Study skills
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This document provides tips and advice for students on developing effective study skills, independent learning habits, managing their time, prioritizing tasks, preparing for exams, and dealing with exam stress. Some key points covered include developing a study timetable, focusing study sessions on understanding material rather than just reading, breaking large tasks into smaller ones, practicing exam techniques like reading instructions carefully and pacing yourself, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during revision periods.
Study skills
- 1. SKILLS for LEARNING SKILLS for STUDY
- 2. MAKE Your BRAIN WORK for YOU Successful Confident Responsible Effective Learners Individuals Citizens Contributors
- 3. STUDY SKILLS Pay attention in class Take good notes
- 4. Keep an organised Notebook Ask questions in class
- 5. Plan a definite study time Don’t cram for hours the and place for each day night before a test or exam
- 6. INDEPENDENT LEARNERS The following are characteristics of a successful student. Develop these in yourself • Ask questions • Discuss topics with your peers • If you don’t understand something, speak up
- 7. You are responsible for your own learning ‘Ideas are funny things, they don’t work unless you do’
- 8. ‘Learning is not filling the bucket, but the lighting of the fire’
- 9. STUDY TIMETABLE Study sessions just don’t happen when you feel like doing them. They need to be scheduled on an organised timetable. Your study timetable should rule your life.
- 10. SOME TIPS • Don’t study after 11.00pm • Divide time equally between subjects • Put a copy somewhere to keep parents informed • Revise your study timetable – things change • Stick to it ! “Well done is better than well said”
- 11. STUDY SESSIONS • How do you study? • What are you supposed to do? Study has 3 parts • Organising subject matter efficiently • Getting ongoing day to day work and assignments done • Researching and revising work for exams
- 12. • Don’t make study sessions too long • Drink some water before you start • Break tasks down into smaller manageable ones • Do daily summaries of work covered in class in your own words under Main Points • Set a task to achieve for each session
- 13. • Record your plan of attack for each session • Practise skills learned by doing problems, exercises and essays • Aim to build a clear understanding by connecting areas of knowledge • These sessions are the backbone of your Study Programme ‘ Some succeed because they are destined to: most succeed because they are determined to.’
- 14. PRIORITISING • When do you study? • How often? • What about the other things you do? Write down : • The fixed things that you have to do • Time you have no control over – the ‘musts’ • Activities where you have a choice of the ‘options’
- 15. PRIORITISE your OPTIONS • What are your favourites? • You can’t do everything • To achieve your goals, sacrifices have to be made • Avoid time wasters – make a list of the main ones • Reward yourself for working well and achieving short term goals • To perform at your best requires fulfilling and stimulating leisure/relaxation time • You are responsible for the organisation of your time and lifestyle ‘The first step is the most difficult part of the journey’
- 16. PRIORITISING STUDY Setting yourself a specific task to achieve each night is a necessary skill Too often you tend to ‘let it happen’ and don’t plan ahead Procrastination is an obstacle to your goals Each morning or each night before, make a list of study tasks in order of priority for the following night
- 17. You can also use travel time to and from school for • Planning • Listening to recorded summaries or points on an MP3 player Then when you arrive home, it is much easier to get down to study • You are psyched up • Your purpose and task are set • You can apply yourself immediately
- 18. COUNTDOWN to the EXAMS In the run up to your exams, you must adopt a more disciplined attitude Your performance in the exam is vital to your success Look at them positively as an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding
- 19. Social Life : • Put this on hold • Give up parties, nights out etc. • Plan your rewards you will give yourself after the exams Exercise : • Walk or jog daily to reduce the pressure • It clears the mind and encourages positive thoughts
- 20. Distractions : • Eliminate noise • Organise for friends to call at an agreed time
- 21. Travel time : • Read over notes • Listen to study tapes • Plan and revise
- 22. The key is to study actively : • Take notes • Test yourself • Don’t just read ‘ Many drops fill the bucket ‘
