There are a number of “trade secrets” for successful study. One of the most important secret is a proper method of study.
FLASH CARDS: On the front of a small card you write an important term in science, or geography. And on the back, write the definition of the term. Carry your flash cards with you. At odd times take them out and try to recall the definition looking at the term, if you do not know, turn to other side and review the answer. You could keep off the cards of terms you know and constantly add new.
DIVIDED PAGE: Make a dividing line down the center of a sheet of notebook paper. Then write important question on the left side and the answers on the right. Use the “self-recitation” method of study. Cover the right hand side and try to give the answer. Then check and recheck until you are sure you know the material.
ACRONYM: An acronym is a meaningful new word formed by using the first letters of all the words in a sentence or so. For instance, to remember several items in a list, you could pick up the first letters or the key letters of the list and form a new word, which of course you should remember. For instance,
3 XL method could mean: Experience, Experiment, Express, Live. This method consists of these four steps.
MIND-MAP: It is something like a flow-chart that summarizes all your lesson (or a talk you heard, or an article you have read), using circles, squares, rectangles and arrows. Adapt the use of these figure as you wish.
LEARNING-JOURNAL: It is a diary where you write every day new things that you have learnt. You may include statistics, quotations, facts, or just a question or a reflection that has been in your mind the whole day.
SHARE: A new knowledge that has been shared with someone else remains in your mind for a longer time. Make sure your sharing does not end up like a gossip or a chit-chat. Often it can just be mentioning at table a new information that you have gained that day.