5 Effective Study Techniques That Actually Work for Students
By: Abudu Olalekan
I remember my first semester like it was yesterday. I dey library from 7 a.m. till 2 a.m., eyes red like pepper, yet when exam reach, my brain go blank. Empty. Like say I never open book before. That was when I knew: reading plenty no be the same as reading smart.
So I changed everything. And these five effective study techniques saved my life – and my GPA. No be joke.
First one: Active Recall. Forget rereading your notes ten times like say na novel. Close the book. Ask yourself questions. “Wetin be the function of mitochondria again?” If you fit answer without peeking, you don win. If you no fit, go back small, then try again. I used to write questions on one side of paper, answers on the other. Flashcards na my best friend now. This thing dey force your brain to work, no be passive reading wey you just dey highlight everything yellow.
Second, Spaced Repetition. Cramming the night before exam na suicide mission. Instead, read small today, tomorrow small again, next tomorrow small. The gap between each review suppose increase. Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 14… like that. Your brain go think say “ah, this thing important o, make I keep am well well.” Apps like Anki dey do this thing automatically. I just dey press button, e go tell me wetin I suppose revise today. Magic.
Number three: Pomodoro save me from burnout. 25 minutes serious reading, 5 minutes break. Stand up, stretch, drink water, scroll TikTok small (but no too much o). After four rounds, take longer break like 20-30 minutes. My brain no dey tire again. Before, I go read 3 hours straight, by hour two my mind don travel go village. Now I fit read 6 hours and still get energy to watch one episode of series.
Fourth thing wey shock me: Teach person. Even if na your teddy bear or your younger brother wey no send school. Explain the topic out loud like say you be professor. The moment you jam, you go know say “ah, I no even understand this part.” That’s where the real learning dey happen. I pf start teaching my roommate Organic Chemistry. Him no sabi anything, but by the time I finish explaining, even me sef come understand am pass lecturer.
Last one sound simple but e strong pass: Your environment matter die. Clear that table. Phone face down, or better still, keep am for another room. I pf download one app wey block Instagram and Twitter once I press “study mode.” Some people like small music, I like rain sound or lo-fi beats. Find wetin work for you. Messy room = messy brain. Clean space, your head go calm.
These five effective study techniques no be theory o. Na wetin I take move from 2.1 to First Class. No be say I be genius before, I just stop to dey do rubbish. Start small. Pick one technique this week, add another one next week. Before you know, your mates go dey ask you “how you dey do am?”
Trust me, your future self go thank you.
