Here’s a relatable scenario for most Engineering students— you pull off an all-nighter, refer to various notes, and solve several numerical. And yet, the outcome isn’t satisfactory.

So, have you ever wondered where things are going wrong?

Exam day anxiety can be one factor for some students. But most of you might be unfazed by this feeling. The periodic exams in the Engineering tenure can make you feel all too familiar with exam-related stress.

So, the main reason for underperforming is improper study methods. In today’s era, you need to study ‘smart,’ rather than ‘hard.’

How to do that?

Here are some valuable strategies that you can follow:

1. Leverage the variety

Engineering is a course that has several subjects allotted to each semester. Some of you might feel the curriculum is overloaded, but it isn’t.

Undergraduate Engineering education needs to lay a strong foundation.

Hence, it is crucial to study subjects that may not intrigue you. And as a student, you should use this subject variety to study smart.

Why?

Focusing only on one subject throughout the day can lead to an overload of similar information. This leads to slower comprehension and little retention.

Hence, you should add variety to your self-study routine. Aim to study two or more subjects on a single day during the regular curriculum. Consequently, you will learn faster and will be able to eliminate the stress.

2. Practice periodic revision

As an Engineering student, cramming technical information is the last thing you should do. A study on spacing effects has shown that revising on multiple occasions can help with retaining information better.

So, keep revising topics and formulas that you studied, at regular intervals. These intervals can be customized for your comfort initially, but increase the gap gradually.

At the same time, you can use the following memorization techniques to revise concepts regularly:

• Chaining method
• Reading important concepts out loud
• Highlighting formulae using different colors
• Using mnemonics

3. Analyze your study style quickly

You must be wondering how to differentiate hard work from smart work?

In the former, you spend more time and gain a specific output. In the latter, you devise a unique, time-saving strategy that increases the possibility of better results.

You must follow the latter to stay fresh and learn practical skills in Engineering. Hence, knowing yourself is a crucial step in this journey.

Here’s what you need to analyze to establish your study approach:

• Comfort: Individual or group
• Practice: Reading or writing
• Source: Books or internet
• Strength: Theory or numerical

Consequently, you can decide on your tailor-made approach for your Engineering syllabus. For instance, you can eliminate studying in groups, use online test series for preparation, and concentrate on a weak point.

All in all, everyone has distinct learning styles. So, as an Engineering student, you should identify the best study style that makes you feel comfortable.

4. Do not multitask

Smartphones, TV, music, cricket scores, and PC games are all things that can distract your attention and delay your study plans.

So, be sure to stop multitasking. Here are some tips to stay focused on your academics:

• Switch offyour smartphone
• Don’t use the internet on your PC or laptop
• Close additional browser windows
• Define a strict schedule

This will help you understand concepts faster and by doing so, you’ll save enough time to enjoy it later.

5. Use the power of visualization

Engineering is a practical course. You need to apply theoretical concepts to solve real-world problems. Therefore, visualization is the key to studying smart in Engineering.

The internet has given loads of opportunities for anyone to explore the working of machines and software. You must hence watch videos to understand the theory of a complex topic.

Additionally, intuitive online courses can offer access to different interactive features which too will help you study efficiently.

Finally, practicing diagrams, visiting the department lab, and googling images can help boost your understanding. This is important as humans process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. So, using visuals and graphics is a great strategy to study Engineering the smart way.

6. Write down with a pen

These days, technology can help save much information through a simple ‘copy’ option. So, is this ‘smart’ work?

In one way, yes. Still, this habit can prove detrimental when studying in-depth.

Students who note or write on a paper, process information better and understand the nuances of a subject efficiently.So, try to study for GATE, in-semester, and other competitive exams by writing intricate concepts.

Additionally, solving previous year’s question papers, theorems, and mock tests are general habits that you should follow.

7. Take frequent study breaks

It can be tempting to sit eight straight hours before the final semester examination. You might prefer the momentum. Yet, this habit doesn’t count as ‘smart’ study.

Taking regular breaks in between helps boost productivity. Be it academics or work,breaks have several benefits:

• Reduces stress
• Improves focus
• Makes room for leisure and fun
• Helps build a positive outlook

So, what should your ‘microbreaks’ look like?

First, they should not include any digital devices. Try and refrain from scrolling down the Instagram page or checking your Twitter feed during these breaks for electronic gadgets don’t help relaxone’s mind.

Your study breaks should instead involve music, looking at trees, or going for short walks.

Lastly, in terms of the frequency,try taking a break of ten minutes after every hour. This gap is subjective, but you shouldn’t stay sitting for over an hour for any activity.

8. Roleplay as a lecturer

How would you study a topic if you were to deliver a lecture on it?

Asking yourself this simple question can change your outlook on yourEngineering studies.

So, imagine yourself in the role of a lecturer. This will help since teaching a concept to someone helps you understand it better. Additionally, you might even try explaining topics to a friend or a classmate. This way, you will pay more attention to the minute details of the topic at hand.

Notably, you will also discover how talking the content out loudly can improve your performance in exams. Also, you will be able to perceive the topic on a root level, which is vital for engineers.

9. Balance your Studies

Studying smart is not just related to the actual academic work. You need to pay equal attention to your body and mind.

Here are some crucial aspects that Engineering students like you must consider in your strategy:

• Adequate sleep
• Regular exercise
• Nutritious diet
• Recreation
• Mental wellbeing

You might be confused about choosing a career option after your bachelor’s course or you might be experiencing burnout from the hectic Engineering schedule.Irrespective of the challenge, you should never overlook your health. Sleeping for over seven hours at night, routine workout, movies, music, sports, and eating a well-balanced diet is crucial.

10. Set realistic and achievable goals

To do well, it is also important that you don’t feel intimidated by yourbatch mates. Every student has different skill sets, so you must only focus on your growth and development and strive to do better always.

Remember, your competition must be only with yourself. Analyze your capacity and set viable targets. This will reduce unnecessary stress on your mind.

Consequently, you will be able to study and grasp the technical concepts effectively and will stay more optimistic.

To wrap up

Smart study in Engineering is not about hi-tech gadgets or studying a lot. Instead, it is about focusing on variation, revision, and visualization.Additionally, you should stop multitasking and delve deep into understanding a concept. Assessing your study style is vital to improving your chances of engineering success.

Finally, pay equal attention to your health, take regular breaks, and keep your mind fresh during your college tenure.

These strategies will improve your chances of learning and scoring better in exams and be disciplined.