For some, schoolwork comes easy. For others, however, assignments and homework prove a difficult chore. Some students may prefer working silently alone; others would much rather work in a group setting with help from a teacher. The reason? When it comes to education, each student actually has one of four different learning styles, according to Advancement Courses. Knowing your learning style can help figure out the best studying techniques and learning approaches, and can lead to excelling in classes. Take the quiz below to find out your learning style.
1. On the first day of class in a new semester, the new teacher walks in, writes the name of the class on the board, and launches into a 45 minute lecture. You:
Groan and proceed to tune out for the whole class period.
Pay attention. This actually sounds interesting.
Take out a notebook and start writing notes to remember the information.
Zone out, except for when the teacher starts telling a story to illustrate the main concept of the lecture.
2. The teacher offers four types of projects for the final grade. You vote for:
A poster with various charts and graphic organizers.
A presentation to the class.
A formal report.
A group project in which you re-enact a situation from the curriculum.
3. Your friend in math class asks you to explain a problem they didn’t understand. You:
Explain a pattern you found that helped you solve a similar problem.
Talk them through the steps you took to solve the problem.
Point them to the passage in your math textbook that explains that type of problem.
Don’t remember how to do it, but take out a pencil and try working through the problem yourself.
4. You need to remember a concept for your next test and don’t have much time to study. How do you review?
Illustrate the concept on a piece of paper with a flowchart.
Make up a song to remember the information.
Write out the information over and over until you memorize it.
Go over the information in your head while you bounce a ball off the ceiling.
Tally up your answers and find your learning style below:
Mostly 1’s - Visual
You learn best when looking at charts, diagrams, and graphic organizers. Illustrating a math problem or doodling in the margins of notes could be a common occurrence. Studying can be done effectively by dividing information into charts. For example, for history, experiment with flowcharts to show off chains of events. When reading a novel in English, try making a chart of characters and their relationships to each other.
Mostly 2’s - Auditory
Hearing the information spoken helps you learn best. Reading out loud or hearing the text narrated may be most helpful for retaining information. For studying, try listening to a video or, as crazy as it sounds, “teaching” the concepts to a group of stuffed animals or a family member.
Mostly 3’s - Read/Write
Taking notes, reading, and writing help you learn the best, and you typically do well on assignments such as written reports, essays, or short stories. To best retain information when studying, re-take notes and write down important information, rather than simply reading over notes.
Mostly 4’s - Kinesthetic
Carrying out physical activities best helps you absorb new information, and hands-on experiences, such as labs or stations, can be the most beneficial for mastery. This learning style can be difficult to cater to in certain situations, but learning aids can be found. For studying, experiment with studying in different locations, such as at a standing desk versus sitting down, or sitting on the floor.
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