Rating Common Study Methods
Midterms are approaching, probably sooner than you think.
As a second-semester senior with a 3.9 GPA – who’s been in all kinds of classes – here is my honest take on the common study techniques. I included my own very-unscientific rating of how well each method works for me (on a scale of 1-10).
1. Writing It Multiple Times
If I could only use one method for the rest of college, this might be it.
Rewriting notes gets a bad reputation because people do it passively.
But here’s the key: Don’t copy word for word. Rewrite from memory.
Look at your notes. Close them. Then write everything you remember about that concept. Check. Repeat.
This works especially well for:
- Definitions
- Formulas
- Foreign language vocabulary
- Theories you need to articulate clearly
Plus, it’s been proven that using a real pen/pencil and paper to write creates concrete neural pathways, something that even taking notes on an iPad can’t do.
Rating: 10. For me at least, this is just the best.
2. Parkinson’s Law (The Time Constraint Hack)
Discovering this method was one of the best things that happened to me, especially as someone whose schedule is almost always packed.
Parkinson’s Law says: work expands to fill the time you give it. In other words, if you give yourself four hours to “review Chapter six,” guess what? It’ll take four hours.
Instead, try: “I have 40 minutes to master this section.” or “I have 25 minutes to outline this essay.”
Deadlines (even self-imposed ones) create momentum and sharpen your focus. You’d be surprised how much your brain can do when it doesn’t think it has forever.
Rating: 10 for efficiency, especially when you bundle it with another one of these methods.
3. Pomodoro (But with Flow State Rules)
The Pomodoro technique is simple: work for a set amount of time, usually 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat.
There are longer, more flexible variations, but you get the gist.
Pomodoro is amazing when:
- You’re procrastinating
- You can’t start
- Your attention span is in shambles
- You turn off other distractions during your work time
Here’s the flow state add-on to Pomodoro: if you hit flow state (a focused, high-performance, effortless mental state) at minute 23… do NOT stop because a timer said so. Flow state is the best thing that can happen when you study. Protect it.
Use Pomodoro to start. Stop the clock when you’re locked in.
Rating: 9. This is a classic, but it doesn’t always work for me. If you go with this one, the flow-state add on is a must!
4. The Whiteboard Method
Grab a whiteboard or a big sheet of paper and close your notes. Explain the concept like you’re teaching a class. No copying. No glancing down.
It works great because:
- Forces active recall (which is gold for memory)
- Exposes what you don’t know immediately
- Turns passive reading into actual thinking
If you can teach it clearly, you know it. If you can’t, now you know where to focus.
Extra tip: Talk/teach the content out loud.
Rating: 8.5. This is similar to the writing/rewriting method, but if you’re talking it out loud, you’ll want to be in a private space.
5. Body Doubling
This one is underrated. Study next to someone who is actually studying/working. Not your friend who says “let’s study” and then opens TikTok or asks you to grab food with them.
Why it works:
- Social accountability
- Environmental mirroring (we copy the energy around us)
- Less temptation to slack
If you can’t find a friend, head to the library and join the people there who are already locked in.
Rating: 7.5. Bundle this with another one of the methods for most effectiveness. And there is some risk for distraction involved. Be sure everyone is ready to focus!
6. Advanced Flashcards (Not the Basic Way)
Don’t just simply flip and recognize answers.
Instead, try:
- Say the answer out loud before flipping
- Write the answer before checking
- Use spaced repetition (review cards over increasing intervals)
And for harder classes? Add application questions:
- “Apply this theory to a real example.”
- “Compare X vs Y.”
Rating: 8. This works best for memorization / terms, and the spaced repetition is key.
7. AI-Assisted Studying
Smart ways to use AI:
- Ask for practice questions
- Ask for potential exam questions
- Generate quizzes
- Explain concepts in simpler language
- Create analogies
- Simulate oral exams
Not-smart ways:
- Copying summaries and calling it a day
- Letting it write essays you don’t understand
Use it to deepen thinking, not replace it. And better check your syllabus for some cues on your instructors’ policies about it. While AI is extremely helpful when used correctly, let’s be mindful of the environmental impacts, too!
Rating: 8. If used the smart ways, it’s a fantastic way to check your knowledge or simplify tough concepts, but you run the risk of it getting something wrong (especially in complicated subjects). I also find it may instill false confidence if you aren’t using some of the other study methods and are just reading the answers.
8. Active Recall + Spaced Repetition
If there’s one evidence-backed combo that consistently wins, it’s this.
Active recall = testing yourself. Spaced repetition = reviewing over time, not cramming.
Instead of rereading chapters five times, close the book, write down everything you remember, and check it. Review again two days later, then four days later, then a week later.
This builds long-term memory, especially helpful for classes where exams are cumulative.
Rating: 8.5. Yes, it’s the gold standard and it works. But it also requires a lot of discipline and time that I don’t always have.
9. Interleaving (Mixing Topics)
Instead of studying one chapter for three straight hours, rotate topics. Example: 30 min on chapter five → then 30 min on chapter six → then 30 min practice problems.
It feels harder, but that’s the point. Struggle during studying = strength during the exam. It helps your brain make connections and better recognize difference between similar ideas.
Rating: 8.5. This is a highly effective learning method, but it can also be frustrating.
10. Practice Testing (Under Real Conditions)
If your exam is:
- Timed → practice timed
- Multiple choice → do MC practice
- Essay-based → outline essays quickly under pressure
Simulate the game. It encourages you to prepare for the exam in the most well-rounded way possible. In my own experience, this also helps reduce the anxiety that usually comes before the exam date.
Rating: 10. This will help you prepare, test your knowledge, and feel more confidence on the day of.
My Real Advice Before Midterms
You don’t need all of these techniques. Pick two or three that work for you and apply them to different subjects. Not all classes or topics will work as well with the same method.
Like they always say: study smarter, not harder.
You got this!
Chi Truong | Class of 2026