In a nut shell, information-wise, Physics entails primarily:
- principles and laws;
- definitions, terminologies and nomenclatures;
- process flows;
- causes and consequences;
- problem:solution;
notwithstanding a slew of lab experiments in problem solving;
So, it's good to know a good number of diagramming techniques, e.g. idea maps, concept maps, Venn or matrix diagrams, flow charts, fish-bone diagrams, etc. to help you to flesh out important information, as part of your note-taking/note-making;
First thing first:
Learn to segregate the "core material" from "elaborative material", with the help of your subject/exam syllabi."
- Core material" = key concepts; principles; laws; definitions; terminologies; nomenclatures; diagrams and drawings, etc.;"
- Elaborative material" = examples, illustrations, anecdotes, etc.;
That's to say, your focus is on "core material", and using Pareto's Law, generally about 80% of exam questions are more likely to come from "core material".
This is not to say "elaborative material" is not important.
Tactically speaking, once you have the full grasp of "core material", "elaborative material" is more likely to fall in automatically.
You may even want to explore the use of the following study tools:
i) SQ5R reading/studying strategy:
It's a structured system [SQ5R is an acronym for SURVEY, QUESTIONS, READ, RECORD, RECITE, REVIEW, REFLECT], but it equips you with efficient and effective ways to navigate academic materials, especially the intellectually-intense ones, with ease and expediency.
I append herewith a nice document for you to read:
http://www.saddleback.edu/upload...
ii) Cornell Notes:
It's a far more superior system that the conventional outline method, known to most students in schools, college and universities.
It's latent power comes from its simple and yet elegant three-column spatial configuration for taking notes and making notes.
The "cue" column is the most powerful system I have ever known, as it facilitates - and expedites - your memory retention/recall via self-testing.
You may want to read this nice write-up on Cornell Notes method of note-taking and note-making, in conjunction with SQ5R reading strategy:
Guide to Effective Note Taking - SQ3R and Cornell - The Student Power
If you think you have an artistic streak in you, you may even want to explore the multitudinous graphical methods of note-taking and note-making, like idea mapping, cluster diagramming, and other graphic organisers and visual tools.
As a supplementary routine to SQ5R and Cornell Notes, you may even want to explore the use of the proven Index Card Strategy to deal with your "core material", particularly the definitions, terminologies and nomenclatures, for quick and convenient "learning-on-the-go": commuting and waiting in queue.
For your final test/exam preparation, you can even expand the foregoing "Divide and Conquer Strategy" as follows:
Grab a large sheet of blank paper, butcher roll or news print roll, say 8 ft by 4 ft or so, and paste it on the wall, and a box of colour markers, both fat-tip and fine-tip.
Some assorted colour sticky notes, too!
Now, pick up your subject textbook.
With the fat-tip marker, write the subject title on the centre of the paper on the wall.
You may want to draw a simple image of your choice to represent this title.
Using your knowledge of "core" ideas and "elaborative" details you have developed earlier, write them all down, using your fine-tip markers, on the wall paper, all along the periphery.
You can transcribe "elaborative" details on to your sticky notes, and place them alongside the "core" ideas.
Upon completion, stand back, do a gallery walk and quickly review just to make sure that you have not missed out any important data from your notes and/or subject textbook.
This single sheet of completed wall paper for the chosen subject will be your consolidated and summarised study sheet for your subject test/exam.
The beauty of this elaborate process is that you have at your complete disposal all the "core" ideas and "elaborative" details all nicely laid out on one single sheet of paper, at a visual glance.
You can then use each large consolidated/summarised sheet for self-testing or reciprocal questioning with a study buddy.
For the fun of it, you may even want to paste the completed wall paper on to the bedroom ceiling hovering over your bed, so that you can do what I often like to call the 3 R's (recap/review/reinforce) prior to hitting the sack.
I just realize, I could just paste you the lik. Sorry. https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-study-physics-by-myself/answe...