Group Studying or Studying Alone

Which Option Is Right for You?

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Studying. One of the many things that brings chaos into a student’s school life. While it is an essential aspect of intellectual and personal growth, many students are unaware of which method is more effective. When beginning to study a certain subject, group studying and studying alone both pertain to several perks and disadvantages that one should take into account in order to have the most beneficial experience.

When trying to figure out what study tactic best works for you, think of bringing several of your friends together to form a study group. Studying in groups has plenty of benefits that can help students raise their overall grades. For one, being around students who take their academic success seriously, can significantly increase one’s motivation. Additionally, students will feed off the hard-working energy of their peers, allowing for a more positive and collective workspace to unfold. Having a study group will also keep students more accountable and can reduce the likelihood of procrastinating or skipping studying altogether. Another great aspect of studying with friends is that students can get a better understanding of a certain topic. Each student can have a different perspective on the subject, and therefore, can discuss more difficult concepts with one another, gaining better knowledge on the material.

A different, but still widely acceptable way of devoting time to school work is by individual studying, which is another great option for those who prefer to work alone. One of the most popular benefits of this strategy is that there are far fewer distractions that could get in the way of studying. Not only this, but individuals who choose to study separately have complete control over their study environment and do not have to alter their schedule depending on what works best for certain classmates like one would when studying in a group. A part of the freedom one has when studying alone, individuals are also given the opportunity to improve their self-discipline skills which can also help in the future.

Despite the benefits of group studying, this study plan may not work for everyone and does have a considerable amount of disadvantages. A main cause that makes group studying not as preferable is the distractions that interrupt students from learning. While getting together with a large group to study sounds like a good idea, it can be harder to get work done with any side conversations that may take place or sudden remarks that stop studying from going any further. Another huge downside to this method is the time commitment that is required from multiple individuals. Organizing plans can be difficult and stressful for students to coordinate which can get in the way of a positive learning experience.

In addition to group studying, studying alone also has negative features that should be considered. A fundamental part of this approach that many students may not think about is the lack of motivation that comes with studying by oneself. After a while, studying alone can get pretty isolating and demotivating without a steady support group. This can lead to less productive study time that causes studying to take extra hours to complete. Although studying without friends seems like the better option at first, it can get repetitive and rather dull after a short period of time.

The decision of whether group studying or studying alone works best is a personal decision and should not be taken lightly. While one method may sound more appealing than the other, it’s crucial to pick the strategy that best fits your needs to get the most out of the studying tactic, to successfully develop and enhance your education.