In order to maximize your study time, start by choosing an environment with few potential distractions where you can focus for long periods of time. Ideal quiet study locations include your campus library, local coffee shops and computer labs. The goal of finding an effective study place is to find a study pattern that becomes familiar and helps you reinforce the concepts you learn in the lecture hall.

Research has shown that repetition is a key element of learning, and regular study times will help you to reinforce materials learned in class. Try to select times that you devote to exam preparation, and treat this time as scheduled for that purpose. Plan to spend two hours studying for every hour in the classroom. A good plan is to spend the first 15 minutes of your study time covering previous material, as well as the last 15 minutes covering upcoming concepts so you can build on what you know to master that patterns that will ensure your academic success.

Finding a proper balance between your college courses is also a key element of a proper study method. When beginning a course, find out as much information as you can from fellow students about the time needed to learn the material, and give yourself enough time to ensure each of your courses gets the necessary attention. Try to select courses that interest you, and set goals at the beginning of the semester that will keep you motivated from the beginning of the semester all the way until finals week. Expect to spend the most time on course for your major, so make sure to carefully pick an academic focus that you are genuinely interested in. Since academic skills build cumulatively, do the necessary research to ensure you have taken the necessary prerequisites for higher-level courses, and review those concepts before the beginning of the semester.

Finally, take time to reward yourself for hard work by celebrating good test scores by giving yourself a day off of studies to refresh your mind. By following these college exam tips, you will be well prepared for your next test and beyond.

The art of note-taking means that you do just that: you capture the “essence” of a speaker’s remarks rather than try and recount the entire event. But how do you boil it down to basics? Here are some tips that may help:

1. Look for the main idea of the presentation. The title, the speaker’s credentials, and the program outline may provide an overview of the main ideas. Of course it will be impossible to record everything the speaker says unless you plan to use a tape recorder. Instead, plan to jot down a few ideas beside each main point. Some speakers provide PowerPoint handouts or an outline with headings and subheadings. Use these for adding your own ideas.

2. Link main ideas together. As you note patterns that emerge from the presentation, like numbered points between one and five, for example, take notes about these linkages and what they suggest about the overall thesis, or main point. If your handout does not list subpoints, add some of your own, and write a brief explanation for each. In this manner a consistent thread of related meaning can be traced through the entire event.

3. Jot down key words and phrases rather than complete sentences. If you quote the speaker’s comments randomly, use double quotation marks around them to show they were his or her precise words. If time permits, you may want to write a few sentences of summary after each section or following the presentation to help you recall the theme or main idea later.

4. Organize your notes methodically. For example, you may choose to number them using Arabic or Roman numerals. Or you may simply write out main ideas followed by a list of dashes leading to support details. Draw a squiggly line between sections of notes or between speakers’ comments’ notes, if there is more than one presenter. If you use shorthand, be sure you will be able to interpret it later.

5. Consider typing out your notes following the presentation. Unless you have used a laptop during the session, you may find you have several pages of notes that may be hard to decipher. If the session was important for your job or school, you can prepare a typed edition with condensed or expanded notes that come to mind as you rehearse it in your mind again. Then keep the notes on file for future reference, which will optimize the value of the presentation for a long time to come.

Taking notes is not just for secretaries. If you plan to attend an event where someone will be speaking about a topic that is important to you, be prepared to jot down key ideas in a form that you can use later.

Today many school children not only do not read very often, some don’t know how. An unfortunate number graduate high school with a third grade reading level or less. It’s not uncommon to hear a first-year college student boast, “I’ve never read a complete book in my life.”

That’s a far cry from the previous generation, with precarious implications for the future leadership of our country. If you are concerned about getting your kids to read more, and enjoy it, here are a few tips:

1. Keep good books at home. Stock shelves, coffee tables, and bedrooms with classic tales or modern novels by authors who are worth reading. Subscribe to a book club or read publishers’ lists to find out about new books that are coming out and which ones are recommended especially for young readers.

2. Reward family readers. From verbal praise like “I’m so impressed that you finished that book so quickly” to a penny per page incentive, parental support of a reading habit goes a long way toward encouraging kids to start and stay with a book. Establish a family reading time after supper or before bedtime. Take turns reading aloud or have everyone read their own book separately, sharing highlights over dinner.

3. Reinforce good stories. Rent or borrow films for books that family members have read, like Lord of the Rings or The Scarlet Letter. Discuss the film afterward, comparing characters, scenes, and plot development to the original book. Watch television documentaries about favorite authors or literary periods, such as Melville’s writing of Moby Dick.

4. Sponsor a contest. Talk to your child’s teacher about sponsoring a reading contest for the class. Students who read five or more books per month will receive special privileges, such as 10 minutes of extra playground time or free cafeteria lunches for a week. If the school has no budget for incentives like these, ask parents to donate or contact local businesses in the community to see if they will contribute to a reading program.

5. Hold a book fair. Ask the school to arrange one day to have a children’s author visit to talk about his or her books, which will be on display. Children can also write and bind their own stories, exhibiting these for parents to view and admire. Biographies of famous writers and their work can be posted for discussion groups of parents with their children. Serving refreshments will add a special touch to the day.

6. Visit a book sale, convention, or trade show to expose your children to a wider world of stories and publishing. They will be amazed by the number and type of books on display. If some are for sale, try to get one for each child as a souvenir, which is so much more meaningful than an amusement part troll doll or stuffed animal.

Books are an important part of life. They teach us new ideas and introduce us to other people and cultures. Help your children understand their special role by following steps like these to celebrate quality literature.