Studying is a right of passage for students around the world.

Studying can be the difference between passing and failing a course but traditional methods like re-reading notes and monotonously dragging through a textbook with a highlighter can be boring, ineffective, and oftentimes more than enough incentive to avoid the ordeal entirely. 

Luckily the modern-day internet is saturated with interesting alternatives that make study routines exciting,  engaging, and efficient.

These tools can be used in combination to increase your studying potential while keeping you on track for academic excellence. 

This article is entirely based on tools I use routinely either for general study or test cramming so rest assured they work.

1. Quizlet

Quizlet is an excellent study tool, it gives users an interface to design virtual flashcards, play games, and even design practice tests based on terms or information they input. If that’s not your style there are thousands of pre-made quizzes and card decks already available for almost every topic in academia. Not only does Quizlet offer an excellent service and a huge boost to studying efficiency but it's also totally free with the occasional advertisement.

2. Khan Academy 

Khan academy is an online platform dedicated to learning. It offers in-depth lessons from licensed teachers and practice questions with progress tracking, to test your understanding. It is an ideal resource for learning outside the classroom, getting ahead in a course, or catching up after some time off. Khan Academy is great for you, Khan Academy is free and while it specializes in STEAM you can find certain arts-based courses as well. Khan academy offers numerous languages as well as subtitles for most lessons. Making it one of the most inclusive online study tools the market has to offer.

3. Marinara Timer 

Unlike the previous entries on this list, the Marinara Timer does not offer any online lessons or information at all for that matter. The app is simply a stopwatch that follows the Pomodoro study style of 25 minutes on 5 minutes off. This style of study is widely considered to be one of the most efficient in terms of content covered and time spent studying and with the Marinara Timer, it becomes even easier to follow. If you are in a time crunch Marinara Timer offers custom timers that encourage you to keep working. If you are working with a team you can share in real-time timers, all you need to do is share your timer viewing link. The tool is free and can be run through the web browser making it the easiest tool to access and use on this list.

4. Trello

Trello is one of the best free online agendas available. Trello allows users to create planning boards, schedules, and execution plans for projects. The to-do list helps list out exactly what needs to be done and allows you to sort through your busy schedule to dedicate time where it is most needed. While also allowing team members and friends to see what you're up to should you choose. The done section of the board allows you to list your tasks as they finish them providing you with a sense of accomplishment and relief at the end of the day. 

Trello offers a calendar to plan events and set time aside, a timeline that allows you to visualize your workload, and an automated dashboard that shows your nearest deadlines and appointments. Basic Trello comes free and is an excellent tool for both studying and general life.

5. Chegg

Chegg is an online study platform that combines aspects of Khan Academy, Quizlet, and Grammarly. It is a platform with endless academic potential. It offers online lessons from experts, test prep, homework assistance, and schedule planning. Chegg gives you access to previous classwork as well as in-depth study sets for most high school and university courses. In addition to all of these incredibly helpful study tools, Chegg also has an extensive library of textbooks and offers essay proofreading and citation assistance and job-related features such as resume writing. However, with all of this added functionality comes cost. Chegg plans start at $18.99 and can become even more costly if you wish to access certain features. Overall it is a versatile and beneficial service however weighing costs can make it slightly less desirable than its free counterparts. 

Studying can be a drag, luckily these apps make studying more engaging and efficient reducing your time dragging through textbooks.  With some creativity and these awesome applications. you might even find yourself looking forward to your next study session!

Written by:  Alex MacLean
Edit by: Charlotte Yu
Reviewed by: Mr.Cheviere

                         Charlotte Yu