At least it works for me.

• Study at the library
  • It's quiet
  • You'll be motivated to study because everyone around you is studying
  • You will not want to be a distraction to others and therefore make minimal noise (unless you're a prick)
  • You will be forced to stay alert because you cannot get into a position so comfortable you will fall asleep
    • ex: sitting at the desk with bright lighting as opposed to laying in bed and doing your homework
  • You are surrounded by resources if you have questions or need assistance
    • Useful since you shouldn't use your phone or laptop or else you'll get distracted by social networking sites or other sites you visit
• Rid yourself of all distractions
  • Turn your cellphone off (or on silent)
    • Put it out of your reach or out of sight
    • Your friends cannot bother you unless they physically find you.
    • What I do is I put it in a little bag within another bag inside my backpack. That way I'd have to unzip a lot just to use my phone. Which I would avoid because unzipping so much is extremely loud
  • NOT using a laptop or a tablet to take notes. Paper will do
    • Laptop/tablet will distract you just as much, if not more, than your cellphone
    • Writing down your notes will help you retain the information better because you are taking more time to copy the information down
    • Bonus: writing it down fills up your notebook and that'll make you feel very proud of the hard work you've put into your studies. Not to mention crinkly papers from writing so much feels simply divine
• Listen to music
  • If you're like me and you get distracted with your own thoughts in silence, turn on some music
  • Avoid music with lyrics because they will capture your attention with its words
  • Avoid music that will completely put you to sleep, instead look towards these suggestions
    • Instrumentals with a beat (like this)
    • Jazz
    • Hell, even epic soundtracks like LoTR.
• Be active in your studying
  • Annotate in your textbooks
    • Define terms you don't know
    • Make note of things you'd like to know more about to bring up in lectures
  • Study because you want to know more on the topic, not because you aim for a good grade
• Take good notes
  • Cite your notes on where you got the information (write down the page number)
  • Even if you know the information, jot down that it was discussed in the lecture or readings so you can at least know what materials may be covered on the next exam
    • But don't waste your time elaborately regurgitating information you already know (ex: reviewed materials)
  • Don't waste your time writing everything down word for word
  • Summarize/paraphrase your own notes to have a better understanding
  • Ask yourself: can I have a discussion/conversation on this topic? If not, you do not fully understand it. Go back and start asking the right questions and finding answers to them.
• Study at reasonable times
  • Don't study at the last minute
  • Don't do your studying at night, only read over your notes at night
    • Create a schedule in which you will dedicate time to studying
  • Don't study for hours straight trying to cram all the information in, take 10 minute breaks in between and snack on something
    • Your brain won't absorb anything if it's tired
    • If you're stuck on something and keep thinking about it but still can't grasp the material, don't get frustrated and take a break. When you come back to it, your mind will be refreshed and you may see it from a different angle
• Don't try to do the easy stuff first
  • If you're following the whole "don't do things at the last minute" advice I have given and none of your assignments are due immediately, don't work in a chronological order (based on your classes' schedule)
  • Work with the harder and more dense materials first and gradually work your way towards the lighter/easier workload
  • This will ensure you get the important things out of the way
  • It will feel like a gift to your mind
• Motivate yourself
  • If you find yourself not interested in the subject, get interested
    • Do you want to be that person who gets called on and is fumbling with their answer because they don't know the material?
    • Be that person who speaks confidently because they are confident of their intellect
    • Be prepared for discussions
    • Knowing the subject will allow you to be adequately express yourself in a time efficient manner for written exams, who doesn't love finishing their exams early?
    • Having more knowledge is good because you are not ignorant and you will be able to talk to more people because of your wide range of interests/studies
  • You will feel accomplished and proud of yourself for having an understanding of something you did not expect you would ever know
  • If you keep doing the same things, you will keep getting the same results. There is always room for improvement!