For many, the impending arrival of final exams can seem daunting. Whether you’ve just entered university or are eager to graduate, there is always room for more learning, and you may be surprised to discover that acing tests is easier than expected. Backed by research from scholars in motivation psychology, the best way to study is through inward reflection and mindset change.
Researchers suggest that the key to successful learning is not limited to simple repetition but rather to engaging with information from a place of curiosity. This tip may elicit eye rolls, but one of the most effective study methods is to depart from memorization and rather ask, “Could I explain this as my professor would?”
According to researchers in cognitive science, retrieval practice is a useful method for replacing active recall with the retrieval of test material from long-term memory. This method employs active engagement in understanding information, extending much further than colour-coordinated notes or letting your eyes glaze over a screen for a third reread.
Now, how does one adopt retrieval practice into studying for an exam? We’re glad you asked. It may seem fairly intuitive, but the brain organizes bits of information into what cognitive researchers call a schema, which can be thought of like a mind map. As you consider the relationships and associations between each item, you’ll begin to understand how the ideas all work together. The trick with retrieval practice is to ask yourself questions or clarify main points as you continue, which strengthens the cognitive pathways necessary in order to retrieve information for the test.
Equally important is how you approach your own ability to succeed, which is lovingly referred to as a locus of control. Students with an internal locus of control believe their performance is shaped by their own actions. On the other hand, those who adopt an external locus of control see outcomes as unavoidable or as a matter of luck and environmental circumstances. Here’s the first quiz: what locus of control is associated with strong academic performance? If you said an internal locus of control, then you are absolutely correct.
Here’s even better news: You can shift your locus of control. Instead of waiting to absorb information, take accountability for your own learning. Students who adopt an internal locus of control are known to be more conscientious, willing to accept and implement feedback and to seek out opportunities to master information rather than just regurgitate it.
A great way to begin is by reaching out to professors. Whether through email or by showing up to office hours, professors are not as terrifying as they appear while lecturing. In actuality, most of them are keen to talk to students about how they can improve, and visiting office hours is a great way to have one-on-one help while forming professional connections with leading researchers.
Motivation is not something that simply appears. It is built through action. As you begin to test yourself, make connections and take initiative, studying becomes less about forcing information in and more about drawing knowledge out. Curiosity plays a central role in this process. When you shift from trying to get through material to trying to understand it, studying becomes more meaningful and suddenly going to lecture becomes fun. Asking why something works or how it connects to another idea can transform the experience from passive review into active learning and will surely maximize your university experience.
As the end of the Winter semester and the beginning of final exams inch ever closer, utilizing the techniques in this article could make the difference between just barely passing your courses or passing so comfortably that you become the envy of your cohort.