How To Learn Faster: 5 Proven Speed Learning Techniques

There’s a lot to learn in college, and that means that there’s a lot of studying to be done as well.

However, sometimes there’s just not enough time in the day to get it all done.

The good news is, if you’re struggling to find enough time to study, there are ways to maximize your efficiency and get it done faster.

Some people refer to this as “speed learning”, and others simply think of it as helpful study hacks.

But regardless of how you want to look at it, the tips I’m about to share can help you increase your productivity while studying and could lead to shorter study sessions.

Let’s get started by talking about a few commonly asked questions regarding this topic.

Does Speed Learning Exist?

First of all, many people want to know if speed learning really exists. And furthermore, if it’s actually possible or just an unproven concept.

The answer is that it does exist! Much like speed reading, which is a very similar idea, speed learning is a skill that you can form over time.

But it’s important to note that speed learning is only effective until a certain point because there is a limit to how fast humans can take in and retain information.

Are There Some People Who Learn Faster Than Others?

For as long as anyone can remember, the term “fast learner” has been given to students who tend to pick up on new information quickly.

And in contrast, people who don’t learn as fast are labeled “slow learners”.

Except the term “slow learner” is often seen as an insult to the person’s intelligence.

But according to this article by Harvard, although there are some people who learn faster than others, this trait has nothing to do with ability or intelligence.

People simply learn at different speeds, due to a lot of different variables.

There is no link between learning speed and academic performance.

How To Learn Faster

You can learn faster by implementing the following speed learning techniques. We’ll discuss each in detail in this article.

Plan Shorter Study Sessions
Practice Self-testing
Take Notes By Hand
Identify How You Study Best
Learn To Speed-Read And Listen Faster

5 Speed Learning Techniques

Regardless of your current learning speed, the following tips could help you learn faster.

1. Plan Shorter Study Sessions

There’s this misconception that the longer you study, the more information you’ll pick up. But this isn’t always the case.

For instance, you could sit down with the intention to study for five hours but only really be studying for half of that time.

Because, the truth is, many of us can’t work on a task for that long without getting distracted or letting our minds drift away.

Instead, it’s better to study in shorter bursts because it allows us to be more focused and intentional during the session.

So don’t be afraid to schedule several short studying sessions throughout your day, with breaks in between for your mind to get a much-deserved break.

2. Practice Self-testing

Reading your textbooks and taking notes are important methods for learning; but one learning method that many neglect is self-testing.

Self-testing is a way to significantly decrease the amount of time you spend studying, by showing you what you do and don’t need to work on.

Let’s say that you’re studying for an important exam that has several different sections. Many students would study an equal amount of time for each section.

But the more efficient way to prepare for the test would be to quiz yourself ahead of time so that you know if there are sections you don’t need to spend so much time on.

That way, you can focus on the sections you haven’t mastered yet.

3. Take Notes By Hand

In the digital age, many students have chosen to start taking notes with their laptops or other devices.

It’s understandable because it’s convenient and fast. But it may not be the best option for learning…

As this article states, you actually retain information more efficiently if you write it down with a pen and paper.

Bonus tip! Along the same vein, many people find that reading things out loud can help them memorize information faster.

4. Identify How You Study Best

This tip will require some trial and error, but I guarantee that your studying sessions will be more efficient after you learn your preferred study method.

For instance, different people need varying levels of noise while they learn.

Some people like the quiet, but some need a little background noise.

Or another example is that you may find that certain spots are better for you to study in than others.

Perhaps you’re a student that loves to learn outdoors, or alternatively, you could be one that enjoys studying in a coffee shop.

Simply find the studying patterns that work the best for you, and make sure to stick with them!

5. Learn To Speed-Read And Listen Faster

This is probably the most advanced tip on this list, and it’s only for those that want to take speed learning a step further.

The first thing I mentioned, you’ve probably already heard of. And it’s called speed reading.

There’s no shortcut to learning how to speed read, it’s just a matter of practicing your reading and comprehension skills at faster and faster speeds.

The second part of the tip might sound a bit strange at first… learn to listen faster. But allow me to explain.

In the same way, you can train your brain to read and comprehend written words faster, you can also train your brain to hear and comprehend spoken words faster.

This can be helpful if you have audio-based material to study. An excellent way to practice this is by listening to podcasts or videos on 1.5 speed.