The Best Study Techniques for Better Grades

More study time does not always mean better grades. In fact, students often benefit most by avoiding passive habits such as re-reading, and instead using active techniques that encourage retrieval, organisation and application of information.

The best study techniques make use of active learning, spaced repetition and the maintenance of focus. Here are 12 techniques, including the most appropriate times and durations to use them.

Quick answer: The best study techniques for grades are active recall, spaced repetition, practice testing, focused study sessions and adequate sleep. Start by closing your notes and testing yourself, then review what you have learned in the next few days rather than in one long session the night before.

Why the Right Study Technique Matters

Studying does not mean spending time looking at a book. Learning happens when you can recall an idea from memory, apply and connect it to something you already know, and use it to answer a new question. A focused session involving testing and problem-solving can be more useful than a longer session spent only highlighting and rereading.

Good study techniques should also help highlight what you do not know. This is useful information, as what you think you know can often be wrong. Testing yourself shows you what gaps there are, and gives you the chance to fix them before it is too late.

1. Use Active Recall

Active recall means testing yourself on a concept without looking at the answer. Instead of reading a definition five times, try covering it and explaining it from memory. The act of pulling information from your brain strengthens it, and provides you with an immediate assessment.

How to practise active recall

• Study a short section of your lesson.
• Cover your notes or close your book.
• Write everything you remember in your own words.
• Compare what you have written to the material.
• Correct any mistakes and test yourself again later.
• You can use flashcards, blank-page summaries, verbal questions or chapter-end exercises. The method is not as important as the act of attempting to answer before looking at the solution.

Example: After studying photosynthesis, close your notes and answer the following: "What are the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis?" And "Why is chlorophyll important?" If you are unable to answer clearly, review the missing concepts and test yourself again.

2. Review with Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is a review method where you space out your learning of a concept to help your brain retain it for longer. Active recall is the best way to do this, as it encourages retrieval of information rather than passively reading or listening to it.

A simple spaced repetition schedule

• First review: same day you learn the topic
• Second review: one day later
• Third review: three days later
• Fourth review: one week later
• Final review: two to four weeks later

These intervals can be shortened or lengthened depending on how well you are learning the material. Spaced repetition works best when combined with active recall and the review should always be active, not passive. You should not, for example, simply re-read the same page at different time intervals.

3. Take Practice Tests

Practice tests train you to perform one specific task: recall information and apply it appropriately within a limited time-frame. They will also highlight what you do not fully understand, and give you the chance to rectify the issue before the actual exam.

How to use practice tests effectively

• Start with short, topic-based quizzes while you are learning the material.
• Later, complete mixed-topic questions from several chapters.
• Before the exam, simulate the real-time conditions and time limits.
• Mark your answers and keep an error log.
• Repeat any questions you got wrong after a gap, without looking at the solution.

Your error log should include the question, reasons for your mistake, the correct thinking and how you will avoid making the same error. You may notice patterns in your mistakes. For example, you may understand a concept but struggle to explain it under time pressure, misread a question or forget to show your working.

4. Explain It with the Feynman Technique

Feynman's technique is a method to test your understanding of a concept. Choose a concept and explain it in simple words as if you were teaching it to a beginner. Avoid using the same wording as the textbook. If you find gaps in your explanation, go back and review these before simplifying again.

The four-step process

• Choose: Write the name of one concept at the top of a page.
• Teach: Explain the concept in simple terms.
• Find gaps: Highlight any areas you cannot explain or that feel unclear.
• Improve: Review these gaps and rewrite your explanation using an example or analogy.
• This technique is useful for science, history, economics, and anything that involves cause-and-effect reasoning. It encourages you to check your understanding instead of relying only on memorised wording.

5. Work in Focused Study Sessions

A long study session can lead to a passive type of learning where you are not fully focused. A timer can stop this by giving your work a defined start and end-point. The most popular system is the Pomodoro Technique:

• Choose one task and study it with intense focus for 25 minutes.
• Take a five-minute break.
• Repeat this four times, then take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.
• You need not stick with this exact timing. For more difficult or creative work, try 40 minutes of work with 10 minutes of rest or 50 minutes work with 10 minutes rest. Choose a length that suits your topic and working style.

