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Study Skills : Deciding What To Study
Deciding What To Study: sub-module 1 of 4 of studying and test-taking
This module will help you determine what material to study, and what order you should study it in. Before you start to study, it’s crucial that you figure out what you should study. You will cover a lot of material over a semester and focusing your attention on the right material will make studying easier and more productive.
Tips
- Pay attention.Your instructor may give clues or instructions about what material you should focus on.
- Start with the hard stuff.Use the stoplight approach if you are having problems applying or understanding key concepts.
- Check your learning objectives.Look at the learning objectives for your class and your assigned readings for an idea of what to focus on.
Additional Resources
Study Strategies
How to Decide What to Study
When it comes to preparing for a test, knowing what to study is just as important as knowing how to study.
- Narrow down the Material Start by narrowing down the amount of material you need to review. There’s no point in spending valuable time on topics that won’t even be covered.
- Ask for Guidance If you’re unsure what to focus on, ask your professor for guidance. For example, if the test only covers material from half the semester, you can immediately set aside earlier topics.
- Identify Core Concepts As you go through your readings and notes, identify core concepts and key information that are most likely to appear on the exam.
- PrioritizeOnce you’ve trimmed your study list, the next step is to decide on an order of priority. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using the Stoplight Study Technique- opens in a new window, which helps you quickly determine which topics need the most attention.
Watch this video to learn strategies that you can use to decide what to study and what to study first.
How to Use the Stoplight Technique
The Stoplight Study Technique is a method for reviewing material that helps you quickly see what you know well, what you sort of understand, and what you don’t know yet—using the colors of a traffic light as a guide.
- Green: You know the material well and feel confident about it.
- Yellow: You understand it somewhat but need more review.
- Red: You don’t understand it yet and need to focus your study time here.
When you go through your notes, textbook, or practice questions, you mark each concept, term, or problem with the appropriate colour. This makes it easy to prioritize your study time. Starting with “red,” moving to “yellow,” and reviewing “green” just enough to keep it fresh.
It’s a quick, visual way to organize your studying and avoid wasting time on concepts you already know well.
Watch this video to learn how to use the Stoplight Study Technique to prioritize your study material.
