With the end of the semester approaching, students will be faced with a surplus of quizzes and tests to wrap up material. Whether one is aiming to improve their grade, test average, or test-taking skills, good study habits are key to becoming a successful student.

Harvard Summer School students claim that the “#1 thing one can do to help their studying is not cramming all of the information in at once.” It was found that 99% of students admit to cramming at least one test in their lives, and 72% of these students claim that they received a lower grade than anticipated. This is because cramming for a test makes you feel familiar enough with the material to remember it while studying, but not have enough knowledge to remember it on the test day. 

So, what can you do? You need to be planning your time based on your test. For example, Cathedral Catholic senior Amy Cavellier recommends “writing down your tests in a planner and studying at least 3 days before the test.” 

According to Oxford Learning, there are 4 main learning styles, “visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic.” With so many different learning styles, there are many crucial study techniques that students can choose from. Part of being a student means learning what study method works best for you. 

Cathedral Catholic student Christina Kehdy ‘27 has worked tirelessly to discover her study methods. This year she has figured out a lot about her test-taking skills claiming that “a method called the Pomodoro method, which allows me to take breaks while studying has helped me get a high grade on many of my tests this year.” The Pomodoro method involves a 25-minute focused study with a 5-minute break, which is very beneficial for students with limited study time. 

For students who love to write, another method called “blurting” allows one to write down everything they know about a subject and then use their notes to fill in any learning gaps. 

Finally, as technology is evolving, many students are using AI software to make visual models of the material to help them remember it better. As AI becomes more prominent, students can learn to use it to their benefit through having it make practice tests, visual models, examples, or create other helpful studying practice. 

Ultimately, no matter what study method one uses, one must discover what works best for them early in their high school career. Strong study habits lead to successful students as they enter adulthood.