The Study Cycle
A common problem with studying is that it can be difficult to find a schedule that suits you, or maybe you often find yourself cramming everything at the last-minute hoping that it sticks, or you might not have the faintest idea on where to start so you keep on putting it off. These are all problems that people share across every exam, all over the world, and yet we carry on doing it. Why? Well, for many people failing isn’t an option, and because of that, and the pressure that comes with it, they can overthink just about everything, and when you overthink things, and your mind isn’t clear then the problems start to arise. Thankfully, Frank Christ’s PLRS System (which stands for Preview, Learn, Review, Study), more commonly known as the ‘Study Cycle’ helps to alleviate us from these issues and provide us with a clear, focused and pragmatic schedule that allows us to study effectively. It works like this:
PREVIEW – This is the start of the cycle, and rather than study after you have been taught, skim through the material beforehand to gauge your level of understanding so that you can try to figure out your strengths and weaknesses. When you’re doing this, try to jot down big ideas, or topics that stand out. This first step is very light and does not require great amounts of effort and therefore should be very easy to complete.
ATTEND – The most obvious and best way to study is to learn – FACT. So, in order to do this, go to your lessons and classes. Listen and take notes of the instructions and the information given. Ask questions to solidify your knowledge, and query what doesn’t make sense to you. We’ve spoken about active engagement and how that is the most effective way to study, well you don’t get more active than writing, asking and most importantly, learning.
REVIEW – What many people do after gaining certain information is they don’t look at it again. They put it away to one side until they need it again, but the issue with that is, if you don’t understand something at the time, how are you going to understand it in the future, especially if you don’t go back over it? Here, you’ll need to review your work, fill in any gaps that you missed, and again, come up with more questions to guarantee that you understand the information from all angles.
STUDY – This is where most people start, if they ever do. You should have the upper hand at this moment in time, as not only do you have the information, you are also able to understand and pinpoint the gaps and uncertainties that you have. So, in order to combat this, try to schedule multiple focused study sessions each week. At this point, you should have enough confidence in your ability, as well as momentum, which is an often overlooked trait when studying.
CHECK – Finally, check. Check that your information is correct. Check that you understand what the information either is, or is asking you. Check that you’re confident that you are able to answer questions about it, and check that the way in which you studied has been beneficial to you. When you’ve done all that, check that you can teach the information to someone who doesn’t know it effectively without missing anything important – and if you can’t, check what parts you’re missing and make sure you don’t forget them when it matters most. After all this is done, the only thing to do is repeat it.
Exams, tests and assignments creep up on us. They can seem so far away, and then in the blink of an eye, they can be upon us. That’s where the PLRS System is unique. By giving us a schedule to stick to, that allows us to gain months, maybe even years of momentum, in the case of A-Levels, we are better prepared for what’s to come – and that can only be a positive.