FACT OR MYTH: Study Skills & Time Management

FACT OR MYTH: The most effective way to study for a test or quiz is to re-read your class notes and textbook chapters.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

A report published in the journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest showed that both of these study strategies are relatively ineffective. Passively reading the same text over and over again won’t do anything for comprehension or recall unless it’s spaced out over time, and highlighting or underlining can even be detrimental if the wrong information is selected.

FACT OR MYTH: Writing notes by hand (vs. typing) makes you more likely to be able to recall the information later, even if you do not go back and review those notes again.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

A 2021 study of university students revealed that writing on physical paper can lead to more brain activity when remembering the information an hour later.

Researchers say that the unique, complex, spatial and tactile information associated with writing by hand on physical paper is likely what leads to improved memory.

FACT OR MYTH: Reading a text or your vocabulary flashcards out loud will make it easier for you to recall the information later.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

A 2018 study published in the journal Memory found that reading words aloud made them easier to remember compared to reading them silently.

This is because verbally pronouncing a word creates a memorable experience — a phenomenon the researchers call the “production effect”.

FACT OR MYTH: Some people learn better when they take in information by listening to it, while others learn more effectively when information is presented visually.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

You’ve probably heard about “learning styles” and how everyone has their preferred or ideal learning style, whether it’s visual, auditory, or kinesthetic.

Despite the popularity of this theory, there's almost no evidence to support it--systematic studies of learning styles have consistently found no evidence or very weak evidence to support the idea that matching the material to a student’s learning style is more effective.

FACT OR MYTH: "Cramming" the night before a test is just as effective as studying a little bit each night for several weeks.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

The benefit of distributing learning over time is commonly known as the spacing effect. This effect has been demonstrated in over 200 research studies from over a century of research

Cramming usually leads to poor results. In the rush to absorb large quantities of information, important details are glossed over or lost. Any learning benefits from such efforts are usually lost (that is, forgotten) even just a few days later.

Unlike cramming, spaced practice involves multiple learning sessions, but each session is shorter. Having multiple sessions allows you to “divide and conquer” by focusing on a subset of materials during each session. Without the pressure to cover all the course content that might come up on an exam, as occurs when cramming, during each session you can spend more time processing and integrating important concepts and details from a portion of the course.

FACT OR MYTH: The most effective study method involves taking practice tests or answering practice test questions.

• FACT

• MYTH

Answer explanation

The testing effect is real. Dozens of studies show that you will recall 50% more of learned information by testing yourself than by using the same amount of time to study.

Numerous studies in the past few decades have proven the testing effect true for every age group and level of learning out there, from elementary school students to university undergraduates to medical students, residents, and faculty.