There are different learning styles, so it is no wonder that some recommendations on the Internet will fit you, while others will make you wonder what in the world the author has been thinking about. The key to success is to create a studying environment that pushes all your buttons. It is supposed to make you calm, focused, and able to do your best. How do you do that? Try two different approaches and see which one fits best!
When you are with your friends, it may be hard to focus on the task. People who study alone have to deal only with their attention spans but not with those of their groupmates.
Study groups in college have the same issues as classes. One of the common problems is not being able to spend as much time on the subjects that are of particular interest to you. Also, you cannot spend much time on a piece of material even if you do not feel like you have fully grasped it.
People in groups often have different intelligence and preparation levels. Sometimes, when the finals are too close for comfort, it might be a good idea to avoid people who might drag you down if you do not want to spend 100% of your time on revising.
It has been proved that verbalizing and explaining recently learned information is a crucial part of learning. That is why having the audience around you is such a good thing! You can take turns reciting chapters and trying to figure out difficult concepts.
When you study alone, the only person contributing new information is you. In a group, students can share their ideas. If you study in a group, you will be able to broaden the understanding of the subject.
When studying on your own, the only thing helping you to concentrate is your own willpower. However, when you are working in a team, your responsibilities to other people help you stay motivated.
A good thing to remember is that there are no good or bad ways to learn. Try both learning approaches, evaluate their advantages and disadvantages, and pick the one for yourself.