Academic Excellence Through Good Study Habits

By Carllister Ejinkeonye

The ultimate goal of any genuine student is to greatly excel in his studies. This should not only be determined by the grades he is able to score during examinations. The student should equally demonstrate his mastery of a given subject with an ability to discuss and disseminate its contents any time he is called upon to do so. In other words, he must be so at home with the subject that he would be able to explain it clearly to another person. That is why the student needs to acquire effective study habits necessary for beneficial assimilation and astounding success.

As a child begins to grow, parents and teachers should recognize their obligation to instill the culture of regular, quality and diversified reading in him. The goal should be to motivate him to acquire knowledge and not just certificates, even though the certificates are equally very important and must also be obtained. The following are good study habits which if meticulously followed would help the student achieve excellent success in his academic pursuits both at the secondary and tertiary institutions. They have worked for students over the years and can still work for many more.

Set A Study Schedule

First, ensure that you have your class time table for the various subjects you are offering and the venues for the classes.  Then, from the class time table, draw up your personal study schedule.  This should include time for assignments.  Do not assign equal time to all the subjects; rather give more time to the ones you consider “more difficult” than others, and study them when you are very alert.  Sometimes, however, you may need to begin with subjects that interest you most to put yourself in the mood for more challenging work. Your study schedule should have for any given day provision for revision of subjects coming up in the class the following day. This will enable you revise the last material covered and prepare for the next day's lecture. As much as possible follow the schedule you have made. Towards examination time, you can make a new personal time table to suit your examination time table. Set a time limit for answering past questions on every subject; be disciplined about it as though you are in an examination hall. It is very helpful and gets you prepared for the actual examination.

Love Your Subjects and Teachers

   You must never dislike any of your subjects or teachers no matter how difficult the subject or teacher may appear. Develop deep interest in all your subjects. Never say such things as: “Mathematics is difficult, I hate it” or “My So-So teacher is too hard, I don't like him”.  Continue to tell yourself that Mathematics is easy and sweet! Indeed, I must tell you, it is one of the easiest and very interesting subjects. Therefore, make it a rule to solve one or two Math questions a day and soon it will become your favourite subject. Say and do the same about any other subject that instills fear in you. So LOVE all your subjects and teachers and you will have better chances of doing well in them and choosing a better career.

Be Punctual In Class

    Punctuality, they say, is the soul of business, so develop the attitude of being in class before the time scheduled for the lecture to start. Where and when it is possible, sit near the front for better concentration and understanding.  Never miss classes or go late.  Read your previous notes prior to the class to refresh your memory about what was learnt in the previous class, and also ensure that your assignments have been properly taken care of.  These actually prepare you for the lecture. Many times, even when they come early to class, most students chat away their time with friends while waiting for the facilitator or teacher.  Shun this ugly habit, as it might affect your ability to be in the right mood to learn effectively.

Time Management

  Have a sense of time management. Such sayings as “opportunity once lost can never be regained”, “make hay while the sun shines” and Scriptures like “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8) should constitute a jingle that keeps echoing and re-echoing in the heart of students throughout the period of their academic pursuit.

Students who are in boarding houses may have more organised schedules and therefore should use their prep time efficiently. Do your assignments, revise the day's teachings and review your notes in preparation for the subjects to be taught the next day. Make necessary corrections in your notes and fill up words that were missed out. At the end of each day, you are better equipped on the topics.

For the day-student, he has to remember that time may not actually be on his side given that his study schedule may be punctuated with domestic chores and errands at home, and unplanned interruptions (traffic jam, power failures, etc.)  For this reason, the day-student needs to be more focused, determined and disciplined to, as much as possible, follow his study schedule. This might also mean staying up a little late into the night or waking up a little earlier.  Sometimes, endeavouring to be in school some 30 or 45 minutes before the Assembly period to study, put finishing touches to assignments that could not be completed at home and preparing for the new day's lectures will definitely put the student in a better academic shape.

 Use any free period in between classes to review the last teaching or the next one just before the teacher arrives. It should never be a time for gossip, idling or chatting away the time.  Avoid procrastination.

