There's lots to do! Imagine you've gotten behind on some of your classes. Make a list of all the places you are going to go and things you have to do to get caught up.
Answers
I wish I had a nickel for every student who’s ever come up to me and asked how they can
do better on tests. Wait… I do have a nickel for each student! That’s my salary! Anyway, to
save time and to get you started in the right direction, I’ve compiled a list of many useful skills
that students pick up somewhere in their college experience.
This document comes from over thirty years of working with students (and my own
experience as a student for years before that!). I’ve noticed some patterns; I’ve listened to my
students and teaching assistants; and I’ve read a lot, especially the work of Wilbert J.
McKeachie and Richard VanDeWeghe, who have been studying how students learn for decades
(see the full references to their works at the end of this document). As a result, I’ve put
together some advice that I hope you will find useful.
You will find many skills, techniques, and strategies in this document. Try them! Try at
least one new thing each class, each module, each week, even each day. Learn how to learn!
As you try out new things, remember that you may need to practice them before you get
proficient. But they can’t hurt….
Here are the sections of this document:
• Page 1: How to Become a Good College Student
• Page 3: How to Think About and Get the Most Out Of Class Time
• Page 4: How to Read the Text (Or Any Text!)
• Page 6: How to Study Really, Really Well
• Page 7: How to Take Tests
• Page 8: How to Read and Answer Multiple-Choice Questions
• Page 9: How to Read and Answer Short-Answer Questions
• Page 10: References