Make the most of your study group session!

By: Cat

Do you find it motivating to study in a group, but then easily get distracted?  You prefer learning with someone else, but can’t seem to focus on studying.  Studying as a group is one of the most efficient ways to acquire and review knowledge. However, being 100% focused during the group session might be hard since there are more people involved. It is hard, but it is not impossible. This blog will give tips to help you stay focused in a study group. 

1. Set Clear Goals

It’s always good to start off the group study session by setting goals. Once everyone knows the goal, your group can allocate the time for that group session accordingly. The goal for that can be practicing a group presentation, reviewing for upcoming exams, tutoring other group mates, etc. Then, based on the goals that have been set, your group can come up with the agenda for that day, asking questions like, ”Are there any study items we need to cover?” and ”Are there any priorities we should look at first?” This will help your group not get lost and make the most use of group study.  

2. Select the right study environment

If you don’t usually pay attention to the environment you choose for group studying, don’t worry—you're not alone. However, choosing the right spot will play a vital role in the efficiency of the group session. Select a quiet and comfortable place with minimal distractions. Ensure you have all necessary materials, such as textbooks, notes, and laptops (Focus on Studying for Exams: Tips and Techniques, 2024)​. You can also book a group study room at your home campus. Check this link out for more details.  

3. Stay on Topic

It’s easy to get off-topic in a group study session, especially when you’re studying with close friends. Therefore, try to stick to the goal and agenda that you’ve already set for the group session. And later, you can pause for a 15-minute break to talk about off-topic things.  

4. Minimize Distractions

Even when studying at a silent spot, there’s still the chance you or your group mates will get distracted by your devices/phones. It’s important to keep your phones on silent or in a separate place to avoid interruptions. You may also find it helpful to use apps or tools that limit distractions, such as focus timers or website blockers​ (Focus on Studying for Exams: Tips and Techniques, 2024)​.

5. Limit Study Group Size

The phrase, “The more, the merrier,” is good, but may not apply for group study. It’s important to optimize the group size, ideally between 3 to 5 people, to facilitate better focus and interaction. 

6. Encourage Discussion

Remaining silient during the group sesson for everyone to focus is great, but having a few topic-related discussions while studying together is necessary as well. It can help draw our attention, feel more energetic, and as a result, your group can be more focused on what you’re studying.  

7. Review and Reflect

At the end of each session, it might be helpful for your group to summarize key points, what was covered during the session, and what you haven’t had a chance to touch on. Then, everyone will know where you leave off from the previous session and where to continue next time. Provide and seek feedback on the effectiveness of the study session and areas for improvement. 

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