Three common study myths busted by a learning expert – and better strategies to use instead

Sean Anthony Eddy/Getty Images As high school and university students approach the exam period, study sessions often increase and intensify.

But even when students are “trying hard” to study they can still fall into some common study traps that hinder, rather than help, their learning.

I research how the human mind learns.

Here are three misconceptions about studying, and some alternative methods that will improve learning (and, yes, your exam performance).

Myth 1: repeatedly reading your textbook and notes is the best way to study Rereading textbooks and course material is a popular study method among students.

A 2018 study aggregated five previous surveys of university students and adults in the United States.

It found 78% of participants reread notes as a study strategy.

More than half said they also highlighted or underlined important sections in their notes as part of this technique.

However, other research suggests the benefits of rereading material are limited.

This is because it’s a passive form of study, meaning it usually doesn’t add much to knowledge constructed from the initial reading.

What students should do instead This doesn’t mean rereading is a problem in itself, or that you should avoid it entirely.

It just might not always be the best use of all your time.

If you do want to reread material, research has found it’s better to space out repeated readings over multiple days instead of cramming it all into a single study session.

You should also intersperse rereading with other active learning strategies outlined later in this article.