Consolidate your knowledge base

Knowledge gaps can develop quickly – through missing a class, skipping a chapter that turns out to be important, or being distracted during lectures.

Such gaps make it a struggle to understand new material and identify links between topics.

This saps confidence in your subject expertise, weakens assignments and reduces choice in exams.

By contrast, a good knowledge base helps you to see more connections so you grasp new material faster.

This enhances the quality of your work, reduces the time it takes to learn material, and boosts your confidence and grades.

Do you...?

Select the tabs below to view strategies for consolidating your knowledge base.

Identify the gaps
Fill the gaps
Catch up quickly
Delve deeper
Extend your vocabulary
Discuss the material

Become aware of gaps in your knowledge base, skills and understanding – so you can deal with them.

You could do this by reviewing the learning outcomes for each module you are studying and colour-coding them. For example:

Green = firm grasp of the content
Yellow = basic understanding of the content
Red = very limited/no understanding of the content

Before continuing, reflect on the likely impact of these gaps on your assignments and exams. For example, if you have studied four films and need to write on two of them in your exam, it is wise to have a firm grasp of three of the films – so that you still have some choice in the exam if the questions don’t fall as you had hoped.

You might also find it helpful to assess your strengths and weaknesses in different academic skills. Skills for Study diagnostic tests help you to pinpoint areas for development and identify the sections that are most relevant to your needs.

Rather than worrying about gaps or ignoring them, create a schedule for addressing these so they have less impact on other learning.

Look at your colour-coded learning outcomes. Focus first on those in red, and gradually build each one to green. You’ll find tried-and-tested techniques for giving your study sessions a sharper focus in this article.

If you miss a class or get behind in your reading, put time aside straightaway to catch up so this doesn’t accumulate to unmanageable levels.

Explore cutting-edge developments in your subject area by reading specialist journals, or seek out online events to gain a different perspective on a topic. Knowing more than just the basic knowledge required could help build your confidence and strengthen your understanding.