When is the best time to study?

Sometimes, your brain is more active than at other times. For example, some people work better in the morning, whereas other people have a better focus in the evening. Taking advantage of these moments means that you can optimize your study time. Using this approach when preparing for standardized tests like the GRE, GMAT, and others will help you achieve the best results. In addition, several studies have shown that the best moments to study are early in the morning and in the evening just before going to sleep. This article will outline how you can use this time to study the most effectively.

Early study sessions

When your alarm goes off in the morning, your body is still relaxed and ready to start the day (even if it does not always feel like this). Try to get yourself out of bed immediately and don’t snooze. It happens to all of us, but scientists tell us snoozing might throw off our energy levels for the rest of the day. This should be a valid reason to get out of bed after hearing your first alarm! Take the time to wake up your body by taking a (cold) short shower or do something else that wakes you, such as a quick work-out or drinking a cup of coffee. After this, avoid all things that distract you from studying. Grab your Stuvia summaries, books, some draft paper and start studying. This routine works way better in the early morning than in the middle of the day. You will have more focus because your brain just got hours of rest.

Late-night study sessions

When you study before going to sleep, your brain will process the information while sleeping. The main reason your brain does this is that it is most probably the last information you received on that day. Do you usually go to bed at 11 PM? Then start studying at 21:00. For instance, repeat your Stuvia summary a couple of times and read it out loud.

Keep in mind that the result of late-night study sessions will be less effective when you have already studied all day long. Your concentration will be less, and you really need that full concentration in order to remember all the information. Tip: study smarter, not harder! Find out yourself what works for you, list the benefits of the day studying and night studying and decide. But remember to always start on time, because repeating the information is the key to getting good grades!