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As a student, do you prefer to study by yourself or join a study group with your friends? People may have their own personal preferences. Some people choose to study alone because it feels more productive and has fewer distractions. But, several people are also more likely to study in a group. Both methods are fine, as long as you enjoy them and it's effective for you. 

Solo study is the best choice when you are seeking calmness and want to have a deep focus. You can make your notes and study in silence without any distractions. Some students have their own pace and preferred way of studying. You don't need to worry your mind will run to other topics and start gossiping with your friends, or waste more time yapping.

On the other hand, some students may find it helpful to study as a group. They believe it's ideal to have partners while studying, as the environment feels more comfortable and allows them to have discussions together. You can learn a lot from your friends when you discuss a topic, because you can get different points of view. You can ask your partners if you don't understand certain materials, but it's different when you learn by yourself. Somehow, you will face difficulties and don't know how to solve them. Then it turns out your mood for study is shrinking.

Studying with friends can give you an insight into how they understand concepts, which can teach you something you might never have learned on your own. Some people have a talent for connecting concepts from lectures and texts and turning those concepts into easy-to-understand lessons. If your friend is one of those people, then learning in a group can be very helpful.

You can also take turns teaching your friends the material you are learning, this method will help you master the material better. This is also known as the protege effect, a phenomenon where teaching others increases the teacher's own understanding and retention of knowledge.

However, if you are adept at being a person who can acquire information very effectively when you are in a quiet and comfortable space by yourself, then studying with friends might not be the right choice for you. Studying with others will drain your energy and significantly lower your efficiency. If you feel that you can study well from notes and books in your own comfort and space, then you should study alone.

Another effective way to learn is by joining a course, that way you can focus more on listening to the teacher's explanation but still feel like you're learning together. You can have a discussion or ask the teacher if there's something you still don't understand. As we all know, midterm exams are just about to come, and if you're confused about where to study, you can join EDSA teaching. There, you will get materials and clear explanations from cool tutors.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to gain knowledge from studying and apply it to achieve your ambitions. So, you can study in any method that makes you feel comfortable, but also study hard and study smart.

Writer: Della Aulia Feronica

Editor: Florenia Neve Suryani