During breaks, stand up and stretch, or drink some water. Save social media for after your study session, as it can be easy to waste time once you are on the app.

6. Mix Related Topics Through Interleaving

Interleaving means alternating between similar topics or types of problem in a single study session. This could see a mathematics student working through algebra, geometry, and probability problems in the same session, rather than grouping them together.

Interleaving requires more thought, as you must first identify the type of problem before choosing which method to use. This is more reflective of an exam setting, where the problems are mixed together and you must decide what to do as you go.

How to start interleaving

• First, learn each method separately before moving on to mixed questions.
• After each question, explain which method you have used.
• Compare similar concepts and note any differences.
• Keep the session focused on a few related problem types. Mix the questions so that you must decide which method each one needs.

7. Take Useful, Organised Notes

Good notes do not involve a word-for-word transcript of what is being said or written. Notes serve to capture important concepts, highlight connections, and generate questions to review later. Keep your notes simple so that you can identify important ideas at a glance.

Three note-taking methods to try

• Cornell notes: Divide the page into three sections - notes, question/keyword and summary. Use this to aid active recall.
• Outline method: Use subheadings and indentation to organise your thoughts in a logical sequence. Works well for structured lectures.
• Mind maps: Place a central idea in the middle of the page and connect related ideas with lines. Great for showing cause-and-effect or comparison-contrast relationships.

After any lecture or lesson, spend five to 10 minutes editing your notes. Add in any additional examples and turn headings into questions before writing a brief summary from memory. Your notes will now be much easier to understand and review at a later date.

8. Combine Words and Visuals

Dual coding is the process of representing an idea with both language and images. A diagram or labelled image can often explain a concept better than a paragraph of text.

For example, you should not simply memorise the stages of the water cycle. Instead, draw a picture of the water cycle and label the parts as you explain the process out loud. Similarly, timelines and comparison tables can help organise history and science notes, respectively, around a common theme.

9. Create a Distraction-Free Environment

Your environment should help support your study by reducing the number of decisions you have to make. Keep your desk clear of any unnecessary items and store your phone in another room to avoid the temptation to use it. If you are using a computer, close any tab you are not actively using and disable any notifications.

A quick setup checklist

• Choose a reasonably quiet and well-lit workspace.
• Prepare books, paper, water and a timer before starting.
• Move your phone out of reach.
• Write out the task you will complete.
• Inform your family or roommates when you need uninterrupted time.
• If you cannot control background noise, experiment with earplugs or instrumental music. Songs with lyrics often compete for your attention and make it harder to concentrate.

10. Set Specific Study Goals

"Study chemistry" is too vague a directive. Instead, set a clear goal that defines what you will accomplish and how you will measure completion. It should also reduce the amount of time spent deciding what to do.

An action-based goal might be: "Complete 15 chemical-equation questions, check my answers, and repeat any mistakes without notes". Another example is: "Create 20 flashcards from Chapter 4 and answer each one correctly twice".

Plan from the exam backwards

• List every topic covered in the exam.
• Identify strong, developing and weak areas.
• Dedicate more time to weak and high-value topics.
• Save the last few days for mixed-topic practice and error correction.
• Write down the first task for tomorrow as you finish each study day.
• Keep track of completed work, rather than time spent. Finishing and reviewing ten problems is a more useful measure of productivity than recording that you studied for one hour.

11. Use Study Groups Correctly

A study group can be a good way to quiz each other and spend less time on easier material, so more challenging concepts can be reviewed. It can, however, become a distraction if most members use the time to chat, share easy questions, or let one person do all the work.

A productive 60-minute group study session

• Agree on topics and goals (5 minutes).
• Test each other with no notes (20 minutes).
• Work on challenging questions individually and compare solutions (20 minutes).
• Each person teaches one concept (10 minutes).
• List any unresolved questions and assign follow-up tasks (5 minutes).
• Keep groups small (3-5 people) and appoint a timekeeper. If the group regularly reduces your productivity, individual study may be a better option.

