We can't possibly come to one conclusion, since everyone has their own method of studying. What we can do, though, is narrow down some thoughtful habits and possible strategies that you can try out next time a test is approaching. Sit back, enjoy, and let me know if I missed anything!
STEM Classes
Studying for mathematics classes can sometimes feel like reviewing a plethora of disjointed subjects that fall under an overarching unit. What I have come to see is that everything builds on itself in math, and that every unit is connected in some way or another. Instead of approaching two concepts like graphing and finding intercepts on a graph as entirely separate, consider how the properties of one can help you understand the other.
One process that can make this easier is crafting a mind map, which I was encouraged to do by my Junior year math teacher. Going through a school year in math might initially appear like your teacher is introducing an entirely new topic every single day, so it helps to write out what you have learned on a blank piece of paper and connect everything together. Leave room for lines and bubbles where you can connect terms and add explanations. Include practice problems that you thought were particularly valuable and write out what you understand from each topic. This process is absolutely not reserved for people who are better at English-related domains. Many students advance quickly into high-level math classes and have to remember that comprehension is the most important aspect of STEM domains. Testing organizations like the College Board prioritize real-world applications for a reason, so mind mapping might be a good habit to consider since it facilitates an approach to math that goes beyond simple memorization.
History Classes
Grouping, grouping, grouping. I can't emphasize this enough. Certain classes will require you to memorize thousands of terms, and doing so individually will be painful and fruitless. Grouping between and within time periods is necessary to gain a wholesome understanding of a historical time period.
Let's say that you are studying the differences between democratic and republican legislation in the 1850s, on the eve of the Civil War. First, look inside the time period and really try to understand where they differ. Draw a line between the two, but then connect terms that relate to a similar issue and explain to yourself why there might be division or separation. The most important part, however, comes with the broader contextualization between time periods. Look at the 1820s now and compare the differences, then look ahead to the turn of the 20th century (if you have covered this material, this is only extra).
Interestingly enough, the values that democrats and republicans stand for seems to shift within the 50 year period between the 19th and 20th centuries, and onwards. If you restrict yourself to only studying one epoch at a time, you might not see how there is a path that you can follow that connects the various eras and creates major changes over time.
Another crucial way to study history is to be able to teach it to someone like it is a story. Bring the words on the textbook paper to life by speaking aloud, or to a study partner/family member, about a period in history. Just talking it out will give you a better idea about the attitudes of the people at the time, since you can add emotion to your description and create imaginary reactions to a certain economic or social decision. In addition, many prompts and history tests require a lot of writing, which can be much easier if you ran through the entire time period orally the day prior. Students who concentrate their energy entirely to key terms will find it difficult to link events together when they are writing an essay. In the middle of your descriptions (or if you choose to remain on paper, which might work better for some units, visual map/detailed study guide), relate back to other time periods. Sentences like "this is somewhat hinting at what President Cleveland would do in the future in support of the economic cause" are extremely helpful
Science Classes (Chemistry, Biology)
If you've read my post titled "Why I Pursued Chemistry at the AP Level," you'll probably see some recurrences in this section. Essentially, the process of real world understanding and branching out into other units/subsections is one that is shared between science and writing subjects. Also, like I said in the Math section of this post, it can be easy to get lost in the separate Major assessments that are scattered across the year, which will then lead to a miserable time when finals are fast approaching.
To avoid this, spend extra time or review periods looking back at other units to find patterns or reasons behind a certain principle. If your teacher suddenly says something like "and this is because this molecule has a high melting point" and you don't remember why this statement supports the previous principle he/she stated, then it must have been covered in a different unit. Forgetting the building blocks that lead to a certain unit is the fundamental error that students can make. Don't get me wrong, you probably have enough on your plate that will make it difficult to stay on top of things in your current unit, but try to keep this in mind, especially as the year progresses.
Also, once again... REAL WORLD APPLICATIONS! The most transformative assignment that my chemistry teacher gave us was to make some fudge using the chemical properties as the backbone behind our research. Once you start to see how the material that you are reviewing is applicable to your daily life, it not only becomes more clear but you also feel more inclined to study it since it is relatable. Getting passionate about an assignment, no matter how arduous and boring it might initially seem, is the first step to being able to accurately assess yourself.
Quickly About Languages:
Languages: Talk and learn about the culture. Simply memorizing words won't help. The best way to do so is to read articles about something that you enjoy, or watch videos, in that language. For example, if you are interested in economics, read a Spanish article about the topic. You'll be craving the article in English, but that will only help your language skills.
The main takeaways:
- Real world applications
- Find patterns
- Mind maps
-Contextualize
12/5/19