Some people find it helpful to use specific study systems in their academic career. One of these study systems has the interesting title and acronym of ‘MURDER’. Another good study system is the Index Study System.

MURDER stands for the words mood, understand, recall, digest, expand and review which all represent steps for good studying.

Select the right mood or environment to study.

Mark what you don’t understand and recall the information that you do.

Go back and look over the information not understood in an effort to digest it.

If you don’t understand, even after using separate sources, begin to ask questions in an effort to understand.

Review the material that you do understand and use the strategies that helped you to learn this material to understand new material.

The Index Study System suggests that you write down questions or words you do not know on index cards. Write the question on one side and the answer on the other. Keep the cards out of order and then try to answer the question on the first card. Sometimes it is a good idea to speak out loud, and to have a friend help you. It is a good idea to carry your cards with you, so you can review them in moments of waiting. Remember that even if you can think of an answer, but cannot explain that answer, you should go back and review that section.