12. Protect Sleep, Exercise and Nutrition

It is hard to recover fully from a long day of studying if you have not had enough sleep the night before. Sleep is vital in forming memories and supporting your emotional wellbeing. Aim to maintain a healthy sleep schedule, particularly in the days leading up to an exam, and avoid sacrificing an entire night for cramming the day before.

Similarly, regular physical activity can help reduce stress and refocus your mind so you are better prepared to work or study again. It doesn't have to be a long or intense workout - a brisk walk or a short home-gym session can do. Eating well and having water on hand will also support your health, rather than relying on excessive amounts of caffeine or sugar.

Before an exam: Finish any challenging review earlier in the day, prepare all materials, complete one confidence-building check and go to bed at a reasonable time.

A Seven-Day Study Plan You Can Follow

Example of one 90-minute study block

• 10 Minutes: Recall the previous lesson without notes.
• 30 Minutes: Learn or practise one difficult topic.
• 5 Minutes: Take a short break.
• 30 Minutes: Answer mixed practice questions.
• 10 Minutes: Check answers and update your error log.
• 5 Minutes: Schedule the next review and choose your next task.

Common Study Mistakes to Avoid

Rereading without testing yourself

Rereading can help you become familiar with a topic but familiarity is not the same as recall. Try a quick review followed by a self-test without notes.

Highlighting too much

If every sentence is highlighted, nothing stands out. Only highlight key definitions, arguments, steps or examples. Turn these into questions to test yourself.

Cramming the night before

Cramming may benefit short-term memory but it gives you little opportunity to identify and address weaknesses. Instead, start earlier and schedule brief reviews over several days.

Studying only easy topics

Easy work can give the illusion of productivity but it should be balanced with harder questions to improve your understanding. Start with a high-value weak area while your energy is at its highest, and use easier review sessions later in the day.

Multitasking

Switching between studying and messages or videos will reduce your focus. Focus on one defined task during each study session.

Ignoring mistakes

A wrong answer is a chance to improve. Review what went wrong and attempt the question or practice set again. Productivity is measured by how much you learn, not how many questions you get right.

Creating an unrealistic schedule

A plan that uses every hour leaves little room for breaks, meals, travel time or emergencies. Schedule fewer priorities and complete them consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most effective study technique?

There is no one-size-fits-all but active recall paired with spaced repetition provides a good foundation. Practice testing is also essential for exams and for subjects that require problem solving.

How many hours should I study each day?

The amount of useful study time depends on your age, workload, deadline and level of focus. You may start with just one or two blocks of focused study and measure the value of each session. Quality often outweighs quantity when it comes to study time.

Is studying at night bad?

Not necessarily. Some students can be more productive at night. The issue arises when late-night studying affects your sleep or creates an inconsistent schedule. Choose the time of day that helps you be most productive without sacrificing rest.

How can I remember what I study?

Test yourself without notes, review what you have learnt with increasing intervals, connect new information to what you already know, and use examples. Do not wait until you have completely forgotten something before reviewing it.

How do I study when I have no motivation?

Reduce the size of the task and promise yourself a reward after completing it. Place your phone out of reach and start with one clear action. Motivation often follows productivity, so you may find it easier to study if you establish a routine.

Which technique is best for mathematics?

Use worked examples for a short time, then try solving problems on your own. Alternate between similar problem types, explain why certain methods apply and keep an error log. Review mistakes after a gap.

Which technique is best for vocabulary and definitions?

Use active-recall flashcards with spaced repetition. Include examples where appropriate and consider asking questions in both directions (term to definition and definition to term).

Build a Routine You Can Keep

The best study routine is not the most complex one. It is the routine that you can keep doing and measure so that it can be improved. Start with active recall, schedule brief reviews across several days, practise under exam-like conditions, and correct your mistakes. Protect your sleep and remove distractions so that each session has a clear purpose.

Do not try to add all 12 techniques at once. Choose two today: test yourself after learning something new and schedule your next review. Practice testing and focused timers can build on this, and an error log will help you measure the value of each session. Small improvements made every week can make your study time more productive and your grades more consistent.

Try this today: Close your notes, write five questions about your latest lesson, answer them from memory, and schedule a short review for tomorrow.