One thing that high school students figure out while in school is what study methods work for them. Some students can simply retain knowledge, remember it, and apply it, while other students need to work harder to memorize material to understand problems. Whatever the situation may be, here are some popular study methods that will help you ace your tests. 

   According to The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill learning center, Active studying does not mean highlighting or underlining text, re-reading, or note memorization. Though these activities may help to keep you engaged in the task, they are not considered active studying techniques and are weakly related to improved learning.

    When a student is actively studying they will be re-retaining information that they have previously learned. Reading text pertaining to the subject being tested should be something done prior to studying. A student may overlook a concept or problem that they are unfamiliar with, causing them to be unprepared for the test. 

   Robert A. Bjork, a psychology professor and researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles wrote a controversial article about the effects of re-reading notes as a study method. 

   “Re-reading is accompanied by a sense of perceptual fluency, which students can then mistake for comprehension,” Bjork said.

   Instead of re-reading your notes, look over them and write down concepts that you are not familiar with or feel that you need to review again before the test. This will ensure that you productively use your time by studying problems or concepts that you have not yet mastered. 

   Active recalling is another efficient way to study. It is your brain searching for the answer to a question and recalling it. Quickly skim through your notes. Then, create some questions you have from the information you read and test how your notes helped answer those questions. 

  Another important thing to remember while studying is that taking a study break is equally as important as actually studying. Taking breaks can refresh the brain and enhance productivity and motivation. If you start to feel as though you are losing concentration, get up and go for a walk or make a snack. You can clean your study space, call a friend or even take a shower. Things to avoid are scrolling on social media, watch TV, or play video games. Doing these activities will get you sidetracked and distracted. 

   The Pomodoro technique is a popular study method. It is similar to interval training that a runner or swimmer might do. You set an amount of time that you work. This could be simply ten minutes or an hour. Once that time is complete you can pause your work for 5 to 25 minutes. After this break you go back to studying for however long it is you are working for. You then repeat for however you want to continue to study. This method is very effective because you have built-in breaks. Rather than planning out when you are going to take a pause from your work, you know that you have a reward in the form of a break, coming up. 

   Creating practice tests is another extremely effective method to prepare you for a test. Cornell University stated that, “Taking Practice tests is retrieval practice because you are actively recalling information, which leads to improved ability to recall later on, during the exam.”

   Create a test composed of questions that will be similar to the test, so you can mimic how the actual test will be in order to prepare yourself for the material. 

   If you need to quickly learn material, try the Feynman study technique. This method starts by you choosing a subject or problem you want to focus on. Read and make specific notes about this concept. Then speak aloud and try to explain the concept as if you are telling a young child about it. In doing this you will have to use simpler words or analogies to paint a clear picture about the topic. After you do this go back to your reading and notes and see what information you may have missed or key points you left out. Repeat this process until you feel you have gained a full understanding of the topic and all the elements are explained fully. 

   This Feynman technique is effective because it forces you to see areas in which you did not understand the topic, improve how you communicate what you have learned and strengthen your critical thinking skills. All of these elements can help you succeed on any test. 

   Once you find study methods that work for you will be able to ace any test or quiz that may come your way.