How to Study Effectively for School or College [Top 6 Science-Based Study Skills]

How to study effectively with 6 essential skills. Boost your study performance with strategies recommended by science - The ANSWER Method.

These tips are for high school or university students preparing for exams or wanting to learn more effectively.

EXAMPLES of specific Elaboration questions from MATH

You're studying calculus. The topic is “derivatives”. How do derivatives work? Well, they are the rate of the change. How does that work? You take a look at one point, then you take a look at a prior point, over some interval. And then you take the difference divided by the interval. As that interval approaches zero, you have the instantaneous rate of change. Why does this happen? Because “instantaneous” means that the interval is nothing.

SCIENCE

Imagine you are studying neural communication, maybe in a biology, neuroscience, or psychology class.

How does neural communication work? If we look at one neuron, the dendrites receive messages from many other neurons, and then the messages converge in the soma. If there is enough of a positive charge within the soma, then an action potential will occur, and an electrical signal goes down the axon. When the signal reaches the terminal buttons, neurotransmitters release into the synapse where they communicate with the dendrites of the next neuron.

Why does this happen? The neurotransmitters are chemicals that allow neurons to communicate with one another. The pattern of activation among different neurons (which neurons fire, how quickly, what neurotransmitters they release) determines the message in your brain.

You might then ask, how does the axon work? The axon is a long tail-like structure that produces the electrical signal.

How does the signal travel? The axon is covered in myelin sheath, a fatty substance that insulates the axon. The myelin sheath works like the rubber around the cord of an electrical appliance, and it serves to make the electricity travel faster.

Why have myelin sheath? Because we need our neurons to be able to send signals fast, since we need to be able to react, make decisions, move quickly, perceive feeling in our skin instantly, etc.

Make sure to compare ideas to learn how they are similar and different. For example, an axon and terminal buttons are both parts of a neuron; but, the axon sends an electrical signal while the terminal buttons release chemicals. Both Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease are related to the neurotransmitter dopamine, but Schizophrenia is the result of too much dopamine while Parkinson’s disease is the result of too little dopamine.

Also, try to make connections to your own memories or experiences, and compare ideas to learn how they are similar and different. We already made the connection from myelin sheath on axons to the rubber on cords to electrical appliances.

Here is another example: a family member or close friend who suffers from Schizophrenia disease is suffering from too much dopamine. This means that too much dopamine is being released, by the terminal buttons, into the synapse. A doctor could give them a drug to reduce the dopamine in their brain, called a dopamine antagonist. If too much of this drug is used, the patient might begin developing symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease.

How would a dopamine antagonist work? … continue asking yourself elaborative questions!

HISTORY

Imagine you’re studying World War II, and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

You could ask yourself, how did this attack happen? On December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. The attack included Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes.

Why did this happen? The Japanese intended to destroy the United States’ Pacific Fleet so that it could not interfere with Japanese operations.

Here you could also ask another type of question: What was the result of this historic event? Well, Japanese casualties were light, while they damaged eight U.S. Navy battleships. The Arizona was among those that the Japanese sunk, and was not raised from the shallow water. U.S. aircrafts were also destroyed, and 2,403 Americans were killed (1,178 were injured).

Why is this event important? The day after the attack, Roosevelt delivered his Infamy Speech, the United States declared war on Japan, and Japanese-Americans were then relocated to internment camps.

You could then go on: how did the U.S. enter the war? How did the Pearl Harbor attack lead up to the release of the atomic bomb? How did the war end? And so on. There are so many ways to explain the idea and add details!

[MemorizeAcademy]

If you thought this video was valuable, please give it a 'thumbs up' and leave a comment so other people will know it's worth watching too. Thanks!

[Hvrtvnskehcb]

Man YouTube has taught us way more than in school I swear...

[b_anni]

YouTube recommended this at the right time, soon after the school re - open

[stanislavshabaltas]

When i dont want to study I just watch these kids of videos. I get motivated and start to study right after

[infinitesunYT]

pov - you are watching this for school :]

[DSGQR]

I’ve always struggled with school because I’ve always felt as if I didn’t know how to study properly. I’m 34 and I’m taking classes at the community college. This is amazing and thank you so much for taking the time to share this sort of information with the world.

[oranshubob]

I am over 70 and wish this brilliant insight into study and retention had been around 60 years ago. My mind was always open and positive but you have revitalised my brain to education and learning. Thank you ! to EVERYONE AT MEMORIZE ACADEMY. Bob, Ireland.

[watermelonshelone]

I came here from frustration of studying.

[aryanmanguptab]

YouTube literally teaches us way more than schools

[varshabahirathan]

I wouldn’t be surprised if YouTube starts a schools for students like bro YouTube is THE TEACHER for this generation.efficient videos like these improve our knowledge more than SCHOOL TBH

[cupcake]

it helped me get a full grade on my science test

[tonyd.b]

Time to follow this 2019 resolution 🙏

1: grades (that’s all I have to say)

[sweetflakes]

This is how I naturally study. And I'm crushing all of my exams. This is coming from someone who was a lazy *ss & almost failed a semester. I'm a dental student graduating in a few months.

[vantrinh]

I’ve watched many study videos and this is the best. Not only do you talk about the techniques but you also give tips on how to apply them. This is super helpful. Thanks a lot!!

[sabrinas]

When you're cramming for a test tomorrow then you search on ways to study effectively and fast then you watch this video and the first thing it says is not to cram 😂😂

[akolio]

school doesn't teach us how to study agree?

[mina]

I think the most effective way to study for my test in 3 days is to study not watch YouTube videos on studying😂🤣

[thesatelliteslickers]

doing all of your studdying in long sessions will also make you forget more just naturally. do any one thing for long stretches of time and your brain will start tossing out large periods of it from short term memory since as far as your brain is concerned, youre just doing the same thing over and over again, it can just toss out the details and keep the broad strokes and it will be fine, by spacing it out you brain will keep around a larger portion of each study session

[ChannelHip]

This year i'm going to have my final exam, thanks for this tips . I'll try to apply this advices for getting maximum results for my University application

[zainabyousif]

did this for the final exams and got an A+ in science last year no i would get an A++ Thx :)