Besides focus and organization, there's another bonus to being specific: When you're done with your predetermined plan, you can give yourself permission to be done for the day.
The most effective studying happens in short, concentrated bursts, so making a checklist will ensure you don't bite off more than you can chew. You'll also feel accomplished at the end of your study session, instead of being overwhelmed by all the stuff you haven't reviewed yet.
6. Take as many practice tests as you can.
Chances are your teachers have provided you with practice questions, essay topics, and a variety of other materials to get your mind in test-fighting shape. (And if they haven't, it's your job to ask!) Not only do examples help you work through a semester's worth of material, they also make you more familiar with the structure of the exam, which in turn helps with all that nasty test anxiety.
7. Remove all distractions and avoid multitasking.
In the process of writing this article, we had to resist checking our email (and Twitter and Instagram ...) every five minutes, just like anyone else with a minor internet addiction. But the research is in, and multitasking is just not something our brains can do well. At all. If you're spending the evening hitting the books, leave your laptop at home (or if you need your computer to take notes, disconnect from wifi!). The same goes for smartphones, social media accounts, and whatever else might end up being a distraction: When you've settled in to study, it's time to do that and only that. You'll absorb the material so much better and be way more efficient with your time.
8. Read out loud.
A big part of studying is just reading: finally reading that chapter you skipped, re-reading the material you felt shakiest on, reading over the notes you took months ago … no wonder your eyes tend to glaze over before long. To prevent entering a trance-like state where you're reading without really processing, start reading out loud. It's one of the oldest and lo-fi study hacks, but also one of the most effective, as it forces you to focus on every word. If that starts to get too easy, read upside down. Yes, turn your notes or book upside down and try to read it that way. It'll slow you down, but you'll actually concentrate on what you're reading, not all the other things fighting for your brain's attention.
9. Listen to recordings.
For those moments when you can't conceivably have your nose stuck in a book — while you're walking, driving, exercising, folding laundry, whatever — considering listening to a recording that complements your studying. Whether you have recordings of your professor's lectures, found a podcast on the topic, or taped yourself reading over your notes, plug in your earbuds and listen up. This is especially helpful for auditory learners who do best when they hear (and not read!) information. Pro tip: When you're really pressed for time, play the recordings at twice the speed. Seriously, talk about efficiency!
10. Attend all class reviews.
If your teacher is offering any reviews or study sessions, take advantage of them! Your teacher, naturally, is going to focus on the material that will be on the final, which will help you focus on the most important things. Plus, you can ask any the teacher about anything you're finding challenging.
11. Take five-minute breaks every hour.
"When you study, your brain consumes glucose," says Dorsey. "Take a five-minute break every hour to let your body produce more fuel for your studying. Take a walk and stretch. Taking breaks will actually improve your studying."
12. Play classical music while you study to concentrate better.
Studies have actually show that listening to classical music a person's reasoning and intelligence while they are listening to the music (it's called the Mozart effect). Try it for yourself and see if Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven or Mozart give you a boost!
13. Build up your endurance.
Build up mental endurance by pushing past your comfort zone. Maybe you're used to learning 10 flashcards every day, but what if you learn 15 instead? This is sort of like increasing the reps on a weights set, except instead of building your biceps, your brain is getting buffer.
14. Use apps to help you.
We generally recommend staying off your phone while studying (distractions!), but here's permission to make a few more swipes. There are tons of apps out there to optimize your studying, and many are either free or pretty cheap. There are apps to replace graphic calculators, apps that show the periodic table, apps that create paper flashcards and apps that show world maps. If you're a data junkie, try Study Checker, which tracks your study habits and reveals the trends, so you can see where you can up your efficiency.
15. Stay motivated by periodic rewards.
How do you stay motivated when you're so not in the mood to study? Treat yourself! The carrot-and-stick approach is indeed for real. It's unrealistic to think you'll be able to review non-stop, so build in breaks as rewards. This has a whole bunch of benefits. Chunking your review will make the material more digestible, you'll be more driven to get things done since there's a (temporary) reprieve in sight, and your brain will benefit from the refresh. Ultimately, it's all about hacking your brain a little bit. When you're deep in a studying haze, you may be so eager to escape that you find yourself making strange bargains, like that you get to look at Instagram for five whole minutes if you can finish the next chapter of your reading. Just go with it.
16. Try memorization techniques.
When Joshua Foer wrote his book Moonwalking with Einstein (which documents his yearlong quest to join the ranks of memorization masters), he learned a lot about how to remember tough facts with easy techniques. One such tip? Associating hard-to-recall nuggets with familiar spaces (this technique is called building a memory palace).
