General Study Tips from expert tutors
There are many ways to study, and it’s important for each student to find what works best for them. This may vary according to what is being studied for, when the test is, and how confident the student feels about the material. However, there are several tips and principles that our expert academic management tutors follow that will make studying easier.
Establish a Consistent Study Schedule
First of all, it is important to establish a consistent and realistic study schedule. One of the most important study tips from our team of tutors is that students should look at their schedule, and map out specific times for studying. We usually recommend sticking to 45 minute blocks, mirroring a school schedule. Research has shown that 45 minutes is the average amount of time someone can be expected to concentrate, and therefore study effectively. After that, a 10-15 minute break is needed to re-set the brain and give yourself a rest.
Don’t try to revise in hours-long marathon study sessions—it’s unlikely that they’ll be effective and, more importantly, even less likely that you’ll be able to keep it up. It is far better to study in shorter bursts that allow for both productive work time, and relaxation. That study-life balance will be essential for any student aiming to perform well.
Using Resources to Study Effectively
The next thing to consider is what online resources can be used to support your studies. If it is a summative assessment assigned by an MYP teacher, they will certainly have provided a rubric featuring their expectations. Take your time to read this assessment rubric and all the materials provided by your teacher; it will make studying much more effective as you will be able to focus on exactly what will earn you marks on your assessment.
Similarly, students studying for exams like the IBDP, IGCSEs, or A-Levels should look to the syllabus and course guide of their relevant subject. These are summarised versions of the course content, and will give learners an indication of what they need to know before the exam. Use some of your study time to assess your strengths and weaknesses using the traffic light method, with green illustrating confidence, amber for shakier knowledge, and red for needing urgent revision. This can be an effective way to prioritise your time so that your study sessions are as productive as they can be.
Finding the Ideal Location for Effective Studying
The next thing to consider is where you are planning to study. While everyone has their own preferences, there are some guidelines you should follow.
Firstly, a good study location will help you avoid distractions. If you particularly enjoy video games, for example, you probably don’t want to be studying beside any gaming consoles. Likewise, many people find studying in cafes to be ineffective because they can get noisy, with lots of sights, sounds, and smells to distract from their studies.
On the other hand, many people prefer studying in a quiet location like a library. This can either be a school, or a public library. A library is a great option because they require users to be quiet, and many others are also studying or working, making it easier to concentrate. The most important thing is that an effective study environment is one that minimises distractions and allows you to concentrate.
Creating a School Study Group
Another excellent study option that students often underestimate is a school study group. This can be particularly effective for students who are working towards particular exams, such as an A-Level in mathematics, or an IGCSE in history. As you are working towards the same goal as your peers, it can be effective to study together. That way, you can support each other and answer each others’ questions when they arise, making for productive study sessions.
Schools are usually delighted to accommodate students who are wishing to form a study group by providing them with a classroom in which to work. However, it’s also important to remember to use this time effectively. While working together on problems can be a useful way to study, students shouldn’t let themselves be distracted by socialising in this context.
Is Cramming a Good or Bad Study Strategy?
Students often ask if they should use ‘cramming’ methods when studying. Cramming, of course, is the practice of trying to review as much material as possible at the last minute, leading to much of it landing in the student’s short term memory.
At BartyED, we don’t believe that it is as simple as a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ strategy—cramming is a study tool like any other. The important thing for students to understand is when and how it can be applied effectively. Cramming is best used when preparing for a test that is largely based on definitions, or when you are reviewing previously consolidated material at the last minute. However, it’s important to avoid overreliance on a single study method. Cramming, when used ineffectively, can actually cause students to become more stressed, as they are frequently limited by their short term memory. Understanding how to apply different revision strategies is an important aspect when studying for success.
Common Mistakes When Studying Independently
As said above, the most frequent misconception that students have when it comes to studying, and study tips, is that ‘more is always better’. This is not the case. Every year we have students who come to us frustrated because they have been trying to revise for twelve hour days, and then wonder why they cannot remember everything they have studied. Or else, they have been staying up later and later in an attempt to study more, but this results in lost sleep, increased stress and often, a poorer performance on exams.
Another frequent mistake that people make when studying independently is using resources ineffectively. Past papers can be highly effective resources that are often made available to students, but they need to be applied correctly. Those who are trying to study should bear in mind that past paper questions have already been asked, and are therefore unlikely to come up again in the same form. It is often useful for students to identify question types, rather than the specific demands of a question.
How BartyED Tutors Encourage Effective Study Habits
A large part of the students that we work with at BartyED need to work on their general study skills. Unfortunately, schools often do not have the time to explicitly coach students on effective study habits, and so it falls to students to develop them for themselves. This can be challenging, even for the most able students. Our team of tutors are trained in coaching students in various study techniques and strategies, all aimed at finding the most effective tactics for the individual student. We help you develop so that you are able to feel confident and prepared for every exam.
If you think that you or your child could benefit from the guidance of a BartyED tutor, reach out to us today by phone (+852 2882 1017) or via email (enquiries@bartyed.com).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Effective study habits include the use of past papers, as well as other resources (both online and physical). Past papers can be effectively used to study through identifying common question types and how to approach them, while students should always keep in mind the exam or test rubric and assessment details when studying.
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Rest is enormously important for any student who wishes to perform well. However, many students struggle to find the time to both study and rest. The best way to ensure you have time to do both, is to schedule specific and realistic study sessions. Aim to study in multiple blocks of 45 minutes each, and build in short and long breaks to ensure effective study periods.
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Cramming is a study strategy like any other. Rather than being labelled as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, it’s important to understand how cramming can be used to study effectively. Don’t try to cram large amounts of information at once, and it’s always better to study consistently over a longer period of time.
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A good way to improve your study habits is to set specific goals for each study session. This will help keep you focused, and put limits on the expectations you set for each session. Consistent studying over a longer period of time is more likely to be effective, so be realistic about what can be achieved in the short term. Use the study resources available to you at school and in other venues, and reach out for help from an expert and qualified professional tutor when help is needed with studying.