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Bad Study Habit Example: Why Rereading Fails

What is an example of a bad study habit?

An easy example of a bad study habit is rereading notes or a textbook over and over without testing yourself. It can feel productive because you recognize the material, but recognition is not the same as recall. When exam time comes, students who only reread often struggle to pull information from memory under pressure.

Why rereading can hurt your results

Passive review keeps your brain in “comfort mode.” You may highlight pages, skim summaries, or scroll through slides, yet never prove you can explain concepts or solve problems without help. This habit also makes it tempting to cram, since rereading seems fast—even though it typically produces short-lived memory.

What to do instead (simple swaps)

Replace passive rereading with active methods that force retrieval and reveal gaps:

Self-quizzing: Turn headings into questions and answer them from memory before checking.
Practice problems: For math, science, accounting, or coding, do problems without looking at the solution first.
Teach-back: Explain the topic out loud in plain language, as if helping a friend.
Spaced sessions: Study in shorter blocks across several days to strengthen long-term retention.

How to spot the habit early

If a study session ends with lots of pages “covered” but few things you can write down or explain without looking, passive rereading is likely taking over. Another clue is feeling confident during study time but blanking during quizzes or homework.

For more tips and a deeper breakdown of unhelpful routines, visit this main article on bad study habits.

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FAQ

How can I make my study time more effective without studying longer?

Use active recall: quiz yourself, do practice questions, and summarize from memory before checking notes. Keeping sessions shorter but more challenging usually improves retention more than adding hours of passive review.