B-Student Study Tips
BY EDDY ZHAO '25
What’s up, scholars? We are about one-third of the way through the school year, and we’ve already received our first report cards. Hopefully, you’ve passed your tests and your grades have lived up to your expectations. But have you ever walked into class after countless hours of preparing for that math exam, only to not know the entire first page? Me too! After several mishaps like that, I decided that it was time to find some new ways to study. Due to my awesome testing experience this year, I myself feel qualified to share these “strange” tips with you so that you, too, can find success in your studies!\
Previously, I’d try to cram some textbook pages and maybe do a few practice math problems, but now I start my study session by opening up YouTube and listening to 40hz binaural beats. According to a Nature.com study, these sounds, which combine noises from different frequencies, can improve your ability to filter out distractions while you are working. The study found that 40hz binaural beats helped the most in increasing focus during the training session! It’s like white noise for studying, and from my experience, it really does work! In fact, in using this strategy I was able to get a 200% on my latest math test! Have you ever lost track of the assignment guide in math? For math classes, study tomorrow’s lesson before it happens. Most math teachers post assignment guides for each chapter which would allow you to do this. You can then understand the math yourself and ask clarification questions in class the next day. If you want, you can do the homework for that day as well if your teacher posts it in advance. That way, you can grind out the homework on the first day of the chapter and then chill for the next month! Now for the greatest godsend I’ve ever met throughout my years of education: the multicolor pen. It practically eliminates the problem of organization when writing on paper. Want to work on a chemistry problem? Circle it in red. Want to add something you might need to know on a test? Write it down in green. However, mechanical pencils come in at a close second as they also deliver a smooth writing experience without the pain of having to sharpen a pencil. These writing utensils really do one-up the standard NO. 2 pencils, which I will probably never use again. It’s only been a month or so since I started using these interesting life hacks for studying, but I think it’s working! According to one of my college friends, using these tricks will guarantee you a 100 in BC Calculus and you’ll be the one sending an acceptance letter to Harvard. I hope that these suggestions will help you as well and I urge you to give them a try. Good luck! |