1 

"I Don't Know Where to Begin" 

 Fix 

Take Control. Make a list of all the things you must do. Break your workload down into manageable chunks. Prioritise! Schedule your time realistically. 

2 

I've Got So Much to Study . . . And So Little Time" 

 Fix 

Preview. Survey your syllabus, reading material, and notes. Identify the most important topics emphasised, and areas still not understood. Organise and focus on the main topics. Adapt this method to your own style and study material. 

3 

"This Stuff Is So Dry, I Can't Even Stay Awake Reading It" 

 Fix 

Get actively involved with the text as you read. Ask yourself, "What is important to remember about this section?" Take notes or underline key concepts. Discuss the material with others in your class. Study together. Stay on the offensive, especially with material that you don't find interesting, rather than reading passively and missing important points. 

4 

"I Read It. I Understand It. But I Just Can't Get It to Sink In" 

 Fix 

Elaborate. We remember best the things that are most meaningful to us. As you are reading, try to elaborate upon new information with your own examples. Try to integrate what you're studying with what you already know. You will be able to better remember new material if you can link it to something that's already meaningful to you. 

5 

"I Think I Understand It" 

 Fix 

Test yourself. Make up questions about key sections in notes or reading. Keep in mind what the lecturer has stressed in the course. Examine the relationships between concepts and sections. Often, simply by changing section headings you can generate many effective questions. 

6 

"There's Too Much To Remember" 

 Fix 

Organise. Information is recalled well if it is represented in an organised framework that will make retrieval more systematic. There are many techniques that can help you organise new information, including: 

• Write chapter outlines or summaries; emphasise relationships between sections. 
• Group information into categories or hierarchies, where possible. 
• Information Mapping. Draw up a matrix to organise and interrelate material 

7 

"I Knew It a Minute Ago" 

 Fix 

Review. After reading a section, try to recall the information contained in it. Try answering the questions you made up for that section. If you cannot recall enough, re-read portions you had trouble remembering. The more time you spend studying, the more you tend to recall. Even after the point where information can be perfectly recalled, further study makes the material less likely to be forgotten entirely. In other words, you can't over-study. However, how you organise and integrate new information is still more important than how much time you spend studying. 

8 

"I'm Gonna Stay Up All Night Until I Get This" 

 Fix 

Avoid Mental Exhaustion. Take short breaks often when studying. When you take a study break, and just before you go to sleep at night, don't think about studying. Relax and unwind, mentally and physically.