here are 5 of the big things i’ve learned over the past two years and also recently during exams! i feel like i’ve come so far as a student in terms of studying, work ethic and self-discipline, so i wanted to share all the important tips i learned and will definitely re-use in the coming years :)
1: the best way to find your preferred study method is through trial and error
if you are given the chance of taking an end of unit/topic test that doesn’t count towards your final grade, use it to test out revision techniques and find out which one is best for you! throughout all of year 10 i tried different things forevery test i had from simply notes to mind maps to flashcards and to summary sheets in the attempt to find the perfect study method for me. doing this early on in your course where smaller tests don’t really matter is the perfect opportunity for taking risks; this is why it’s called trial and error. some techniques won’t work for you, and you might get a bad grade, but that is how you learn! then, when you get exams that really matter, you’ll know exactly what to do to achieve that dream grade. (although, i understand that in some countries every test counts to your final grade- a work around for this would be to give yourself a mock test deadline if you really want to find out which study method suits you best)
2: self-discipline (rather than motivation) takes time and practice
motivation is temporary; self-discipline is long-lasting. there are a million articles on how to boost motivation, but if you want to develop a consistent work ethic it’s really important to have self-discipline. of course, this can be really hard to achieve; but establishing your goals and sticking to them is crucial. start a study schedule with a corresponding self-care routine (this can be anything from skincare to stretching to journaling) as well as some leisure time and try to stick to it! don’t beat yourself up if you find it hard at the beginning; just remind yourself of your goals, be clear on what you want in the future, and start again. over time it’ll get easier to get up, work hard, and eventually achieve your goals 🤓(also try my study tracker if you need help planning/overviewing your week )
3: active recall is crucial!
i’ve watched many people (myself included) put endless hours in studying and come out with lower grades than they were expecting- while it isn’t always the case, what i’ve noticed is that reading the textbook and making notes from it will help you understand the topic and make you feel like you know everything, but when it comes to recalling specific info it doesn’t really work. although there are some people who can just read the textbook and all the detail is easily deposited into their brain (ugh), for most people an active recall technique is needed. if you hate flashcards, don’t worry! there are plenty of different methods like blurting, teaching others, repeating things out loud until you can say it without looking, solving questions/worksheets etcetera. over time, your brain gets better and better at memorizing and learning that hopefully by the time your exams roll around you’ll be able to recall everything you need 😊
4: create study resources as you are going through your course
this is probably slightly obvious, but so many times during this exam season i’ve kicked myself for not making sets of flashcards or mind maps sooner. instead of making these things and taking huge chunks of time doing passive revision, i could be practicing them and memorizing instead! one of the best things to do during your course when you have free time is to sit down, open the specification/syllabus/textbook and make study resources that you’ll be able to confidently use during exam season. ideally, you could make them after finishing each topic/unit in class, with as much specific information that you think is relevant. it is so much faster to condense flashcards, mind maps or summary sheets when exams come around rather than to have to make whole new ones because there wasn’t enough detail/information.
5: if you are given a specification or syllabus, use it!!
my favorite teacher always told us that our specs should be printed out, annotated, highlighted, and worn from so much use; i didn’t really heed his advice until right before exams, but it was probably the best advice i ever received for the sciences. your specification/syllabus literally tells you everything that might be in the exam, so use it! print them out at 85% so that you have enough margin space to scribble; i used a traffic light method where i highlighted things i knew well in green, things that i needed to revise a bit further in orange and stuff that i really don’t understand and needed to study in red. if you’re struggling to grasp the content within your subject or feel like you’ve got gaps in your knowledge, this method literally points out your strengths and weaknesses for you!
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