Study Tips for Better Grades

Discover Your Learning Style

Educational theorists have discovered something you might already know: people learn in different ways. You may be a kinesthetic learner who learns best by doing, a visual learner who prefers to pick up information by reading a textbook, or an auditory learner who retains information presented orally.  

Not sure about your learning style? Take our learning style quiz to identify your best study environment. Then, find out how to tailor your habits to suit the way you learn.

Optimize Your Study Space

Everyone studies differently. Are you distracted by noise or motivated by upbeat background music? Do you need to take breaks or do you work best when you can focus for several hours at a time? Do you study better in a group or by yourself? By answering these and other questions, you can create a study space that works for you.

Of course, not everyone is able to design an ideal study space, so we've also provided strategies for studying in small spaces.

Learn Key Study Skills

Every class is different, but key study skills always remain the same: finding the main idea, taking notes, retaining information, and outlining chapters. Once you've mastered these and other fundamental skills, you'll be prepared to succeed in virtually any class.

Break Bad Study Habits

It's never too late to break bad study habits. Read up on the most common bad study habits and learn how to replace them with smart, science-backed strategies. Plus, discover techniques for staying focused during a study session, which will lay a solid foundation for future success. 

Know When to Study

Whether you have just a few minutes to prep for your vocabulary quiz or months to prepare for the SAT, you'll need to know how to establish a workable study schedule. After all, a last-minute cram session should be structured differently than a multi-day study calendar. No matter how much time you have to study, these strategies will help you make the most of it. 

Understand Different Test Types

Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, open book — every type of test brings its own unique challenges. Naturally, each one of these test types warrants a unique set of study strategies. That's why we've assembled study techniques for the different types of tests you're most likely to encounter.