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Academic Skills

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Academic Skills

  • Welcome
    • Information for Faculty
    • Information for Graduate Students
    • Tutor Board
  • Appointments
  • How To Guides
    • How to Learn Online
    • How to Study
      • Read Critically and Efficiently
      • Lectures, Listening & Notetaking
      • Notetaking Templates
      • Prepare for and Write Exams
      • Transition to University
      • New Term. New Habits.
    • How to Manage Your Time
    • How to Write in University
    • How to Succeed in Math and Science
    • How to Use Sources
    • How to Edit Your Writing
    • How Do I Protect My Academic Integrity?
    • Academic Skills Online Resources Index
  • Documentation Guide
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TRENTU.CA / Academic Skills / How To Guides / How to Study

How to Study

Notetaking, Critical Reading, and Exam Preparation

Academic success is closely related to effective study skills. You already have a strong foundation of skills, but we can support your efforts to refine them to meet the challenge of learning at university. 

This guide offers instruction on active listening in lecture, critical reading, good notetaking, regular review, and thoughtful exam preparation. These skills and strategies are relevant across disciplines and at all levels of education.

For students who are new to university, we offer a brief guide on the transition to university.

Academic Integrity

  • Academic Integrity and Online Learning

Reading Strategies

  • Read Critically and Efficiently
    • Reading Empirical or Scientific Articles
    • Reading Argumentative Articles (Humanities or Social Sciences)
    • Reading the Textbook

Listening and Notetaking Strategies

  • Lectures, Listening, and Notetaking
  • Notetaking templates

Exam Preparation and Writing

  • Prepare for and Write Exams
    • Writing Multiple Choice Exams
    • Writing the Bell-Ringer Exam
    • How to Understand and Answer Free Response or Essay Exam Questions
    • Studying for Essay Exams
    • Preparing for the Online, Open-Book Exam
    • Preparing for and Writing the Take-Home Exam

Transition to University

  • Survive and Thrive: Your First Term at University

How To Guides

  • How to Learn Online
  • How to Study
    • Read Critically and Efficiently
    • Lectures, Listening & Notetaking
    • Notetaking Templates
    • Prepare for and Write Exams
    • Transition to University
    • New Term. New Habits.
  • How to Manage Your Time
  • How to Write in University
  • How to Succeed in Math and Science
  • How to Use Sources
  • How to Edit Your Writing
  • How Do I Protect My Academic Integrity?
  • Academic Skills Online Resources Index
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