Studying with a Buddy: Yay or Nay?
Studying for a licensure exam can be an exhausting process, especially if you are doing it alone. Without a teammate, it can be tough to navigate the ups and downs of practice test scores, understanding content, feeling overwhelmed, and other typical studying struggles.
Utilizing an AATBS exam coach can point you in the right direction and support you while studying. It's also beneficial to consider a study partner as well. A coach will guide and oversee your progress, while a partner will study with you in-depth.
Consider the following reasons why it is beneficial to study with a buddy.
Accountability
When studying alone, it’s easier to skip out on study sessions. You can tell yourself “I’ll get to that later” or “I’ll skip that content because I already know it.”
When you have a study partner, however, someone else is affected when you skip a study session. A buddy can motivate you to push through that last hour or to practice the concepts that you aren’t quite grasping as well as rehearse and share the concepts you do understand.
They can also hold you accountable to taking breaks. When studying alone, it can be difficult to justify when you’ve studied enough to take a time out. A partner can solidify the fact that you both need a break.
Support
A study partner is going through the same process as you at the same time. Where an exam coach has already been there and can share objective pointers from that standpoint, a study partner is “in the trenches” with you.
A buddy will understand how you are feeling when you’re overwhelmed and tired of studying. They can be supportive of you when it’s time to take breaks because it is likely that they will also need one. On the other hand, a partner can support you and study with you on the occasion that you should sacrifice an outing with friends for your scheduled study session.
Added Knowledge
There are likely some concepts that you understand more than others. It is also likely that there are concepts you struggle with. A partner can shed light on a difficult concept and help you see things in a different way, and vice versa.
With a study buddy, both partners can facilitate learning by giving perspective on the concepts the other might not understand. Ultimately, two perspectives are better than one.
All in all, the benefits of a study partner are undeniable. But, it is only beneficial if you have a study partner who is right for you. Therefore, it might be a good idea to interview a potential partner before you dive in. Look for the following qualities:
- Reliable
Will they get their end of the studying done on time and will they show up to study sessions?
- Positive
Will they be encouraging and supportive? The study process is already difficult, the last thing you need is someone with a negative mindset.
- Similar learning style
Do they learn in the same ways as you do? If you are a visual learner, for example, partnering with someone of the same learning style will allow you better understand how to help each other.
- Similar vision
Are their study session goals the same as yours? If you have a set exam date, be cautious of partnering with someone who is taking the exam “whenever,” as this will affect your study timeline and general goals of study sessions.
- Open-minded
Although having a partner with a similar learning style and study vision is beneficial, you also want a partner who will be flexible enough to try things in a new way if necessary.
Ultimately, a study partner is beneficial if you find the right fit. And finding a good study partner goes both ways. You should possess the above qualities of a good study partner to reap the benefits.
Not sure where to look to find a study partner? Connect with your peers in our Facebook Study Groups! Our study groups are monitored by our coaches and provides a supportive place to discuss the exam. Find your licensure-specific study group below and click to join today!
