How Can I Improve My Study Speed?

[theitcrowd]

Hi Everyone,

Okay first post is going to start with some really needed help!

Alright So I am 17 now I just finished my high school and its about a month now that I am into my Mechanical Engineering , I was never smart at school when it comes to books or exams I used to fail sometimes or pass by a few marks. I took a keen interest and made a positive attitude especially to calculus and higher physics knowing it will be necessary for my furthur degree but with the help of a tutor) but I know I am smart when it comes to practical life and I know a lot more that everyone in the field I love a lot (Aviation) so that's what keeps me happy and knowing that I am not a book nerd :) I got through my high school taking Calculus in school (I am told by some American students that our high school calculus is equivalent to the Ist Year Calculus in the US for Engineering)

But entering into my engineering, I am getting quite tensed about how people are quick in response atleast in school there were people like me who were a bit slow in understanding.

I take a while to understand things not like some people for e.g. when the teacher is explaining something I take a while to understand what's going on and I have many doubts I would like to clear first before accepting that it is clear , that's what makes me slow in studying.

In India many of the kids just memorize and by-heart and don't understand what's really happening but I never made that in practice when I was a kid , I always preferred practical knowledge and proper understanding .

Now I see that everyone else is smarter in solving sums in calculus etc. and they don't even need the teacher to explain etc. while I am dumb and can't understand things fast.

Also when the teacher is explaining , it takes me a while to understand what she is doing , how do I procracinate what she is going to do next? (the others already know what she is going to do next :( , which makes me feel dumb)

Also,

How do I memorize faster? How Do I remember graphs and keep in mind long theories , if I study it takes me atleast 5 read throughs to memorize it (but I still will make some mistake , I will never get full marks) how do I do it in one go ? and remember diagrams and graphs etc. when it comes to Physics or Chemistry

This time when I saw my math paper I was totally blanked out , I knew everything and all the formula's the paper was based on Calculus , and people outside the exam hall were asking me formula's and I told them but when it came to exam hall I was blanked out I don't know wheter it was because it was my first exam my heart raced out :( and I forgot everything :( I ended up getting 10/25 with studying for two days while the others who just studied the previous day before the exam get 25/25 :(

In the end WHY AM I SLOW? :(

Thanks Everyone :)

 

[Mentallic]

I guess your mind isn't attuned to that kind of thinking. I can get maths like that, but when it comes to understanding English I just couldn't get it through my head. Also what I found weird was that I was good at Physics (as expected since I'm good at Maths) but I was horrible at Chemistry.

Some things you will understand quickly, and other things you won't.

 

[bogarts21]

Hello, theitcrowd.

One good technique with keeping up with the lesson is studying the material before class. You can do this by reading the lesson before class and review those past lessons that are associated with it. So when the professor makes references to past lessons you won't be lost. Also do a few exercises to really understand the material. Make sure you have a good reference material. I think you'll be able get a copy of the course material in your department.

It isn't really the professors job to give you every minor detail of the course. That's the good thing with college, I think. Because the professors make you deal with your academic life on your own.

Another thing, you do not memorize physics. You understand and analyze.

 

[jeffasinger]

I second what bogarts21 is saying. Many of the people who seem to have an instant understanding of material have already seen it in some many before, either by working just ahead in the textbook (you'll get much more out of lectures if you do this), or having seen the material (or related material) in a different class.

There is a certain level of natural ability to quickly pick things up, but there's no reason you can't take the time you need to learn something before and after the lecture, rather than just after it.

 

[Mentallic]

Many of the people who seem to have an instant understanding of material have already seen it in some many before...
There is a certain level of natural ability to quickly pick things up...

I think you underestimate the advantage naturally gifted students have over the average student - let alone those that struggle.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but you need to accept that it will take a lot of time and effort on your behalf to conquer those limitations you are experiencing. I've known quite a few hard working students that struggled to get through the classwork, but after much diligence, they not only had a firm grip on the past material, but they were also coming to grips with new material much faster as well.

 

[bogarts21]

I think you underestimate the advantage naturally gifted students have over the average student - let alone those that struggle.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but you need to accept that it will take a lot of time and effort on your behalf to conquer those limitations you are experiencing. I've known quite a few hard working students that struggled to get through the classwork, but after much diligence, they not only had a firm grip on the past material, but they were also coming to grips with new material much faster as well.

I agree. But the OP as he had posted is not that much born smart.

Well, if you really have the passion every hard work is worth every second.

 

[General_Sax]

Don't worry. I'm slow too. The only thing that really sucks about it is putting in tons of effort -- like 5x the time as others put in -- only to get average or slightly above average marks (B- => B+).

 

[theitcrowd]

Don't worry. I'm slow too. The only thing that really sucks about it is putting in tons of effort -- like 5x the time as others put in -- only to get average or slightly above average marks (B- => B+).

Exactly ,

Well I put a lot of effort I get just average but I used not really care because I ENJOY the subject rather than worrying what marks am I getting and what other people are going to say. Everyone here just studys to top the class and half of the people do Engineering here for money or because their neighbours are engineers and they will be looked down upon by others if they arent engineers :/

Well I enjoy studying the subject so I guess I shouldn't worry but I need to put in more effort and not party/enjoy life for the rest of four years ! I think I can handle that I have been doing it all my life :)

 

[QuarkCharmer]

Like what was said above, I am fantastic at mathematics, chemistry, physics et al. I enjoy the time I spend studying these subjects, which I think has a lot to do with it.

I can study literature, english, foreign-languages for days on end, and still not grasp the key concepts as well as other students. I suppose it's because I really have no interest in the subjects at all. I get criticised that my papers are too "scientific", and I find it very hard to write opinion papers on anything!

What I find helps is connecting the subject you are studying with your end goal. "This english (or whatever) practice will help me later in my career to write better research papers.."