Effective Study Techniques for Higher Grades

Published: January 2025 | Reading time: 10 minutes

Many students spend countless hours studying yet struggle to see improvement in their grades. The problem often lies not in the amount of time spent but in the methods used. Research in cognitive psychology has identified specific study techniques that are significantly more effective than common practices like re-reading notes or highlighting textbooks. By adopting these evidence-based strategies, you can study more efficiently, retain information longer, and ultimately achieve higher grades at university.

This guide presents the most effective study techniques supported by scientific research, along with practical advice on how to implement them in your own study routine. Whether you are aiming to boost your GPA from Credit to Distinction or from Distinction to High Distinction, these methods can help you reach your goals.

Active Recall: The Most Powerful Study Technique

Active recall involves testing yourself on the material rather than passively reviewing it. Instead of re-reading your notes, you close them and try to remember the key concepts, then check how accurate your recall was. This process of actively retrieving information strengthens memory in ways that passive review cannot match.

Research consistently shows that testing yourself on material leads to better long-term retention than spending the same amount of time simply studying. This phenomenon, known as the testing effect, is one of the most robust findings in educational psychology. Even when you get answers wrong during practice testing, the process of attempting retrieval helps cement the correct information when you subsequently review it.

To implement active recall in your studies, create flashcards for key concepts, definitions, and facts. After reading a section of your textbook or notes, close them and write down everything you can remember. Practice explaining concepts aloud without looking at your materials. Past exam questions are particularly valuable for active recall as they show you exactly the format in which you will need to demonstrate your knowledge.

Spaced Repetition: Timing Your Reviews

Spaced repetition involves reviewing material at increasing intervals over time rather than cramming all your study into one session. This technique takes advantage of how human memory works, with well-timed reviews just as information is about to be forgotten leading to much stronger long-term retention.

The spacing effect shows that studying information across multiple sessions with gaps between them produces better learning than the same amount of study in a single session. While cramming the night before an exam might help you pass, the information quickly fades. Spaced repetition ensures that you still remember the material weeks or months later, which is essential for building cumulative knowledge across your degree.

To use spaced repetition effectively, start reviewing material soon after you first learn it, perhaps the same evening or the next day. Then review again after a few days, then a week, then two weeks, extending the intervals as the material becomes more familiar. Digital flashcard apps like Anki automate this process, scheduling reviews at optimal intervals based on your performance.

Elaborative Interrogation: Understanding Why

Elaborative interrogation involves generating explanations for facts and concepts by asking yourself why and how questions. Instead of simply memorising that something is true, you push yourself to understand the underlying reasons and mechanisms. This deeper processing creates stronger memory traces and better understanding.

When you encounter a new concept or fact in your studies, pause and ask yourself: Why is this the case? How does this work? What is the explanation for this? How does this connect to other things I know? By generating these explanations, even if imperfectly, you engage more deeply with the material than if you simply read and move on.

This technique is particularly effective when you can connect new information to your existing knowledge. The more connections you create between ideas, the more robust your understanding becomes and the easier it is to retrieve the information when needed. It also helps you identify gaps in your understanding that need further attention.

Interleaving: Mixing Up Your Practice

Interleaving involves mixing different topics or types of problems during a single study session rather than focusing on just one. While this can feel more difficult in the moment, research shows it leads to better long-term learning and improved ability to apply knowledge in new situations.

The traditional approach of blocked practice, where you study one topic thoroughly before moving to the next, can create an illusion of mastery. You get good at solving problems of a particular type because you know what type they are. Interleaving forces you to identify what type of problem you are facing and select the appropriate strategy, which is much closer to what you will need to do in exams.

To interleave your studies, mix up the topics or problem types within a study session. If you are studying multiple subjects, switch between them rather than completing all work for one before starting another. When practising problems, include a mix of types rather than doing all the problems of one type consecutively.

Dual Coding: Combining Words and Visuals

Dual coding involves representing information in both verbal and visual forms. By creating diagrams, charts, concept maps, or mental images alongside written notes, you create multiple pathways for retrieving the information, making it more accessible and memorable.

When you translate verbal information into visual format, you must think carefully about the relationships between concepts, which deepens your understanding. The visual representation also provides an additional memory cue that can help you recall information even when the verbal pathway is blocked.

Apply dual coding by drawing diagrams and concept maps for the topics you study. Convert processes into flowcharts. Create timelines for historical events. Use visual metaphors to represent abstract concepts. Even simple sketches can be powerful memory aids. When reviewing, try to recreate your visual representations from memory before checking them against your notes.

Creating Optimal Study Conditions

Beyond specific techniques, the conditions in which you study also affect your learning. Environment, timing, and physical state all influence how well you absorb and retain information.

Find a study environment that minimises distractions. This might be a quiet library, a dedicated study space at home, or a cafe if background noise helps you focus. Put your phone away or use apps that block distracting websites. Even small interruptions can break your concentration and reduce the effectiveness of your study time.

Study when you are alert and focused. For most people, this means studying during the day rather than late at night. Identify your personal peak hours and schedule your most challenging study tasks for those times. Take regular breaks to maintain concentration; techniques like the Pomodoro method, with 25-minute focused sessions and 5-minute breaks, can help structure your study time effectively.

Physical factors matter too. Get enough sleep, as sleep is when your brain consolidates memories from the day. Stay hydrated and eat properly. Regular exercise has been shown to improve cognitive function and memory. Taking care of your body is not separate from academic success; it is foundational to it.

Conclusion

Improving your grades is not just about studying harder; it is about studying smarter. The techniques outlined in this guide, including active recall, spaced repetition, elaborative interrogation, interleaving, and dual coding, are backed by decades of cognitive psychology research. By incorporating these methods into your study routine, you can learn more effectively, retain information longer, and achieve better results with the same or even less study time.

Start implementing these techniques gradually. Pick one or two to focus on initially and build them into your habits before adding more. Over time, these evidence-based methods will become second nature, and you will see the results reflected in your grades and GPA.

To track your progress, use our Australian GPA calculator to monitor how your improved study habits translate into higher grades and a stronger academic record.