Study Mastery
(download the free Study Mastery E-workbook here)
Stillpoint Psychology offers study mastery session that instruct students in the most powerful study techniques. Mastering basic habits of study can significantly improve a student’s effectiveness both in revision and test performance.
Sessions involve a basic assessment of the student’s current level of functioning and psychological health, followed by a skills based intervention aimed at the main concerns identified. After the initial consultation, agreed upon goals of treatment are formulated and a provisional time-table of sessions is determined.
The main reasons that students are unable to express their full potential in their studies are:
Fatigue: students are unable to maintain the level of study over a long period of time, resulting in a drop in performance at the end of term or semester.
Test Anxiety: students feel overwhelmed during time-limited assessments and consequently cannot focus, or recall effectively.
Disorganisation: students do not manage their time effectively and miss deadlines and do not plan adequately for revision. Students do not develop an effective routine.
Distraction: students do not focus sufficiently on their studies and allow external problems and concerns to deplete their efforts.
Motivation: students are unclear why they are devoting time to their studies, and consequently are unable to step-up their efforts when required.
Stress management: students experience burnout when they are unable to identify their stress level and take steps to lower it.
Confidence: students under or overestimate their ability and therefore misapply their efforts in accord with their self-belief. Students who under or over estimate their ability tend to study less when challenged.
All these factors are amenable to psychological intervention and a small improvement can yield a major benefit, particularly when students are faced with intense competition. Furthermore, even a small improvement in an area has an iterative effect improving other areas of study.
To ascertain whether you may reasonably benefit from study mastery sessions, you can answer the following questions:
1. I am generally pleased with the amount of effort I put into my studies? Y/N
2. During tests I feel no more than mild nervousness? Y/N
3. I generally feel I allocate my time effectively over the whole semester? Y/N
4. I feel motivated by my studies because I see the value in what I am doing? Y/N
5. My study routine means I always have time for recreation as well as study? Y/N
6. I do not allow external concerns to distract me from the study I have to do? Y/N
7. I am generally not surprised by the grades that I get? Y/N
8. I know how to reduce distractions in my life when I know I have to study more? Y/N
9. I know how to study consistently by having breaks and rewards after study? Y/N
If you answered with mainly ‘Ns’ rather than ‘Ys’, you would reasonably benefit from a study mastery intervention. However, the level of benefit would be dependent on the willingness to implement the suggested strategies. Mastering one’s ability to learn is the product of practicing and perfecting certain simple habits. Nevertheless, by being instructed in the basics, these disciplines can become part of one’s own repertoire. Generally, when placed under stress we revert back to habitual ways of behaving, this means that when we are faced with a problem we are more likely to do what we have always done, rather than try something new. Put another way, falling into deep water is not the ideal time to learn to swim. Without knowledge of the right strokes we are likely to panic, flail our limbs and drown. With guidance by a skilled professional, improvements can be made that would otherwise have been impossible.
For families that have invested heavily in their child's education it can place significant strain on the relationship. The children often feel the pressure to excel, and feel guilty when they cannot. Parents feel they have made sacrifices and therefore expect their child to make similar sacrifices. The resulting pressure on students can mean that they become overwhelmed and their results are affected. Will-power is a limited resource, and learning how to use it efficiently can mean the difference between success and dissapoinment. Students may need to rely on more than natural ability and educational opportunity when it comes to competing for limited tertiary places. Mastering the fundamentals of study can give students the critical edge to maximise their results.