How to Study
Most people study wrong — re-reading notes, highlighting textbooks, cramming the night before. None of that works. Here are the five research-backed techniques that do, and exactly how to apply each one to the UA 246 test.
Technique 1 of 5
Test yourself — don't re-read
Close your notes and try to retrieve the information from memory. Write it down, say it out loud, or quiz yourself with flashcards. If you can't recall it, that struggle is where learning actually happens.
Research: Karpicke & Blunt (2011, Science) found that students who practiced retrieval retained 50% more material than those who re-read or created concept maps. The "testing effect" is one of the most replicated findings in cognitive psychology.
Technique 2 of 5
Spread study over days, not hours
Instead of cramming everything into one long session, spread your studying across multiple days. Review material at increasing intervals — 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days. Each time you revisit, the memory gets stronger.
Research: Cepeda et al. (2006, Psychological Bulletin) analyzed 254 studies and found that spacing study sessions across time consistently outperformed massed practice (cramming) — often by 10–30% on delayed tests.
Technique 3 of 5
Mix problem types — don't block practice
Instead of doing 20 geometry problems, then 20 fraction problems, then 20 percentage problems, mix them all together. It feels harder in the moment — that's the point. Your brain has to identify which approach to use, not just execute a formula on autopilot.
Research: Rohrer & Taylor (2007, Instructional Science) showed that interleaved practice improved test scores by 43% compared to blocked practice on math problems. The benefit comes from forcing discrimination between problem types.
Technique 4 of 5
Focus on your weakest areas
Don't spend equal time on everything. Identify the specific question types or concepts where you struggle most, and concentrate your effort there. Practicing what you're already good at feels productive but doesn't move the needle.
Research: Ericsson, Krampe & Tesch-Römer (1993, Psychological Review) — the original deliberate practice research — showed that expert performers systematically work on weaknesses, not strengths. Applied to test prep: your diagnostic score tells you exactly where to focus.
Technique 5 of 5
Eliminate distractions — 25-minute focused blocks
Put your phone in another room. Close social media. Set a timer for 25 minutes and do nothing but study. When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute break. Repeat. This is the Pomodoro Technique, backed by Cal Newport's deep work framework.
Research: Newport (2016, Deep Work) synthesized research showing that focused, uninterrupted work produces dramatically better outcomes than fragmented attention. Mark, Gonzalez & Harris (2005, CHI) found it takes an average of 23 minutes to fully refocus after a distraction.
Here's a sample week that puts all five techniques into practice. Adjust the focus areas based on your diagnostic results — spend more time where you're weakest.
| Day | Time | Focus | Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 45 min | Math — weakest question types | Deliberate Practice + Active Recall |
| Tuesday | 45 min | Reading Comprehension — passage practice | Active Recall + Deep Work |
| Wednesday | 45 min | Math + Mechanical — mixed problems | Interleaving |
| Thursday | 45 min | Figure Visualization practice | Deliberate Practice |
| Friday | 60 min | Full mixed practice test (timed) | Interleaving + Active Recall |
| Saturday | 45 min | Review missed questions from the week | Spaced Repetition |
| Sunday | — | Rest. Your brain consolidates during downtime. | Recovery |
Total: ~5 hours/week. That's less than one hour per day. Consistency beats volume. Six weeks of focused practice will prepare you better than two weeks of cramming. Trust the process.
These are the most popular study habits — and research consistently shows they produce the weakest results.
Avoid
Feels productive, but you're recognizing words, not learning content. Recognition is not the same as recall — and the test requires recall.
Avoid
Passive highlighting gives a false sense of engagement. Unless you're actively deciding what to flag (like our memory technique), it's just coloring.
Avoid
Cramming can work for a quiz tomorrow but fails for a 4-hour test that covers four different domains. Spaced study is 2–3x more effective on delayed tests.
The best study technique is the one you actually use. Start with a diagnostic to find your weakest section, then apply these techniques where they'll make the biggest difference.