1. Effective Study Skills Writing based subjects
Learn active, deep processing strategies
Explore the different purposes for study tasks
Learn about active reading and note making strategies
Practise using learning strategies
Study skills for college – remembering what worked for you in school or work but then being
Aware of the differences in college and making adjustments.
Today we’ll focus on reading and notetaking but we’ll touch on other areas too.

2. What’s new?
S1-3
S4-6
So what are the main differences as S5/6 begin to hit home?
Firstly there is a lot more of everything!
Your student was stressed with the National exams, but Highers and S5/6 can be even more stressful as the workload increases on amount and complexity!

3. Getting prepared

4. 1. Practicalities (from research studies)
Eat healthily and regularly – especially breakfast.
Get 8-10 hours of sleep every night, and a regular bedtime
Get out into the fresh air and do some exercise (even just a walk)
Drink water regularly
Revise in a quiet environment – no TV or music or family life.
Most studies show that music does not aid memory (it simply tricks your brain into thinking it is busy)

5. 2. Phones – put them away! Lowers concentration Increases FOMO/stress
Reduces memory
Makes you sleep worse
all advice says do NOT charge it in your room overnight.
Alarm Clock
Argos – cost £3.99

6. 3. Planning Make a simple plan or timetable.
Lay out your week in a plan and fill in what you will do and when.
This can include other activities.
There is an SQA app but there is nothing wrong with a bit of paper and some coloured pens
Remember that Saturdays and Sunday need to be more specifically timetabled.
If you have a job, you must work round this. Don’t use it as an excuse.

7. Afternoon off 9-11am 11.15-1pm 2-3.30pm 3.30-5pm 7-8.30pm 8.30-10pm
Sat
Long lie
French
Football
English PE
Maths
Sun
Afternoon off

8. 4. Class Notes Make sure you have all the appropriate notes
Catch up any class notes that you have missed (the exam doesn’t care if you were “off that day”)
Organise your notes and make sure they are all available during your study time
(this should be done well ahead
of studying actually starting)

9. Study techniques

10. What are you learning?
For a writing subject this will be for information such as:
Quotes
Definitions and Explanations
Examples
Arguments for and against
Evaluations
Comparisons
Conclusions

12. Passive – not very effective
Highlighting

13. Passive – not very effective
Reading notes

14. Writing Techniques DO NOT just copy, it is passive
Rewrite information and put it into your own words
Change the layout – turn a paragraph into a mind map, or write a table out in full prose.
Read your information, look for links and put it into categories
Add drawings as little memory aids
Revisit again and again over time – see diagram

15. Revision Clock

16. Reading Techniques DO NOT just read, it is passive
Prepare a talk with note cards
Give the talk to someone
Explain what you have learned to a real or imaginary someone else, with notes and then without
Record yourself and listen back when on a walk.

17. Most Effective Learning?
DOING IT – simulating the real thing
Use past paper questions (SQA website)
Plan answer summaries – don’t write a full answer
Repeat writing until you know it by heart
Write sections of answers – practice your weak areas
Practice skills types (knowledge, analysis, evaluation)
Write FULL answers
Work with a partner to help stay on task