Study skills classes may cover topics such as organization, note taking, and memorization; they may also help students prepare for specific standardized tests or improve their understanding of a subject. In public education settings such as high schools or community colleges, classes, workshops, or tutoring sessions may be offered. Alternatively, private tutoring and education businesses offer a variety of workshops and trainings that teach various study skills.
Some study skills classes are available in private settings for students transitioning to new educational environments, such as from elementary to middle school or junior high to high school. Workshops or classes may be used to prepare students who will soon be faced with more difficult coursework in the skills they will need to succeed. Time management, organizational skills, memorization tricks, and note taking are frequently emphasized in the curriculum. The depth of the training is usually determined the length of the class. A single day’s workshop will only touch on a few topics, but weeks or months of study could yield a wealth of information.
Private centers may also provide training in a particular field. Tutoring in math, reading, spelling, and science is sometimes referred to as “study skills classes.” This preparation may be available in public settings such as high schools or junior highs on occasion. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding, many schools may find it difficult to offer these classes, especially during the summer. During the school year, there may be more funds available, and students may be able to enroll in study skills classes as electives to improve their overall academic performance.
While many study skills classes concentrate on general skills or a specific subject, such as math, other training can have a specific goal in mind, such as passing an exam. Students may be interested in courses that prepare them for the Scholastic Aptitude Test® (SAT®), the ACT®, high school exit exams, or diploma equivalency tests like the GED®. Private SAT® and ACT® prep classes are the most common, though some high school teachers run low-cost clinics for their students.
Adult education centers and many community colleges, on the other hand, offer low-cost or no-cost GED® preparation courses. Computer-based or teacher-led instruction may be used in such study skills classes. Because no one enters test preparation with the same skill set, the former is frequently preferred. It can be difficult to design a teacher-led curriculum that meets the needs of a diverse student population.
Community colleges may also provide study skills classes similar to those offered to younger students. These classes could cover topics as basic as organizational skills. They could also provide training to improve competency in a specific academic subject.