Customer Reviews

Effective Study Skills: Step-by-Step System to Achieve Student Success

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This book is a priceless guide to study skills. The techniques explained in this book are extremely useful in any area of study. With a little improvisation by the reader, it can be applied to any area at hand - be it sociology or zoology!! The writer, although sometimes long-winded, has divided the book into clearly outlined sections - first he introduces the basic principles of study, like memory skills, note-taking, getting the most out of class and so on. The he moves on to the actual step-by-step system, which I found extremely useful in dealing with textbook material. All those boring seemingly endless lines of text won't seem alll that boring once you've mastered the textbook usage skills Semones so clearly relays. The author also includes interviews from students who swear by the course, and a skill most study-skills books leave out : diagnosing your performance after the exam, and using the exam itself as a sort of 'study guide'. But my favorite part was the ESS Time Management System. It is an all-in-one system that schedules your weekly study time brilliantly. However, the real eesence of the book, the steps I spoke of earlier; is what will really help you out. All that's left to do is to follow the 4 steps exactly, and you're on your way to A grades. But hey, nothing's perfect, right? In this case, I must admit, the wording and structure of the book is meant for college-level reading. Other than that, this book is a comprehensive, solid system that will end your search for the "secret" to A grades. What else can I say?? BUY IT!

This book is very, very good. It gave me the study skills which I so badly neede to get straight A's. After reading this book and implementing it for about 2 weeks, I got straight A's in my next exam!! (I'm in high-school) This book consists of three parts - ESS - THE BASIC COURSE, ESS - THE ADVANCED COURSE AND MASTERING ESS. There is also an introduction to the system, where you are exposed to the 15 characteristics of master students and the formula for success, both of which i tape on my wall - they give me so much inspiration!! The real step-by-step study system, however, is ESS - THE ADVANCED COURSE where 4 steps are clearly allocated. Under each step is a few skills, and under each skills are a few tasks. If you follow these, there's no going wrong! All that boring textbook material will suddenly become easy as cake!! However, you wouldn't be able to carry out the 4 steps if you didn't know the 20 action principles stated in the BASIC COURSE. The principles include time management, memory skills, how to get the most from class, how to take notes and so on. If strictly followed,these steps will lead you on the path to straight A's. The only thing about this book is that it doesn't state the small things like, what format to take down notes, where to take them down in and so on. Other than that, this book is a worthwhile buy and equipps every student with the means not only to succeed in school, but in life as well. It is a complete, sufficient guide to studying that will end your search for the "SECRET" to great grades! What more can I say?? BUY IT!!

Going back to study in my 30's I was concerned if I would be able to achieve results and balance other work and family commitments. ESS helped me to do all three.

This is a logical, easy to apply system for study. It takes commitment and work but - come exam time - to have an entire subject outlined and then condensed onto a handful of cards a week before the exam was great.

I recommend this to anyone looking for skills for higher education.

I found this book when I was a high school science teacher and passed the title along to my students. When I went to medical school, I was concerned about making the grade. Using the skills taught in this book, I was able to study efficiently and make excellent grades. I definitely recommend this book.

When I found myself taking a break from school, with a C+ average, I pretty much had no direction. I didn't really have much passion for school or anything else. I got this book on a whim, and just the first part which dealt with motivation and goal setting was an eye-opener to say the least. It made me seriously reexamine my life and my direction.
The study skills portion and the skills in school (picking a teacher, staying organized, etc) were both very beneficial as well. I still have to wait until the fall semester to get back into school, but I'm confident that I'll finally have the tools that I'll need to get where I need to go.
I would definetely recommend this book to any one else who finds themselves just floating through life.

I used this book and system in college. I made staight A's.
I am buying this book for each of my kids. To be effective you must use the entire system. It works!!!

It is impossible to both study effectively and have a wandering mind - this book taught me how to focus and study effectively.

I was given this book halfway through college in 2002 by a friend who graduate 1st in his class at a top tier med school. I read the book cover to cover and implemented its model of how to study.

It takes a lot of time and effort to follow ESS's study model, but was fully worth it as I did begin to make straight A's, whatever the class' difficulty. I also found that although it took longer, studying was less of a chore because I was actively learning the information rather than more passive study methods.

This book is well-organized, gives a useful set of analyses to help you understand your deficiencies, and gives a methodical process for improving your listening, note-taking, and study skills. I often recommend it to my high school students. Those who have taken it seriously and applied the skills found rapid improvement in their grades within the semester.
As one kid wrote to me "I now have 5 A's and 1 B thanks to ESS". That B was from me. Maybe the insights offered into effective studying aren't so new or compelling, but it is a system simple to apply with the right attitude.

Wonderful study skills book that can save students a lot of time. If you like this book, you will love "Major in Success", by Patrick Combs. I teach at a University and this book changes lives.