with which they acquire knowledge. It seems that another distinguished student knows everything and never learns anything, everything turns out for him by itself. Maybe he's a genius? No, he just has his secrets. Here are some of them:

1. They do not always do all the homework

A student spends about a fifth of his time doing homework, and sometimes more. During this hard work, he studies many questions, most of which are not included in the examination tickets. In addition, the practical significance of these tasks, as a rule, is small. It is necessary to learn to distinguish really valuable skills from those that are simply included in the curriculum and do not bring a special kind of training. This will save a lot of time.

2. They never study textbooks

Reading textbooks and reference books is not the most effective method for studying new material. The best students try to get more concentrated knowledge, using examples from practice, methodologies and brief digests. So you can quickly and better understand the essence of the subject.

3. They often use the Internet

Thematic articles laid out on the World Wide Web can very often become the source of the quintessence of necessary knowledge. Do not limit yourself to only the list of literature that the professor recommends (it happens that he is the author of most of these books, and he just wants to be read them), because there is a giant free search engine, and it is called "at the fingertips" . It is a sin not to use it.

4. They have self-test skills

The ability to test oneself gives immediate and clear feedback, allowing you to assess how successfully the material is mastered. Repeated self-testing significantly improves the long-term preservation of new material in memory. Finally, this is an excellent training for the brain.

5. They learn the knowledge in small portions

This method is also called analytical. By breaking a complex course into separate simpler fragments, you can achieve excellent results. A phased study is far more effective than trying to understand everything at once. In addition, this method allows you to take breaks, which also increases productivity.

6. They often come from the reverse

As a rule, education in universities is in direct sequence. A textbook or a lecture outlines an algorithm that leads to a certain result. The best students often act in the opposite order, they look at the goal of the problem and reflect on the ways of achieving it. By the way, in practice this is how different problems are solved.

7. They know how to emphasize the main thing

Reading without highlighting key points takes too much time and does not usually produce the desired results. You can take a pencil and emphasize in the book the most important thoughts, and it is better to write them in a separate notebook.

8. They sleep a lot

The most outstanding figures in any area of human activity have always been able to properly rest. The best relaxation is a dream. Use for work you need the most productive hours (4-6 per day). The organism and its nervous system require periods of relaxation after intensive work. This time does not pass in vain, even in a dream, mastering and ordering of knowledge takes place.

9. They ask themselves questions

It is not hard. After, it would seem, the question is studied, it is necessary to try to ask yourself the most unexpected thematic question. Most likely, you will not be able to immediately answer it. This is how the gaps in knowledge are determined, there remains the smallest part - to fill them.

10. They take the best from the lecture

It happens that the professor, being a prominent scientist, does not present the material in the best way. He reads too slowly, and the audience loses the essence of the material, or, on the contrary, rushes, and students do not have time to follow the course of his thought. Do not be shy about asking questions; on the contrary, talented teachers like it very much. You can also note for yourself the most important aspects to which the lecturer is focusing, most likely, in the exam everything will be exactly the same. In addition, after carefully listening to the material, you can save time necessary for preparation during the session.

11. They study overtime

This may seem unacceptable to many students. And, paradoxically, the best of them end up spending less time. After understanding how to properly do your homework, you can make it much faster. More training and less mechanical memorization!

12. They immediately analyze their mistakes

Students have a session only twice a year. During this time you can easily forget where and when mistakes are made. It is best to note them in the abstract, then before the session they will be in sight. Errors are not only not terrible, in fact they are very useful, their correction teaches a lot.

13. They are engaged in work at the department

The most busy person copes most quickly with the case. This idea seems paradoxical, but it is true one hundred percent. The less time is released, the faster you need to finish the task. A student engaged in research work, I want to do everything, and even spend an evening in a circle of fellow students. And the best students often succeed!

14. They are able to listen to the professor "between words"

The best students pay attention to sections that will prove to be key during the exam. Each professor has his own "horse" (the subject of his dissertation, the problem over which he is working at present, etc.) The possession of these questions significantly affects the success of obtaining credits and taking exams.

15. They are not looking for a reason to hang around

Estimates are grades, and specialty training requires persistence and consistency. Olympic athletes train on weekdays and holidays, and the best students write coursework even when you do not want to do it at all. And he did it - walk boldly!

16. They know how to concentrate

The old adage "Repetition is the mother of learning" today requires a supplement, the word "realized", put in front of this famous saying. Instead of reading all consecutive notes and textbooks, one should focus on the most difficult exam questions.

17. They all know about last year's exams

Professors are not the most inventive people. They usually read the same lectures as they did many years ago, because they devote most of their time to science. Examinations are also more or less monotonous. It is possible to ask students of previous flows what additional questions are usually asked about this or that subject.

18. They create their own teaching aids

The best students do not just use training manuals, they create their own. These notes include the most important questions of the subject and brief, but capacious answers to them. Often teachers allow even using such materials in the exam.

19. They write on paper

Writing notes in the laptop is convenient. Too convenient. The easier it is to enter information, the harder it is to remember. Therefore, do not be lazy to write down the lectures manually, with a simple pen in your usual notebook. It seems that it is more difficult, but there is more memory left.

20. They use the rule "80/20"

You can get a good evaluation, patiently and attentively reading and remembering the whole volume of material, but there will not be much use for this. Acting on the principle of "memorized-passed-forget", you can hope only for the acquisition of "crusts", that is, a diploma. Only a fifth of the acquired knowledge is of real value to the young specialist, the remaining 80% can be ignored. This formula provides high performance and eliminates long hours of wasted labor.

21. They do not complain

Complaints simply do not have a place in student life. The professor does not understand the lectures? A terrible textbook? Yes, all this nonsense! You can always find alternative information resources. If someone else does not know, then on the Internet there is almost everything.

22. They learn in practice

Any subject can be truly mastered only in the process of its application. It's like learning a new language or driving a car. Until you start talking or you do not sit behind the wheel, the whole theory is useless. Although, of course, and without it you can not. The best students know that there is a big difference between knowledge and skill.

23. They are personally responsible for studying the material

The best students understand that they and only they are truly responsible for their education. It is not necessary to wait, when all will submit "from a spoon" and simply to do those house tasks that the professor ordered. This will never be enough. Every person should know what he needs, and take it. Especially when they give.