8 Tips for Academic Success
in Science Courses

By: Oliver N.

1. Note-Taking

This fundamental learning and study practice is especially essential for Science. Notes need to be taken so that the main point of the subject is clearly presented and explained. It is important to take notes in three areas: during class, in your tutoring session, as well as at home whilst studying. Notes should be written neatly and in an organized fashion using headings and subheadings as well as drawing diagrams when and where applicable. When jotting down notes from the textbook, mark off which section the notes were taken from for easy textbook cross-referencing when it comes time to read and review them. Good notes make the study and review process much more efficient, allowing you to make the most effective use of your time when studying.

2. Time Management and Planning

You should allot a daily or weekly amount of time to review in-class Science notes, homework, as well as word problems. The most effective way to do this is by creating a study schedule at the beginning of the year and treating it as an important obligation. This will allow you to develop important planning and time management habits that will make your study process much simpler.

3. Solving Word Problems

Science is a unique subject because it requires both memorization and understanding of facts, as well as the ability to solve numerical word problems. The best approach for mastering Science word problems is to first understand the factual material embedded within the problem - understanding what is given and what is required - then practice by solving approximately 10-15 of these questions slowly and carefully. Check your answers in the textbook as you move from one question to the next and ask for prompt assistance from your tutor or teacher when you get stuck. Moreover, follow the word-problem solving format that your teacher specifies and requests. Many teachers are particular about certain problem-solving formats - this should be noted and adhered to in order to ensure full marks for your written solutions on assignments, quizzes, and tests.

4. Constant Review of Notes and Homework

This ties into time management. You should review your Science material (notes and homework) at least 3-4 times per week. If you abide by a weekly study schedule, your chances of success are much greater. Science is one subject that should absolutely not be crammed into one day of studying because of the sheer amount of theory and myriad concepts that are covered. It is better to let the information sink in slowly. This will allow you to see which specific concepts you are having more difficulty with and adjust your study time accordingly - varying the amount of time you spend studying one concept over another.

5. Effective Studying

Do your best to find a time and place where you can study with mental alertness and without distractions. Set up a reward system in which you tell yourself you will do Science review for an hour and then reward yourself afterwards with a leisurely activity for an hour. Always do your studying (and homework) first before leisurely activities, as there is a smaller chance that your leisure time will encroach on your study time and diminish your study quality. I find the most difficult part of doing work/studying is breaking the inertia and sitting down to start. Once that threshold is crossed, studying and completing homework becomes much easier, which is why the “work-before-reward” system is most effective.

6. Organization

Organization is an essential part of both studying for and practicing Science. If your notes are organized, it is much easier to cross the aforementioned threshold. Nobody wants to take out a binder and then spend twenty minutes to find the required material before you even commence your work. A disorganized binder is both a huge time waster as well as a demotivator! This is also applicable for notes - an organized binder with clear, neat, and organized notes makes the study process much more efficient and less of a chore. Organization is also a key life skill and helps reduce unwanted stress and panic.

7. Self-Testing

Once a significant amount of material is covered both in-class and reviewed by you at home, it is always important to do all of the general review questions from your textbook (at the end of each section and chapter) to see how well you have absorbed all of this information. This process accomplishes three important things:

• General review questions are very similar to test questions as they often highlight the big/main ideas, and will allow you to be more prepared to answer test-style questions. Knowing information is important, but expressing it in writing effectively using correct terminology is equally essential to obtain full marks.
• It will give you a better understanding of which sections you are having difficulty with so that you can revisit and review those problem areas again.
• It serves as extra review and consolidates your understanding of the section or chapter.

8. Read Ahead

If you follow the previous seven steps, you will discover that you have a lot more free time on your hands. Utilize some of this time to read ahead in the course textbook or package, so that when the teacher is covering it in class, you already have a basic understanding of the material. This in turn makes the note-taking process much easier and allows you to dedicate more of your brainpower to listening past these basic concepts for more important and complex details.