Learn Smarter, Not Harder The PQRST Study, Study notes of English Language

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LEARN SMARTER,

NOT HARDER:

PQRST STUDY METHOD

EXPLAINED

The PQRST method, originally a study strategy, is a structured approach to help students understand and retain complex material. By enhancing engagement with the content at different stages, it facilitates deeper comprehension and long-term retention. Let’s walk through the PQRST method step by step, explaining each phase with examples.

1. Preview The first stage involves getting an overview of the material before diving into the details. This includes skimming through headings, subheadings, diagrams, and key terms to get a sense of the main topics and ideas. Example: You're about to study a chapter titled “Globalisation and the Indian Economy” in Social Science. You skim the headings: "What is Globalisation?", "Liberalisation", "Role of MNCs", "Impact on Farmers." You note bold words like: “outsourcing,” “liberalisation,” “WTO.” You look at charts showing trade data and photos of factories. 👉 Why? This gives you an idea of what you’ll learn and helps your brain prepare. The goal here is not to memorize but to build a mental map of the content and identify what might be important or challenging. You wouldn’t focus on details yet, but you would get a general idea of what you’re about to study. 2. Question After getting a sense of the material, you formulate questions. This helps to focus your reading and primes (prepares or readies) your brain for actively engaging with the text. The questions should be based on what you expect to learn or what seems important from the preview. Example: After previewing the globalization chapter, you ask yourself: What is globalisation? Why do companies move to other countries? How has globalisation affected farmers? 👉 Why? Asking questions turns you from a passive reader to an active learner. You’re now reading to find answers.

Example: "Globalisation connects countries through trade, tech, and ideas. It benefits some businesses and workers but also creates challenges for local producers." 👉 Why? If you can explain it simply, you truly understand it. 4(ii). Self-recite Self-recitation involves testing your memory by trying to recall the information without looking at your notes. This phase reinforces the material and improves long-term retention by forcing your brain to actively retrieve the knowledge. Example: Try saying aloud: “Globalisation means…” Write down the main points from memory. Try drawing a mind map or listing 3 pros and cons of globalisation. 👉 Why? Self-reciting trains your brain for exams—when your books aren’t with you. By doing this, you are strengthening your ability to recall the information in an exam setting.

5. Test The final step in the PQRST method is Test, which involves assessing your understanding of the material. This step is crucial for reinforcing what you’ve learned and identifying any gaps in your knowledge. Testing yourself helps in retrieving information from memory, making it more likely that you'll remember it in the long term. There are different ways to implement this "Test" stage: Self-quizzing, Practice problems, Flashcards, Mock exams Example: Solve textbook exercises. Use flashcards: “What is liberalisation?” / “What is the WTO?” Ask a friend to quiz you. Try writing a short answer: “How does globalisation affect consumers?”

👉 Why? Testing helps you find what you know—and what you don’t— before the exam does. Why Testing Matters Testing is often overlooked, but it’s a powerful tool in the learning process. It helps you: Solidify knowledge, identify weak areas, Reduce exam anxiety Final Thoughts The PQRST method, is a powerful way to engage with complex subjects like. By following each step—previewing the material, asking questions, reading actively, reviewing key points, summarizing, self-reciting, and testing yourself—you ensure a deeper understanding and better retention of the content. This method is particularly useful for students, where understanding key principles and their application is critical. By using PQRST effectively, you can improve both your comprehension and your ability to apply concepts in exams or real-life scenarios.

Want to strengthen your reading foundation before

applying the PQRST Method?

👉 Check out our guide named ‘Mastering Reading

Skills: Skimming, Scanning, Intensive & Extensive

Reading’ to boost your comprehension and reading

speed!

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