morals, values

Study 101: Learn Smarter, Not Harder

Strategies and methods for high school students that work

1. Schedule your time before you start studying.

Each study night should be about 2 hours long, with 5 nights each week. You can schedule your time by writing down your study objectives at the beginning and then estimating the time it will take to complete each task. It is important to assess the urgency of each task before scheduling more urgent tasks at the beginning of the week.

Set a time and stick to it. This is essential for learning good study habits. You won’t be tempted to do other things or waste time planning when you will study.

Use the same environment as the test environment to study. Make sure you have a quiet place to work. It might be a good idea to turn off all music and other distractions. It can help you remember information by making it feel familiar when taking a test.

2 Tips and tricks to take efficient notes

It will be easier to understand your notes if they are more organized, clear, and legible. Not only can they help you recall important information, but they can also be used to highlight important topics and ideas that you might need to revisit.

You can create your bullet system with different numbers (Arabic, Roman), or symbols to mark your notes. You can use a star to refer to points, an exclamation mark to indicate points that you want to place on flashcards and a smiley face to explain concepts to your teacher.

Keep your notes short and use abbreviations or symbols to make it easier for yourself. If you know that you will remember something shorter, you don’t have to write every word. You can save time!

Be creative. Use pictures, thought bubbles or any other means to draw your attention to important subjects. Draw arrows that lead from the cause to its effect. Different colors of highlighters are possible. Mind mapping is a wonderful technique for visually organizing information that you need to learn.

3. Make the most of your time studying.

It’s a good idea to establish a study schedule and prioritize your topics. But be prepared to stick to it by staying focused when it comes time to get to the books.

Do not study before bedtime, or when you aren’t fully awake or committed to studying. If you are able to, allow yourself enough daylight hours to study. Sitting in the sun, if it is nice and doesn’t distract you from your studies, can keep you awake and alert.

Take frequent breaks. Get to know your body’s rhythm and how long it takes to get back into the zone. Take a 5-minute break each half hour if it is easy to get back into your studies. You may find it difficult to focus if you take longer than an hour.

Avoid multitasking High school students should avoid distractions and focus on one topic only. It is important to communicate with your family that you require quiet time.

4. Use creativity in your study.

You’ll feel more motivated to study if you can bring some enjoyment to the sessions.

Make your notes into Flashcards. Flashcards will challenge you to recall facts that you have covered. They also reward you for incorporating these concepts into your mind. You can mark any terms and topics you have difficulty understanding or need to be memorized as you go through your notes. You can make flashcards from 3×5 cards, or you can search for an online free app to create digital flashcards. Give it a shot.

Turn difficult concepts into stories or pictures This helps with reading comprehension. As you read about various ideas and topics, pick out the most important words and phrases. Then, connect them to a picture, memory, or story in your head. You will be able to recall the information if you can associate it with a story or visual later.

Study with your friends. Although it is important to focus in single study sessions, you can mix it up by organizing a weekly study group. As you discuss your learnings, you’ll gain new perspectives. Make sure your friends are keen to learn good study skills. It doesn’t mean that you should not have fun together studying, but it is a work session. To see how you perform as a group, it is best to talk about what is expected.

5. Stay healthy.

If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to play at your best. You can be distracted, tired, hungry, or overworked and it can affect your ability to focus and remember information.

Make sure that you get enough sleep. Multiple studies have shown that only 30% of teens are getting the 8-10 hours they need each night. If possible, make sure you are one of them. Be sure to turn off your screens at least one hour before you go to bed. Do not stress out and do not study before bed. Do not worry about the things you missed during the day. Instead, create a list and make a plan for tomorrow.

Eat healthy foods and get vitamins. Avoid junk food. Give your body and mind a reward for all the hard work you have put in. Consider whole grains, nuts, fruits, and leafy greens. These are just a few of the nutrient-dense foods you can include in your daily diet.

study, study smart

Riverside College High School Cape Town

Get Your Preparation Started

You will have ample time to review what you have learned and start your exam preparation early. Don’t leave any detail unattended. Make sure you are fully conversant with your topic. This will make revision easier.

To manage your time efficiently, you can also create a timetable. Note down the number of exams and the dates you need to take them. Next, plan your study time accordingly.

You may find that you have to spend more time preparing for certain subjects than others. Try to balance your time.

Create a Study Space

Make sure you have everything organized before you start preparing for your exam. There should be enough space for your textbooks and notes. You should also ensure your chair is comfortable and that there is sufficient lighting in your space.

You need to be as relaxed as possible when studying for exams. Before you begin your preparation, it is important to organize all of your study materials.

You should organize your notes, make sure you have all handouts, and write your summaries for each chapter in your textbook. Also, prepare an outline of the subject to be used as a reference.

Students should remember to keep everything in order. This will create a calm environment that will allow you to concentrate during your preparation.

Practice and Review Old Exam Papers

It is a great way to practice old exam papers and review them. This helps you get to know the structure and format of the question papers.

Try timing yourself while you practice the old exam paper. This will allow you to see how much time each section takes.

Learn to Match Your Learning Style

You will be able to determine what preparation methods are best for you based on your learning style. If you’re an auditory learner, recording your notes can help you to listen to them later. You could also benefit from listening to lectures recordings.

If you’re a visual learner, diagrams and pictures can help you remember. Find out what learning style you have so that it is easier to remember important facts and key concepts.

Don’t Cram Doing cramming and staying up late will only increase your anxiety and stress. Instead of trying to memorize everything on your syllabus the day before the exam it is better to go over what you’ve already learned and get to bed early.

This will help you feel refreshed for your exam day. These are the key elements of exam preparation that you should do the night before the exam.

  • All your study materials should be collected

  • Take a look at your notes

  • Take a test on the main concepts

  • Set your alarm

study, study smart

To get the best out of your exams, you must use the exam tips and tricks that students have shared. There might be better things for you. So, explore all options and talk to your friends about how they prepare for exams. You might find some final exam study tips that might be helpful.

Even teachers can help you.

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