- 23. EXAM PREPARATION The secrets to success: • Have genuine faith in your preparation • Don’t leave anything to chance Know exactly what is required for each exam • Understand each subject • Quiz your teachers • Know your exam format Multiple choice Short answer Essays How many questions
- 24. EXAM PREPARATION Around the house put up lists of • Key facts • Formulae • Quotes • Examples Recite them aloud when you see them Do past papers under exam conditions • Identify areas of weakness and address them • Become comfortable with the vocabulary used • Perfect the pace you must work at • Your timing is critical
- 25. EXAM PREPARATION Test your knowledge and understanding • Discuss it, explain it • Justify it with friends • Question each other List any improvements needed • Work through them systematically • Retest your knowledge Be thorough and focused – have a Study Timetable in your study area ‘ When only the best will do ‘
- 26. EXAM TECHNIQUE Understanding Instructions On the front cover of the exam paper are instructions • Read them • Understand them • Know what questions to do • Where to put your answers
- 27. EXAM TECHNIQUE Reading Time • Read the paper through • Plan your approach • Identify questions you can do immediately • Put the questions in the order you wish to do them • Don’t work out answers • Your confidence will build with more difficult questions
- 28. EXAM TECHNIQUE The Exam itself • Start on straight forward questions • Don’t dwell on those you can’t do • Move on On multiple choice questions • Eliminate those answers you think are incorrect • Beware of careless mistakes • Plan your answers • Draw big, clear and accurate diagrams
- 29. EXAM TECHNIQUE The magic word in exams is • Not fast • Not slow • But consistently and persistently ‘ You make your own luck’
- 30. SITTING EXAMS Follow these guidelines – they will work for you • Put a copy of your Exam Timetable in a place where your family can double check times and dates • Take a bottle of water to the exam • Arrive in plenty time before the exam, but don’t be too early • Don’t listen to music beforehand – the songs will play on your mind • Have a watch and the necessary equipment • Be relaxed and focused – your preparation has you ready for your exam
- 31. • Use reading time effectively • Underline / highlight key words and phrases • Do plans - do they address the questions? • But don’t spend too much time on planning • Make sure that you have filled in all the details • During the answer, consider how well it answers the question • Stay alert – don’t daydream • Don’t panic if short on time – note the main points • If you finish early, check your work thoroughly • Never leave early • Cross out any answer if it is not required • Write neatly and legibly ‘ Achievement is a habit – work on it ‘
- 32. EXAM STRESS … and how to beat it Revision Notes Exam Timetable
- 33. • Try to work to a Revision Timetable • Start planning well before exams begin • Make your Books, Notes and Essays user friendly with Summary Notes, Headings,Sub-Headings and Revision Cards • Use Key Words and / or Spider Charts • Get tips on other revision techniques from others
- 34. A RESUME DON’T • Don’t leave Revision to the last minute • Don’t avoid revising subjects you don’t like or find difficult • Don’t forget that there is life beyond Revision and Exams
- 35. A RESUME REMEMBER : • Remember it is important to eat and sleep well • Put yourself first – it is an important time for you – try to talk to family about how they can make studying a little easier for you, e.g. by agreeing times when you can have your own space, when they will try to be a bit quieter around the house and when you would rather not be disturbed DON’T REVISE ALL THE TIME – TAKE BREAKS AND DO THINGS YOU ENJOY AND HELP YOU RELAX
- 36. PREPARE for the BIG DAY CHECK … • Have a good breakfast • Give yourself plenty of time to get to the exam room • Make sure you know where the exam is being held • Take everything you need – pens, pencils, water, anything else? • Go to the toilet before the exam starts
- 37. PACE YOURSELF • Read the instructions • Read all the questions and give yourself time to answer those you are required to answer • Plan how much time you will need for each question • If you are stuck, go to the next question. You can come back to the unfinished one later. If you are really stuck, try to have an intelligent guess
- 38. ABOVE ALL … • Perform as well as you can – ‘YOU are YOU’ so you can only do the best you can on the day • Don’t go through the answers with your friends afterwards, if it is only going to worry you • Try to put the last exam out of your mind and look ahead to the next one – you can’t go back to change things Exams are Important, but they are not the only key to a successful future. GOOD LUCK !