Targeted vs. Comprehensive Studying Forum

[ehall20]

I'm curious to see how others approach this. Let's say you have a 6 hour block of time devoted to studying. Do you typically divide that time between different sections (2 hours LR, 2 hours games, etc.) or do you devote the entire block to one section? Also, this is obviously at the phase of studying prior to taking full, timed PT's.

I know different methods work for different people, I'm just trying to get a feel for what's worked for others in the past.

[shifty_eyed]

I couldn't spend 6 hours studying just one section. I don't like trying to do all 3 sections either. So if I HAD to study for six hours straight, I'd probably do two sections.

[bp shinners]

First, I'd take 2 of those hours and do something else. Never set aside more than 4 hours to study - it's highly inefficient. Also, take at least a 15 minute break in there somewhere.

Second, I wouldn't spend 4 straight hours on one section. At most, I'd spend 3 on a single section, with the other hour being spent somewhere else. You need to vary your studying not only overall, but within individual sessions, if you want your brain to learn the material well.

[Micdiddy]

I agree that I would definitely take 2 of those hours and spend them somewhere else (unless of course it is the weekend and you couldn't get any studying done over the week, in which case I may study for 6 hours but take lots of breaks so it'll more likely span 7-8 hours).

Anyway, on what I will focus on it all depends. If I have ample drill material and prepped well for studying, like 300 LR questions in front of me with bubble sheets/ a highlighter and notepad, I could easily do just that for 4 hours. If I am just flipping through my books and reading (or re-reading) sections without a pre-set plan, I will definitely put one down after awhile and pick up another.

I don't think any way is necessarily better than the other.

[Br3v]

Yeah I study 3 or 4 hrs at a time usually. Sometimes on and off all day though and sometimes just an hour or 2 where I have a busy day.

A mix between targeted and comprehensive