1. Pick a place and a time – set up your study space, by dedicating either your dining room, study or wherever you feel most comfortable. Pick somewhere away from chaos in your household and is distraction free, as easy as it sounds. Find the time you work the best, which might be in the morning or evening, whenever it suits you, plan to study then. However, avoid studying too late at night, you don’t want to push yourself so hard that you end up too tired the next day.
2. Plan your time – make to-do lists, this breaks down the things you want to get done in each study session and things you might need a bit more work on in the next. As soon as your teacher has covered a topic, begin writing your notes, the sooner the better! This is a huge time saver; if you have finished all your notes and have clearly digested them, you will be able to focus on the topics you struggle with the most.
3. Quiz yourself – personally, I’ve found reviewing and revising probably the best method to become confident in what you know, and again find out what you don’t know as well. This repetitive procedure may get pretty boring, but it is definitely extremely effective.
4. What’s your learning style? The three most common studying styles which people learn best are:
– Auditory Learners – prefer to learn through listening. Try teaching others or reading your notes aloud, record yourself and listen to it back.
– Visual Learners – prefer to learn through seeing. Try drawing images or adding colour into your notes and diagrams to help you remember
– Tactile Learners – prefer to learn by physically doing. You are a learner who prefers to touch, move, build or draw what you learn. Stand or move when reciting information or learning new material.
5. Ask for help – ask teachers, friends and fellow students if you’re really unsure about something. Hearing someone else’s interpretation may help you understand it even more and give you a clearer grasp on the topic.
6. Teach others – Or, if someone else is stuck and asks for your help, they are actually helping you revise; by teaching others you are revising and reciting your own knowledge, meaning everyone’s a winner!
7. Download some Apps – there are an enormous variety of apps out there to help you get through your exams, the most popular ones:
• SelfControl
• Maths Alarm Clock
• Babylon
• Sworkit
• Gojimo
8. Try Revising Everyday – by studying every day, even if it’s just a few words, or learning the atomic structure of an atom, by going over your class notes you will have developed your full understanding little by little and this will save you cramming in information in the few weeks before your exam.
9. PAST PAPERS! – As soon as you’ve finished your notes, get as many past papers completed as you can and get them marked by your teacher. Papers highlight your strongest and weakest topics. Find out where you lost marks, make notes, revise and try again, eventually you’ll be able to see your grades improving and exceeding.
10. Take breaks – Lastly, working too long on a task can actually decrease our performance, therefore it’s vital to take breaks because feeling tired and frustrated isn’t going to get you anywhere. Take a break and clear your head, if its exercising or having something to eat or drink, getting away from your study space, will relax and refresh your mind.
And there you go, your top 10 study tips to get you through exams. The earlier you start revising, the easier your exam period will be, increasing your chances of doing the best you can possibly do.
Good Luck!
By Hannah Gilby
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