The subjects that you’re studying are very difficult, but it’s remarkably easy to get lulled into a false sense of control and understanding. Your professors might be great lecturers; their subjects might make so much sense as they discuss them. Your textbooks might be clear and well organized; the subject matter might seem easy as you go through the readings. Be careful, however. “That makes sense,” and “I understand this completely” are worlds apart. The tests in university are demanding, and they’re designed to show real mastery.
Here are some tips to help you determine whether you really understand the subject matter, or if you need to get extra help.
Now is the time to be rigorous in your learning. Don’t expect the material to suddenly fall into place. Don’t assume (or hope) that you understand it well enough. Certainly don’t expect for it all to come together on the test or exam. If you’re not absolutely sure that you understand class material, then get extra help immediately. Ask classmates, TAs, professors, or the experienced tutors at Prep101.
Here are some tips to help you determine whether you really understand the subject matter, or if you need to get extra help.
- Write it out in your own words. Take all the important concepts that you need to understand and master, and write notes about them in your own words and sentence structure. If you find that you’re quoting your professor or textbook, that you can’t think of another way to express an idea, then treat this as a red flag. You might not understand the material as well as you think you do, and you should ask for help.
- Explain it to someone else. As you study, explain the material to another person. You can phone a friend or family member, or you can organize a study session in which you explain the material to a classmate. Make sure that you can explain it as well as a professor, both in words and in writing (think blackboard). If you struggle, then you need to go back over the material again.
- Link the subject matter to other ideas. The ideas in a class are all linked and interconnected. Draw out the links from one idea to the next, and explain them. Write them out on paper, connect them with arrows, and write notes in the margins to explain the connections. If you don’t really understand how some of the ideas relate to other concepts you’ve discussed in class, then get extra help immediately.
Now is the time to be rigorous in your learning. Don’t expect the material to suddenly fall into place. Don’t assume (or hope) that you understand it well enough. Certainly don’t expect for it all to come together on the test or exam. If you’re not absolutely sure that you understand class material, then get extra help immediately. Ask classmates, TAs, professors, or the experienced tutors at Prep101.