Six useful strategies for forming study groups

Have you ever considered that you might be more productive at studying if you had others in your class to study with? If the answer is yes, consider forming a study group!

1. Find peers who are interested in studying together  

Finding peers to study with can feel intimidating if you don’t know anyone in your class. Don’t let this stop you! Having a description of your group helps you communicate important information about your study group to peers and instructors.    

2.  Determine the number of people for your study group  

Aim for 3-5 people in a study group to remain productive. Your group size has a direct impact on coordinating sessions, booking group study rooms, and setting the pace of study sessions.

If more people sign up than you anticipated, splitting up into smaller study groups is a good option!   

3. Outline the group’s objectives  

Focus on 2-3 objectives that are realistic to achieve. For example, is the aim to do a weekly review of course material? Is it to make new friends and do some learning along the way? Or is it to hold each other accountable when it comes to getting assignments done?

You might revisit your group description and revise it to reflect the collective interests of group members. Listening openly to each other ensures that the group meets the members’ needs. And remember only to use approved study resources (e.g. don’t use old tests or exams unless approved by your instructor). 

 4. Establish a routine  

Determine how frequently you will meet with the group. Frequency might change based on your group’s preference to meet in-person or online. Will meetings online give people more flexibility to attend regularly? Or perhaps in-person meetings work better to incentivize members to study together?  

 5. Assign roles to stay productive  

Staying productive in sessions ensures that the group is meeting members’ expectations. To keep focused on the study group’s goals, determine what roles and tasks may be necessary to stay on track before each session and take note of who will be responsible for them.

Roles to consider include: 

• Administrator: creates and shares agenda to group members to plan for the next study session, books meeting room, sends meeting invites (virtual), assigns roles or calls for volunteers 
• Facilitator(s)/expert(s): leads the study session through study agenda, consults with course instructor to receive clarity on topics covered for the study session, follows-up with the instructor on problems encountered by the group  
• Note taker: summarizes outcomes for each agenda item (e.g. issues encountered by the group), shares class notes and study session notes with the group 
• Timekeeper: monitors time during the study session, corresponds with facilitator(s) when more or less time is needed for an agenda item, builds in time for the group to take breaks 
• Mediator: offers solutions to disagreements, diffuses potential conflicts, manages group dynamics 

You can combine these roles, opt to use ones and not others, or adapt them to your group’s needs and preferences.  

Add fun elements to your study group’s identity   

Integrating personalized elements into your study group can build a sense of community and motivate others with similar academic and personal interests to join.

For example, if you and your group members want to achieve an 80% in your course, you might call yourselves the 80% Club.