Stouffville D.S.S.

(905) 640-1433 stouffville.dss@yrdsb.ca
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Study Skills

Learning Skills and Work Habits are one of the biggest indicators of  a successful student. Developing effective Study Skills will help ensure that students are on the right path to earning the marks and skills needed for success in the student's chosen pathway. 

With the semestered timetable it becomes increasingly important for students to practice good study and work habits as they learn to manage multiple courses with converging timelines. Culminating tasks and unit assessments often fall within the same timeframes, forcing students to balance school expectations with home and extra-curricular needs.  It is very important to ensure that your notes are up-to-date and that you have handed in all assignments in a timely fashion. Talk to your teachers if you are unsure. It is important to be organized throughout the semester so that notes and​ binders are in order when time for exam preparation arrives. Use this link below to review tips and strategies for successful study skills​.

 

Learning Styles

Identifying the learning style that best suits you is an important part of developing effective studying.

There are three common learning styles:

  1. Visual (learn best when ideas or subjects are presented in a visual format (written notes, pictures, diagrams, videos etc.)

  2. Auditory (learn, understand and retain information better when it is heard rather than seen (lectures, taped information, verbal instructions etc.))

  3. Kinesthetic (learn best from “experiencing” what they are learning and prefer hands on activities (labs, manipulatives, role playing etc.) 

Why is identifying and understanding your learning style so critical to your study preparation? By knowing how you learn best you can select those classes, teachers, subjects, majors and ultimate careers that appeal to your unique way of learning things.

 

Setting Up Your Study Area

  • Quiet
  • Free of distractions
  • Organized and tidy
  • Comfortable
  • Well-lit and ventilated

 

Study Principles

Attention

  • Never study beyond your attention span. If you study beyond your attention span, you may be reading, but your brain will not retain most of the information it has taken in.
  • Break up your studying into smaller segments with breaks in between to maximize your results.

Get Organized

  • Set up your study area to suit your needs.
  • Make sure you have all your notes and your binder in order.
  • Have all the necessary tools to study (paper, pens etc.) on hand.

Chunk Info

  • Break information down into smaller parts and focus on what’s important.
  • Start with the major concepts and work down.
  • Study in segments with breaks.

Be Active in Your Studying

  • rewrite material
  • recite information aloud
  • meet with a study group
  • teach the material to friends
  • categorize your notes
  • make diagrams
  • self test

Personalize

  • Make connections between the information you are learning and what you already know.
  • Use mnemonics (eg. HOMES)

Review

  • Focus on the big picture and key concepts.
  • Look at your old tests.
  • Review daily at minimum 5 days before your exam.
  • Do not cram new information in 12-24 hours before your exam!

 

On Test and Exam Day

  • Get up rested
  • Eat a good breakfast
  • Relax
  • Leave yourself extra time to get ready in the morning
  • Glance over your notes
  • Avoid talking about the exam (this may increase your anxiety!)
  • Be at least 15 minutes early for your exam.
  • Bring extra pens and pencils into the exam.
  • Sit where there are minimal distractions.
  • Have a positive attitude and be confident!

 

Predict Test Questions

  • Being able to anticipate what is on an exam is an essential skill that will help you succeed on exams.  

C - Critical Ideas

H - Higher Order Questions

A - Accuracy

N - Number

C - Clarity

E - Examine

Type of QuestionTips
True or False
  • Read each question carefully.
  • Take questions at face value.
  • Never leave them blank.
  • If you are going to guess, then guess true.
Matching
  • Mark the answers that you are sure of first.
  • Use the process of elimination checking off the answers you use as you go along.
  • Double check that you have matched each term with an answer.

Fill in the Blank

  • As you write the test be alert because you might find information for filling in one blank within another question or statement.
  • Look carefully at the word in front of the blank. 
  • Reread the statement to make sure the words make sense in the context of the sentence

Multiple Choice

  • Read all choices even if you are confident you know which one is correct.
  • Use the process of elimination to narrow your choices down.
  • You may not be provided with the perfect answer so you will need to choose an answer that seems closest to a fit.
Short Answers
  • Read the question carefully.
  • Look at how many marks the question is worth and include that number of facts/points.
  • Use proper sentences.
  • In Math, show your steps and for problems write clear therefore sentences.

Essay Tests

  • Take time to properly plan your essay.
  • Make a skeleton with point form points.
  • Use proper sentences and paragraphs.
  • Make clear and concise arguments.
  • Write legibly.

 

 

What To Do About Test Anxiety

  • Use good study techniques that will give you confidence about doing well on your exam.
  • Be positive while studying - think about doing well, not failing.
  • Go into the exam well rested and fed.
  • Arrive to your exam on time.
  • Be prepared with supplies.
  • Stay relaxed.
  • Skim the test before beginning it.
  • If you have a question, ask your teacher.
  • Do not worry about others finishing before you. Focus on your own test.