Step1
Start a study group. Select two or three other students in your class who are interested in studying together and going over key concepts so that everyone understands them. Make sure all students are equally serious and will make good use of their time. Do not allow too many students into the study session or you will not get as much done.
Step2
Start working on assignments the day they are assigned. If you make this a rule then assignments will not build up and become sources of stress and anxiety. When you begin thinking about assignments early you have time to think of ideas and discuss those ideas with other students or even the teacher. When we put things off for too long we avoid starting them because the thought of beginning a large, difficult project is scary. Avoid this problem completely by starting the work early.
Step3
Dont pull an all nighter before a test. You will do much better if you get at least a few hours of sleep rather then being exhausted and unable to think or recall information. Sleep gives your brain time to encode information and allows for easier recall.
Step4
Review your notes right before you go to sleep each night. Many psychologists believe that the brain uses the time that we sleet to encode information from our short term memory into the long term storage. I have found that it is much much easier to recall information on an exam when i study directly before going to sleep for about 15 minutes per night for about a week. It makes a huge difference.
Step5
Try to complete all assigned readings for the class. If the readings seem to be overwhelming try to find one or two other students who are willing to share the readings. Each student is assigned a few chapters to read and outline. You each exchange outlines to use when studying so you benefit from the information in each chapter even when you dont have the time to read it all.
Step6
Make quick notes when reading. As you go through the text book make notes to yourself in the margins. After reading a paragraph write 3-4 words in the margin that let you know the main concept of that paragraph. When you come back to study you will be able to go directly to the areas that you need clarification on. This is also helpful when you are looking for the answers to questions on assignments or when you know you will be having an open book test.
Step7
Use a digital voice recorder (or tape recorder) to record lectures. We often miss small details of the lecture information when we are writing. If you have a recording of the lecture you can review your notes (which counts as studying) and fill in any pieces you left out. This is also great because you will not miss anything if you have to go to the bathroom. Some digital voice recorders have a USB port so you can download the lecture onto your computer. You can then burn it onto a CD and listen to it on your commute to school.
Step8
During the first week of classes review the silibus for each class and fill out a calander with all of the importand due dates. You should also have a smaller organizer that you keep with you during the day to record assignments in. Always be aware of what is coming up! It is also helpful to color code your calander. Pick one color marker to represent each class so you can tell at a glance what is due for each class.
Step9
Before an exam dont hesetate to ask your professor what format the exam will be in (multiple choice, essay, short answer...). You can change the way you study the information depending on the type of test you are expecting.
Step10
Get on a regular sleep schedule and get at least 8 hours of sleep a night before school. The more alert you are during class/lecture the more information you will remember and the less you will have to study later.
Step11
Try to use as many senses as you can when learning information. You will be able to remember it much more easily. Write things down and look at them to use your sense of sight. Say things out loud to use your speech and hearing to remember the information. Try to think of examples & stories that illustrate major concepts. Try to relate the information to your life or someone you know. Draw pictures or diagrams that will be easily remembered.
Step12
If you tend to get sleepy when reading or studying try this: Get an egg timer or kitchen timer and set it to go off in about 20 minutes. You will read/study for 20 min and then set the timer for about 3 minutes. During this time you will do some sort of physical activity to get your blood flowing and wake up your nervous system. (crunches, squats, jog in place, jumping jacks, pushups, stretches ) When the timer goes off sit back down and start studying again feeling awake, alert and refreshed. Set the timer for the length of time you are going to work before taking another exercise break. This helps you to retain more information when you are studying and reading. You may even find that this technique helps you fight the freshman 15!!
Step13
Create a "key term sheet" two days before the exam. This is a great alternative to note cards and it does not take as long. Take a sheet of paper and begin looking over your class notes. Write down any key terms or major concepts from the notes/readings/lectures to create a quick review sheet for yourself. Keep this paper with you and review it when you get an extra few minutes.
Step14
The day of the exam make sure you review the information for at least 30 minutes directly before the exam. This will make the information very fresh in your head. The "key term sheet" mentioned in the previous step is great for this purpose.
Novice 
