Study

Hacks:
The Most
Effective
Study
Methods
Introduction
Highlighting, re-reading, and taking notes are some of the most common
study methods used by students to learn new content. However, numerous
studies show that these methods are not the most effective study strategies.
The methods listed above are all considered passive studying, which may
take less time and feel easier, but is not effective for long-term retention or
critical analysis. This contrasts to active learning, where you are actively
analyzing, synthesizing, and manipulating information, strengthening both
your memory and comprehension. Read along for some effective active
learning techniques that you can integrate into your learning.

Topic Flags
While going through this handbook, you'll likely notice these little icons at the
edges of the page. These are used as markers to help you, as a learner,
identify the types of strategies that are best suited for your goals.
To indicate if this method is To indicate if this method is
for visual, auditory, student suggested and
Learner kinaesthetic or all types of tested, or scientifically
learners! Expertise researched!
Flag Flag
Click the flag to access a
more in depth explanation
of an expert method.

Visual Learner

Student Reviewed
Auditory Learner

Expert Reviewed
Kinesthetic Learner

Note from Webstraw

Thank you for opening this resource! At WebStraw, we have researched the
most effective study techniques to share with students because we
recognize that students are taught what to learn, but not necessarily how to
learn. We hope that you find this compilation of study techniques useful in
your studies and we wish you all the best in your endeavours!
 Table of Contents
Passive Studying vs. Active Recall 3
Spaced Repetition 4
Anticipation Guide 5
SQ3R Method 6-7
Feynman Technique 8
Pomodoro Technique 9
Anki 10-11
Interleaved Practice 12-13
 Passive Studying vs. Active Recall

Active recall is one of the best ways to learn throughout the semester. It is based
on the principle that learning occurs through the retrieval of information, which can
be done through repeated testing. Here are some examples of how you can
replace passive studying with active recall:

Material to Passive Studying Active Recall

Learn

Identify the main

points in your notes
Lecture Notes Reread notes and explain them in
your own words

Change the chapter

Assigned Texts headings into questions
Read and look for answers
and Articles as you read

Assigned Try to solve Try to solve questions

questions while on your own first and
Problems and looking at class then look at class
Exercises examples examples

Print and write out

Power Point Print out and possible exam questions
Slides read in the margins to quiz
yourself when reviewing

Go to lab and quiz

Lab Reports Reread answers yourself while looking
at models/materials
A | Spaced
Repetition

Example
B | Anticipation
Guide

Example

STEP 1: The learning objective tells you

to focus on the components of
eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Take
lecture notes to fulfill this objective.

STEP 2: In your comprehensive

flashcards, you write down the question
“Compare the similarities and
differences between eukaryotic and
prokaryotic cells”.

STEP 3: Review your flashcards and

test yourself throughout the semester
C | SQ3R
Method

STEP 1 - Survey: You see that the

chapter will discuss, monophyletic,
polyphyletic and paraphyletic trees
STEP 2 - Question: You write down
a question about identifying types
of trees
STEP 3 - Read: You write down
key identifiers of each tree to
answer your question.
STEP 4 - Recite: Practice reciting
key factors of each type of
phylogenetic tree
STEP 5 - Review: Test yourself!
C | SQ3R
Organizer READ
Take the time to thoroughly
SURVEY read through the content.
Keep your questions in mind

Ask yourself the following

questions when surveying a text:
1. What is the topic?
2. What is the title?
3. How is the text organized
(look at subheadings and RECITE
bolded words)
4. How do the graphics relate An example of a summary:
to the title Psychological disorders can be
characterized by the abnormal
behaviours of the patient.
Abnormal in this case means
distressing, dysfunctional and/or
deviant behaviour.
There are many categories of
QUESTION disorders including anxiety, mood,
eating, dissociative and childhood.
Each have their own biological,
Remember to write down sociocultural, psychological and
specific questions that you environmental causes which help
would like answered by the identify the disorder
end of the reading. For
example:
1. What are the biological
factors relating to anxiety
disorders?
2. What is the vulnerability
REVIEW
stress model?
3. What is the most common 1. Too many emotional
anxiety disorder? response neurotransmitters
and not enough GABA
2. Given enough stress, each
person is vulnerable to a
psychological disorder
3. Social and Agoraphobias
D | Feynman
Technique

Example

STEP 1: You would like to study entropy

STEP 2: Entropy is often known as the

amount of disorder present in a system.
An example of this would be an ice cube
left out in the open, which will eventually
end up melting. Before, the ice cube
molecules were more compact, and as the
cube melts the molecules are freer leading
to an increase in disorder.

STEP 3: Practice the areas of the concept

that you had difficulty describing

2. Explain to a
"6th grader"

1. Choose a 3. Identify Gaps

Concept

4. Review &
Simplify
E | Pomodoro

Step 1 Step 2
Prioritize tasks Set an alarm for
based on 25 minutes.
importance.

Step 3 Step 4
Focus until the Take a short
timer runs out. 5-minute break.

x4
Step 5
After 4 cycles,
take a longer
10-20 minute
break.

TIP: Try to make your breaks 'productive breaks', such as cleaning up

your desk or making a cup of coffee instead of reaching for your phone
F | Anki
F | Anki
Card Types

1. Cloze Deletion

2. Image Occlusion

3. Basic Flashcard
G | Interleaved
Practice

Benefits

Example
G | Interleaved
Practice
DON'T:

DO: