Western Kentucky University

Evidence-Based Techniques That Work

The most important way to improve your study habits is to ground them in metacognition. Metacognition is the process of thinking about your own thinking—it involves being aware of how you learn, monitoring your understanding, and adjusting your strategies to study more effectively. Using metacognitive strategies (like the ones described below) can make you a more independent and efficient learner. Research shows that metacognitive awareness improves academic performance by helping students focus on meaningful, active learning rather than passive review.

Red Flags To Watch Out For

Things NOT To Do and Traps to Avoid

If you catch yourself thinking or saying any of the below, take caution. Each represents a warning or red flag that you need to re-evaluate your study methods to get the grade you want!

"I looked over my notes"

This is never the best way the study anything. You need to identify active ways to engage with your content. Review all the metacognitive strategies in the "How to Study" section above. Practice rewriting and reorganizing your notes. Make a note on your notes. What makes sense? What do you need to clarify? Add information from your text to your notes or other supplemental resources.

"I looked over the chapter"

Ditto as above! Looking something over is not enough. Knowledge does not work via osmosis. You have to work at it. Instead of just looking over your text, try outlining the chapter, making lists of key terms, and using the White Paper Method (in the "How to Study" section above) to practice memorization.

"We studied all night"

Pulling an all-nighter is never a good idea. Use the "Making a Study Plan" section below so you can schedule your study time more effectively. Group study sessions can be extremely helpful. But choose a group that helps you stay focused and on track. Too much fun can get in the way. Also, be aware, group knowledge does not = individual knowledge. Just because "your group" understands a concept does not necessarily mean you do. Individual study time is needed as well.

"I mostly used flash cards"

Flash cards can definitely help you learn terms. They are best used if you write the corresponding definition in your own words (from the content). However! Knowing terms is not the same thing as understanding a concept or fully grasping content. Think of it this way: You could know 100s of words in a foreign language but still not be fluent because of things like tense, context, and grammar. Academic concepts are similar. Knowing the meaning of words will only get you so far. You'll need a deeper understanding to perform well in most classes.

"Oh yeah...I did know that one"

This is a common response when students see an exam question they missed. The answer is that, in fact, you likely did not "know that one," or you would have gotten it correct. You may have recognized the terms or been familiar with the concept in retrospect, but you need to dig deeper into the content. Saying this implies it was a fluke miss vs. understanding it signifies a lack of preparedness.

"I thought I got an A"

The inability to tell how you did on an exam (called post-diction) is common. This is where you "feel great" about a test when it's over, but feel surprised and terrible when the grade comes back. If this is happening to you, it means you're not sure about what you do and do not know. It's a signal that you are not reaching a true understanding of the content.

"I studied the same way I did for the last test"

Only, ever do this if you are 100% satisfied with your performance. Insanity can be described as doing the same thing and expecting different results. This applies to studying as well. This also signifies that the way you studied for high school or for other classes may not be enough, especially for some STEM classes at the college level.

"The test wasn't like the homework problems"

If you notice a big difference between howework questions or problems and the content on your exams, you are likely focusing on the wrong things on your homework. You will rarely have the exact questions presented in the same way. Use your homework to 1) practice, 2) identify important concepts, or 3) test yourself. Do not ever expect to see your homework simply recreated for your assessments.

"I used AI"

AI has the potential to be a helpful study tool, but it should be used with extreme caution. Remember, tools like Chat GPT will use everything on the Internet to generate a response. Some of it may be inaccurate, too advanced or too simple, or completely off-base for the content you need to study. Be sure to follow the guidelines in your syllabus to see if AI is allowed and how it may be used if so.

Hungry & Tired

Studying is an active process. Be settled in and alert before you begin, and ready to be hungry and tired when you're finished. It should require all your focus, and it should feel like work, not leisure time. Don't study while you watch a show or scroll.

Active vs. Passive

Use active strategies that work for you. You should be "doing," not just waiting to magically absorb the information. For example, create a study guide, outline content, make diagrams, collate info in tables, and test yourself.

Break the Ice

Many students gloss over their content and never figure out what they know and what they don't. This can be scary at first, but you have to break THROUGH and go deeper into the content to reach true understanding.

Dissect Everything

Never, ever, write down a word you do not FULLY understand. If you know a figure is important, do not just memorize it. You need to know what every term and every arrow means to fully understand the concept.

Teach It

Say it out loud. Teach to your friends, plants, or stuffed bear! Trying to explain the content out loud helps you find the holes and gaps in your knowledge. If you can't teach it, then you don't know it well enough yet.

White Paper Method

Once you think you have a grasp of the content, close your materials. Get out a blank sheet of paper and write down everything you know. Again, this helps find the holes in your understanding and where to focus.

Make Concept Maps

Concept maps are excellent study tools because they help students actively organize and visualize information, leading to deeper understanding and better memory retention.

Make Tables

Tables are extremely useful in studying because they help organize information, improve memorization, support active processing, help reveal patterns and connections, can simplify complicated topics, and can be used for easy self-testing.

Go Higher on Blooms

Bloom’s Taxonomy classifies educational goals into levels of thinking. Going higher on Bloom’s (e.g., from remembering to applying) helps move you beyond memorization to truly understanding and applying, which leads to deeper learning and better long-term retention

Dual Coding

Dual coding combines verbal information (text or speech) with visual elements (diagrams, charts, or images). As the brain processes the same concept separately, it creates two mental representations (instead of just one) to strengthen recall.

Spaced Practice

Spaced practice strengthens memory by spreading learning over time rather vs. cramming. When you revisit material after forgetting has begun, it forces the brain to work harder to retrieve the information. Research shows it improves retention.

Retrieval Practice

Retrieval practice is actively recalling information from memory vs. passively reviewing it. Pulling knowledge out (self-quizzing, flashcards, or practice tests) strengthens memory, deepens learning, and helps identify gaps in understanding.

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