It is important for an individual to be able to find the appropriate combination of methods and techniques that suit the specific situation for which the individual is studying. A study system attempts to accomplish this goal by combining certain study methods with certain study techniques that make the method more effective and ultimately make it so the individual is more likely to succeed. It is important to realize, however, that it can sometimes be difficult for an individual to identify which study system will be most effective for that particular individual. Fortunately, even though some trial and error is usually necessary for an individual to find the system that best suits the individual, there are certain considerations that an individual may want to keep in mind while attempting to choose the best study system for his or her particular situation.
First, the individual should attempt to determine whether he or she is a visual, tactile, or auditory learner. This can be important because the individual should find a study system that suits the style of learning that he or she finds most effective. For example, an individual that is a visual learner might want to try using a study system that focuses on flashcards or other visual aids as this will allow the individual to take full advantage of his or her visual skills. On the other hand, an auditory learner might want to try using a study system that focuses around using a study group or around reciting material aloud as this will allow the individual to study using his or her auditory skills. Secondly, the individual should consider the type of exam for which he or she is preparing. If the individual is preparing for a class-specific exam, the individual may want to focus on study systems that rely heavily on studying from notes or textbooks while an individual studying for a standardized exam may want to focus on study systems that rely heavily on practice exams, flashcards, or other materials that help the individual recognize the specific topics that the exam covers. Finally, an individual may want to consider the specific subject that he or she is attempting to study. Certain systems work better with certain subjects, as some subjects are easier to understand by practicing instead of simply memorizing. For example, an individual studying for a standardized math exam may find that answering the questions on a practice test is more useful than attempting to read several chapters in his or her math textbook.