Create a schedule for studying. Make a schedule based on your subjects as well as your personal concentration skills. Study similar subjects on different nights, such as two languages, to avoid confusing them. Observe how long it takes for your concentration to wane. If you concentrate very well for 45 minutes, then cut studying into 45-minute sessions over several days.
Preview your reading. Scan the titles and headings, and study the charts or images. Read the review questions at the end of the chapter. Attain a basic knowledge of the subject matter in which to attach new material.
Involve yourself in reading. Ask yourself to summarize aloud the chapter or section you just read. Think about the key factors in that section and underline them. Ask yourself questions about your reading, such as the character's motivations or what you believe the conclusion of the experiment holds.
Visualize your reading. Imagine being in the same woods the characters inhabit. Convert numbers in a study into a graph. Look up the image of a historical figure and try to remember a striking feature.