Effective Study and Surviving Exam Stress

Active

Reflective

 Characteristics

• Retain information by doing something active with it, e.g. discussing, applying, or explaining to others^3-5
• Like group work⁴

• Prefer thinking about an idea quietly at first^3,4
• Like to work alone^3,5

 Strategies

• Group study^3-5
• Explain topics to others⁴
• Create mock exams and work out how you will answer the questions⁴
• Enhance your memory by doing something practical with the information⁶

• Periodically stop to review the information^3,4
• Write summaries in your own words⁴
• Consider possible applications to what you have learnt⁴
• Ask yourself questions as you study and investigate the answers⁶

Sensing

Intuitive

 Characteristics

• Prefer facts^3-5
• Like detail^4,5
• Retain information by connecting it to the “real world”³

• Prefer principles and theories⁵
• Enjoy discovering relationships^3,4
• Like using abstractions^3,4 and formulae⁴
• Dislike repetition^3,5

 Strategies

• Find out how what is learnt applies in “real world” practice^4,6
• Focus on the detailed aspects of a concept.⁶
• Break large chunks of information into smaller parts⁶

• Consider theories and link them to facts⁴
• When taking notes, record facts so you will have something specific to study⁶
• Practice explaining your reasoning in a way that others understand⁶

Visual

Verbal

 Characteristics

• Remember best what you see, e.g. demonstration, activities, graphs^3-6

• Prefer learning through words, e.g. spoken, heard, or read^4-6

 Strategies

• Concept maps⁴
• Colour coded notes⁴
• Use visual representation of material such as concept maps,⁴ diagrams,^4,5 flow charts^4,5
• Create mental images of the information⁶

• Study in groups and explain information to each other^4-6
• Write summaries of what you have learnt in your own words^4-6
• Translate visual information such as graphs and diagrams into words⁶
• Use mnemonic devices such as rhyme and acronyms⁶

Sequential

Global

 Characteristics

• Gain understanding in linear steps^3-5
• Prefer to follow logical stepwise paths when learning⁴

• Integrate new information without seeing connections and then suddenly “get it”^3-5

 Strategies

• Put information such as notes in logical order^4,6
• When studying, create an outline of the material, connecting this to the learning objectives, and then filling in the details⁶

• Skim over information to get an overview, looking at the “big picture” first^4,5
• Study topics in large blocks of time rather than spending a little time on all subjects^4,5
• Establish the relevance of the information and relate it to personal experience⁵