Eighty five per cent of the students indicated that they did attempt to understand their lectures and study material rather than memorise it. Understanding the information in lectures and textbooks involves making sense or meaning of the information presented. It enables the students to integrate the information learned and, if appropriate, apply it to the real world. On the other hand, memorising information involves the storing of information to be reproduced in the examination without necessarily understanding the content of the information. This results in the reproduction of isolated pieces of knowledge.
Students have many demands on their time such as social activities and recreation besides studying.
Therefore, managing their time by setting priorities and scheduling enough time to allow them to meet these priorities is a important aspect of student life particularly when the workload is heavy. Appropriate learning strategies This research has shed light on the nature of learning and preparation for examinations by first year undergraduate science students. Several key areas in undergraduate learning by first year science students have been identified where there is room for improvement. These deficiencies can be met by conducting appropriate workshops for students in these areas. This will enable a more efficient and smoother transition into tertiary education.