Listen In Class

 Maintaining a good listening attitude all through the class (especially at the beginning and towards the end of the class) is of utmost importance. The beginning of a teaching very often carries the main points and towards the end the teacher lays more emphasis on them and discusses whatever may have been missed out in the course of the lesson before summarizing. Take note of concepts, definitions, terms, words you find the teacher taking time to explain or emphasize. Avoid any form of distractions from friends, sleep, discomfort, etc while a class is in session.

Stay Healthy

Ensure that you stay healthy.  You need to eat good food, have enough rest, keep fit through approved physical exercises and report any symptoms of sickness early.  Many young people prefer to eat junk and in-between meals than healthy meals.  Some refuse to report when they notice signs of ill-health because they are scared of being given some medications. You should endeavour to do most of your work and study during the day time to avoid always staying up too late at night.  Also choose a convenient place for study; some cannot study in noisy places while some cannot study in an extremely quiet environment.  Choose what is best for you and be result-oriented.

Have A Discussion Group

A discussion group where students can brainstorm, encourage one another, share ideas and strengthen themselves in different areas of their subjects can be very rewarding if well organized. On no account should this be allowed to degenerate into a distraction.

Note-Writing And Note-Taking                                              

Finally, let's consider the issue of note-writing and note-taking which I have intentionally left out till now. In secondary schools, most teachers give their students notes to copy. This I have chosen to refer to as Note Writing.  The importance of writing or taking notes during classes cannot be over emphasized. This is where a student's diligence, discipline and determination are displayed. It involves the eyes, ears, mind and the whole body. First, you should have different note books for the different subjects you are offering. Whether notes are dictated or written out on the board, make sure you write along.  Leave out spaces for words you did not readily get. Immediately after the class, read through your notes, fill up the missing words, cross your 't's and dot your 'i's. Do not wait till some other day before doing this.  Do not rely on your classmates' notes because theirs may not be correct or complete. Just before the next class, review what you have written. By this you would refresh your memory on the subject matter and retain more. Write legibly and put a date on the day's notes. Aside writing notes which the teacher gives, make it a part of you to take your own notes while the class is in session and while reading from your textbooks or your class notebooks. You could get a good notebook which you can separate or partition for different subjects. Since you cannot make notes or write summaries in your class notebook, your personal one will do. While the teacher is teaching, write down what he lays emphasis on, concepts he stresses, keywords, examples and phrases pointed out. You can use abbreviations you can easily understand and remember if writing the whole thing is slowing you down.

Read your textbooks and class notebook and make notes into your personal notebook. Read them at your study time and make summaries in your own words on the left margin of the notebook. And remember to read through your notes and summaries. This helps to prepare you for tests and examinations without much stress or the need to cram.

It is possible that you may have already adopted some other study habits that may have been of help to you.  What you need to do is to consider what has been stated in this article and either combine or choose the better options. Every good student takes seriously the issue of updating his class notebook, doing his homework, preparing very well for tests and examinations if he must have good grades. Efforts in all these areas guarantee a good pass. Note that in every subject, the class notebook, homework and class tests attract as much as 30% of the total term's 100% and in some schools 40% in every subject.  Using the tips we have stated gives you a good grade in your exams. In fact, no student should actually have a low grade or fail at all. Dr. John Feldmeier in his academic survival tips says “The past does not equal the future” and urged students to write it out and place it where they will see it each and every day. I say same to you, the past does not equal the future, therefore do all to get hold of your future. Walk and work your way into success and academic excellence.

Success
The mighty pyramids of stone

That wedge-like cleave the desert airs,

When nearer seen, and better known,

Are but gigantic flights of stairs.

The distant mountains, that uprear

Their solid bastions to the skies,

Are crossed by pathways, that appear

As we to higher levels rise.

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

-- By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Now take this godly counsel with you:

 “...for by strength shall no man prevail” (1 Samuel 2:9b)

“Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another.” (Psalm 75:6-7).

“And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I commend thee this day, to observe and to do them” (Deuteronomy 28:13).

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8).

Therefore as you make your study schedule or personal time table, one subject you must necessarily include is Bible Reading and Meditation.

Academic Excellence is your portion in Jesus' Name. Amen.