Study Strategies

The Methods - How To Study

College-level courses expect you to do more than just memorize facts—they want you to truly understand and apply what you are learning. If you want to build stronger memory habits and feel more confident before exams, the secret lies in how you study.

We break studying down into two main styles: Passive and Active. 

Active Vs. Passive Studying

Active Vs. Passive Studying in Practice

Retrieval Practice Is Active Studying

Retrieval practice is the process of actively pulling information out of your memory and putting it back out into the world. Rather than re-reading notes or highlighting text (passive studying), retrieval forces your brain to work to recall concepts.

While fast, easy strategies like cramming only lead to short-term retention, retrieval practice creates strong, long-term memory pathways.

How to Practice Retrieval

To get the most out of retrieval practice, combine it with dual coding—using multiple study formats (visual, verbal, written) rather than sticking to a single "learning style."

• Self-Quizzing & Practice Tests: Complete practice problems or flashcards without looking at your notes first. Always write down or speak your answer out loud before checking the answer key.
• Explain It in Your Own Words: Put away your textbook and summarize a complex concept to a peer, tutor, or out loud to yourself.
• Create Visual Brain Dumps: Draw concept maps, diagrams, or flowcharts from memory, then check your course materials to fill in missing details.
• Study with Others: Work with TAs, professors during office hours, or study groups to talk through difficult concepts and test each other's recall.

Why Retrieval Practice Works

Engaging in active retrieval practice benefits your learning in several ways:

• Deepens Understanding: Improves your complex thinking, knowledge organization, and ability to transfer concepts to new scenarios.
• Builds Metacognition: Helps you identify what you truly know versus what you need to review before exam day.
• Strengthens Memory: The effort and slight discomfort required to recall information is exactly what makes the knowledge stick long-term.

Looking for more support with study methods? 

The Structure - When to Study

Academic Coaching Pointers

• Building a plan or process for your study time can give you structure to lean on 
• Each course and term may alter how you need to study
  • Use what has worked for you in the past 
  • And be flexible and allow yourself trial and error when taking on new processes and practices

Spaced Practice - Forgetting Curve

The typical forgetting curve emphasizes spaced practice, a more effective studying cadence than cramming

• Spaced practice involves spreading study sessions over time.
• Cramming is studying in one long session shortly before the exam.

Why spaced practice works:

• Desirable Difficulty - improved durability of learning from increased effort to retrieve the information when opportunities are spaced apart. 
  • It isn’t easy but the challenge from spacing improves long term learning
• Cramming creates an illusion of Knowing - where information quickly becomes familiar because we have seen it repeatedly in one session
  • Information quickly acquired is quickly forgotten
  • You can spend more time processing important concepts
  • Cramming increases the amount of information in short-term memory, but not long-term memory.

You do not need to spend more time studying than cramming. Ideally, spread the same amount of time out and get better results. 

Study Cycle

The Study Cycle is a template for learning that promotes greater retention. The goal is to give direction for the learning process with concrete steps and timing. Take our suggestions and play around with what works and what doesn’t to create your own personalized learning process. 

Looking for more support with study structure? 

Getting the Most out of Exams

Exams are a core part of college life, but they do not have to be a source of constant stress. Thinking of exams as checkpoints in your learning journey, rather than a single judgment of your abilities, helps you track your progress, build transferable skills, and pinpoint areas to strengthen before move-forward assessments. 

Academic Coaching Pointers

• Shift your perspective: View exams as tools to test your current understanding, build focus, and prepare for future licensing or certification tests.
• Test yourself early: Take a practice exam before the actual test to identify gaps while you still have time to review.
• Prioritize self-care on test day: Adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and arriving early have a direct impact on your focus and recall.
• Analyze your results: Use graded exams as feedback to refine your study strategies for the rest of the term.

Preparing for an Exam

Effective exam preparation is built into your weekly routine that spans the whole term, relying on active recall and spaced practice. Review the sections above to build a term long plan: 

The Methods - How to Study

The Structure - When to Study

Emergency Exam Prep

While consistent review over time is best, if you find yourself with limited time before an exam, follow this structured emergency approach:

1. Identify 5 Core Concepts: Grab a blank sheet of paper for each concept and write down definitions and explanations in your own words without looking at your notes.
2. Verify & Correct: Check your sheets against your course materials. Note any missing details or misunderstandings.
3. Prioritize by Impact: Focus your remaining study time on concepts your instructor emphasized most and/or areas where you feel least confident.
4. Expand If Time Permits: If you finish and feel confident, repeat the process for 2 more key topics.

Exam Prep Tools

• STEM test checklist: A structured checklist designed to ensure complete prep for quantitative and science exams.
• Finals Study Plan: Map out your study sessions leading up to finals week.

During the Exam

Test-Taking Strategies

• Scan the entire exam first: Get an overview of the test structure and point distribution so you can plan your time effectively.
• Target high-value questions: Allocate more time to sections that carry the highest percentage of your total grade.
• Choose your starting point: Start with easier questions to build confidence, or dive into complex questions while your mind is freshest—use whichever approach suits your style.

Question Specific Approaches

Test Anxiety

A small amount of stress is a natural body response that keeps you alert. However, when anxiety interferes with your ability to demonstrate what you know, active grounding strategies can help restore focus. 

Grounding techniques

There are many different kinds of grounding techniques but below are two simple ones to give you an idea of what you may prefer

Breathing Exercises - Box Breathing

Box Breathing: Inhale slowly for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, and hold for 4 seconds. Repeat as needed.

Sensory Grounding - 5-4-3-2-1 Method

Breath slowly and name:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you can hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

If test anxiety feels overwhelming or persistent, connect with the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHAC). Our friends at SHAC are here to help address anxiety through individual counseling or group counseling and workshops.

After the Exam

Learning does not end when you submit your test. Conducting a post-exam analysis strengthens your metacognition (awareness of your own learning process) and helps you adjust your study habits for future assessments.

Analyze Missed Questions

Post-Exam Reflection Tools

• Test Error Analysis Spreadsheet: A template to categorize exam mistakes and refine your prep.
• Midterm Check-in: A tool to assess your progress halfway through the term and plan adjustments for weeks 6 through 11.

Looking for more support getting the most out of your exam? 

Do you have questions, concerns, or comments about the content on this page? Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at: mycoach@pdx.edu