6 Study Secrets Toppers Never Told You!

It's no scam nor fluff. Trust me. I have been an average student myself till grade 6 or 7 until I (consciously or unconsciously) started following the tips I am going to disclose to you. I wonder why, when the so called 'toppers' ( I don't, personally, like the word so much) are asked about their study secrets, they answer is negative as if they know not! But then, on the flip side, maybe they are not really conscious of what they do to study because they have become so accustomed to it! When you've been wearing spectacles for so long, a time comes, when you don't know if you are really wearing them. That's habit. And after brainstorming a great deal about all the habits that made me become academically sound (well, that word's still better, isn't it?), I'll try to get all the unconscious habits become conscious to you. So ready to be astounded? let's dive in.

1. Go Slow With Studying

The biggest mistake you could probably make while you start out on your journey to academic excellence, is to try to do too much, in less time. It's a conventional academic advice that you should complete learning your syllabus way before your exams, so you have enough time to revise and re-revise. But I partially disagree. In case you want to unlearn and relearn how you study, it's extremely important you go slow no matter even if it feels to you, you are reaching nowhere. Here, we are concerned with that you understand what you are studying. Not how much you are studying. First focus on the quality. Quantity will follow. And marks? Undoubtedly multiplied. As you go on doing it, you will master the learning process. It won't be long before you start learning a substantial amount of your syllabus in a short time, without compromising an inkling on the quality.

When I started with quality learning, I, literally was doing one or two paragraphs in an hour. But what kept me going was, I knew I was able to understand them so well that revision would either not be necessary or, take half the time it usually does. It was a winning end.

Some of your friends would definitely complete the syllabus much before than you will. You will undoubtedly and naturally feel competitive. Don't stress. They are going to give the exam on the same day as you are. Chill. Go slow.

2. Find Opportunities For Small Wins (Build Your Confidence)

One thing I cannot afford to miss while writing about academics is 'small wins'. It's definitely a confidence tip but a study tip too, that you cannot stick to a thing and be confident about it unless you start seeing results (at least some). In simple words, win in your periodic tests. Don't aim at 'killing it' in the exams. 'Kill It' in your periodic tests. Trust me, that would build your confidence in your studying styles to the extent that the existing class topper would want to know the magic potion you have started to consume. And confidence in yourself means 'victory assured'.

I had literally got 81 marks out of 90 in class eighth's first periodic tests. And the funny part is, they were 9 tests of 10 marks each! Only those marks made me believe so much in myself that there was no looking back from then on. So your goal now, is not to give your best straight in the exams, but fight to do the best in your periodic tests, first! or class tests, or oral class quizzes or when the teacher asks the class some question or any opportunity you get. Just grab it!

3. Improve your English

Well, this tip is, certainly, not for the native English speakers. But those who have their second language as English, know it extremely well, how hard it is to get really well acquainted with the language. Especially when it comes to expressively writing in it. But let's be practical. You get marks only when you write well in English or any language you are studying in. And how do you improve upon that language? By thinking in it or by speaking in it. When you start speaking in that language, you think in it as well. Writing needs thinking, doesn't it? It is only when you achieve the fluency, in the language, that you climb to the next rung of the ladder. Don't you agree toppers get the best marks in writing essays? That's the reason.

It was only when, out of unconscious whim, I started speaking in English (with half applauds and half criticisms from my batch-mates) that I saw an insane increase in my grades. It was dramatic. And my communication skills also improved! Appreciation from those who criticized me before, was not unexpected!

4. Don't Study For Long

Speaking strictly to beginners, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T study for hours together. Your motive is to develop your interest in studies first. If you do it for lengthy chunks, believe it or not, you are on your way to decreasing your mental ability and grades! Study only when you feel you can do it and that, you are receptive enough to take in new information and knowledge. Once you start a quality intake of what you are reading or writing, you can gradually increase the amount of time you study. In the beginning, even if you study for 20–25 minutes a day, it would be enough. Your motive is quality and interest. Not quantity and being repellent.

In the beginning, I started with 30–45 minutes a day. And after two years or so, 5–6 hours seemed a cake walk!

P.S: I understand, this tip might be quite contrary to the conventional study tips. But this is completely based on personal experiences and has nothing to do with scientific data or research. Furthermore, if longer chunks of time make you do better at it, feel free to study for long. Here, I just attempt to keep the point forward that our aim is to memorize and understand the stuff we study and not boast about for how long we sit at our desk, cramming.

5. Make Flowcharts/ Mind-maps While You Study

You remember your childhood home? You played so many games there with your childhood friends. And your friend had once hit you while playing. You cried so much and didn't talk to him for days. You might not remember all the details now. But once you visit the street, all the memories just flood back to you. Don't they? That's the exact nature of our mind. It memorizes through links. When a street can get a whole lot of memories back to you, why won't a word or a sentence or a date do it? Try linking all that you are reading to what you read in the previous chapter or the previous paragraph or some information that you gathered from a novel you've been reading, lately. Whether you believe it or not, magic will happen. Little thing but crucial. It helped me a great deal, try it for yourself!

6. Make Things Easier

Let's be practical. Academic knowledge has everything to do with the textbooks and grades and nothing to do with what we are practically experiencing. The technical language they use in the textbooks won't do us any favor! In the practical world we would talk about water, not H2O! We'll talk about finance, not world war 2! But what if we relate everything we study with everything we experience! Won't it be exciting and fun? Why not to relate the cash to product conversion in accountancy to the conversion of money to the packet of chips you bought yesterday evening. Or why not to practically observe the evaporation process by boiling water at home. I know, not everything can be seen practically but whatever can be, why not to? That only made the boring text books fun for me! It can do it for you too if you genuinely try.

Some Last Words

It is but a bitter truth that academic education, in some way, does limit our thinking and actions. But since it is a crucial part of our lives, escaping it is neither practical nor completely possible. Best, study hard but don't let it overpower you. Never get demotivated. Some people grow slower than others but the truth is, everyone grows. Stay happy. Study hard. Kill it.

Thanks for reading!