Is Your Study Group Slowing You Down? Why Studying Solo Might Be Better
Study groups sound great on paper. The idea of splitting the workload, quizzing each other, and covering more ground as a team seems ideal, right? But if we’re being honest, how often do these group sessions really work out the way we hope?
Sometimes, study groups can slow you down. You might walk in thinking you’re about to tackle a mountain of material, only to walk out hours later wondering if you actually accomplished anything. Conversations veer off track, one person does all the explaining, and the pace never quite fits everyone. If you’ve been through this, you know the frustration.
Studying solo
1. You Control the Pace
In study groups, it’s a constant balancing act. Someone in the group will want to linger on a topic that you already get, while another person will push to move on before you’ve had a chance to fully digest the material. It’s hard to find that perfect rhythm when everyone’s learning style is different.
Studying solo? You’re the boss. If you’re flying through a subject you’ve mastered, you can keep going without waiting on others. But if something’s giving you trouble, you can slow down and give it the attention it needs. There’s no pressure to speed up or slow down based on what others are doing. It’s all about what works for you.
Here’s why this matters:
Real-life Tip: If you find yourself getting stuck on certain concepts, try active recall—write out everything you remember without looking at your notes. This forces your brain to actively engage with the material, not just passively read it.
2. No Off-Topic Distractions
You’ve been there. You show up to a study group with every intention of reviewing key concepts or tackling tough problems, but before long, the conversation drifts. Maybe someone starts talking about a weekend trip, or another person brings up a show they’re binge-watching. Next thing you know, half an hour is gone, and you’ve barely cracked open your notes.
When you’re studying alone, any distractions that pop up are totally within your control. Sure, it’s still easy to get sidetracked by your phone or wander off into daydreams, but it’s different. You have the power to shut those distractions down whenever you need to.
Why it matters: You’ll get more done in less time. With fewer interruptions and no off-topic conversations, solo studying can be way more efficient. And if you manage your focus well, you’ll find you don’t need to study as long to cover the same amount of material.
What helps: Try setting a timer for focused study blocks—say, 25 minutes of studying with a 5-minute break (the Pomodoro Technique). This gives your brain time to reset, and you won’t feel burned out from endless hours of studying.
3. Groupthink Can Limit Your Learning
Groupthink happens when everyone in the group starts to agree just to keep things moving. You might be sitting there, confused or not fully understanding something, but since everyone else seems on board, you just go along with it. Maybe you don’t ask the questions you really want to ask, or maybe the group skips over a topic too quickly because it’s uncomfortable to slow down for one person.
Studying alone removes that pressure. You get to take your time with difficult concepts and dig deeper into areas that genuinely confuse you. There’s no worry about slowing anyone down or feeling embarrassed for not knowing something. You can give yourself the space to really think about the material, not just gloss over it because the group is moving ahead.
In Solo Study:
- You’re in charge of identifying your weak spots and focusing on them.
- There’s no external pressure to "keep up" or pretend you understand something when you don’t.
If you’re working through something particularly tough, break it down into smaller steps. This helps make the problem feel less overwhelming and allows you to build your understanding piece by piece.
You Learn to Be Self-Sufficient
When you are part of a study group, it’s easy to rely on others for explanations or answers. Someone will always know that one formula you can’t remember, or they’ll have a summary of the reading you skimmed. While that can be a nice safety net, it also means you’re not pushing yourself to truly grasp the material on your own.
Studying solo forces you to take full responsibility for your learning. You can’t lean on others to fill in the gaps—you have to figure things out yourself. This kind of self-sufficiency is not only great for your academics, but it’s a skill that will serve you well far beyond school.
Practical Advice:
When Study Groups Might Still Be Helpful
All of this isn’t to say that study groups are useless. There are definitely times when they can be effective, especially if used in the right context:
- For test reviews
- For discussing complex topics
- For accountability
If you do choose to study with a group, try setting some ground rules—limit the time for socializing, assign roles (e.g., one person leads discussion, another keeps time), and have specific goals for each session.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to studying. For some, study groups provide motivation, social interaction, and a chance to bounce ideas off others. But for others, they can feel inefficient and slow things down. If you’ve tried study groups and found yourself getting frustrated with the pace or the distractions, solo studying might be your better option.
It all comes down to what helps you learn best. So, try experimenting with both approaches. If you’re feeling like your study group isn’t delivering the results you need, don’t be afraid to switch things up and go solo for a while—you might be surprised at how much more you get done.