BlogSTUDYING HARD OR STUDYING SMART: WHICH WORKS BEST?
STUDYING HARD OR STUDYING SMART: WHICH WORKS BEST?
2025-09-13
For decades, human beings have believed that hours of studying is the most effective way of learning and memorizing. Yet nowadays, students have devised other, effective means of studying such as flashcards, summaries, and mind maps. This raises the question of whether either technique is indeed more effective—hours of studying or effective studying.
Having a sit-down for long periods with books allows for a better understanding of subjects and ample time to acquire some subjects, a requirement for hard subjects like science and computer studies. It might also be helpful during last-minute cramming before exams, when focus and attention are most crucial. The disadvantage is that long periods tend to be mentally exhausting and can work fast against motivation.
On the other hand, strategic approaches save time and improve recall. The saying "work smarter, not harder" is especially relevant here—the methods of flashcards, notes, and interactive material make learning more engaging and facilitate recall. While this approach may not necessarily create the deepest level of understanding, it gets students ready to handle a huge amount of questions efficiently, without going through the fatigue brought about by incessant cramming.
This is also backed up by research. Nate Kornell’s 2009 study, Optimizing Learning Using Flashcards: Spacing Is More Effective Than Cramming, found that students who spaced their study sessions remembered material better than those who crammed. That means that structured smart methods can often outperform simply studying a lot of hours.
Overall, both approaches have their advantages, but data does suggest that smart study techniques are more effective and sustainable. In the end, though, that would be a matter for each student's unique learning style, but combining commitment with strategy seems to be the best solution.
References
Kornell, Nate. “Optimizing Learning Using Flashcards: Spacing Is More Effective Than Cramming.” Applied Cognitive Psychology, vol. 23, no. 9, 2009, pp. 1297–1317. https://web.williams.edu/Psychology/Faculty/Kornell/Publications/Kornell.2009b.pdf.
