1. Study Tips

2. Self-Quiz Are you an effective learner?
This “question and answer” test may help you spot where you might start to improve your study skills. Just answer YES or NO
Do you plan, make a rough copy of, and check your homework or assignment before copying it out neatly?
Do you voluntarily revise a subject even if exams or tests are not due for some time?
If you are having problems with a subject, do you talk it over with your teacher as soon as you can?
Do you do complete your homework or assignment in advance of its deadline?
Do you have a place at home where you can study without being distracted?
Do you take notice and act upon the comments and suggestions your teacher might make about your work?
Do you keep a record of the “language” (terminology) used in each subject, especially if that subject is science?
Do you use the library, internet or other learning aids regularly to help with your studies?
Have you always kept your exercise books or folders in good order and up to date?
Can you easily spot the main points of a topic when reading a text book and make extra notes from them?
Do you plan your use of time by writing down what you have to do and by when?
Do you know ways of improving your memory when revising?
Do you plan ahead for tests or examinations?
Are you able to forget about schoolwork once you have finished studying?
Read on to find out what your score means…
“YES” TO AT LEAST TEN QUESTIONS:
You are well on your way to becoming an effective learner. Use the rest of this guide to help you spot the weaknesses you may still have.
LESS THAN TEN “YES” ANSWERS?:
No problem – read this guide very carefully, follow the advice, and you, too, can be an effective learner!

3. important and unimportant productive and unproductive
Organization
Wise use of time is the key to success – and not just in terms of schoolwork. Your time must be divided up in many other directions.
For example, how much time do you devote to the following?
Draw up a table like this, complete it, and see.
Activity
Hours per week
School
Homework
Part-time jobs
Household chores
Sport
Relaxation
Sleep
Meals (including snacks!)
Other activities?
TOTAL
So what was your total?…..
There are, of course, 168 hours in a week! How is YOUR time divided between:-
important and unimportant
useful and useless
productive and unproductive ?
In fact, ALL of the activities listed above should be given time in a well-planned timetable.

4. Getting organized: Using time available more efficiently
So how can time be saved and put to better use?
The first task is to find out where, when and why time is being wasted. Is there a common factor?
Secondly, try out time-saving ideas such as:
Selective viewing or listening
Carrying key-fact note cards for revision in idle moments
Limiting time spent on the telephone or with visitors
Saying “NO” and meaning it!
How and what YOU do is up to YOU. No-one else will do it for you.
THINK CAREFULLY AND BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF
Footnote: When asked what they saw as the greatest time wasters, other people came up with the following:
• Watching television , Idle waiting time (in queues, at home, etc.) , Unnecessarily long telephone calls , Travelling time , Meetings (clubs, etc.)
• Unexpected visitors , Inability to say “no”

5. Many people fail tests or exams because they start their revision too late rather than because they lack ability.
Careful planning of what you do and when you do it often uncovers huge amounts of free time you never knew you had! The most important phrase to remember is: ORGANISE EARLY – REVISE REGULARLY

6. Constructing your timetable
There are 35 – 40 working weeks in a typical school year. Use this as a guide for your rough timetable.
Fill in tasks as they are given.
For example:
You might include the week a test takes place, the deadline for a project, when vacations are scheduled – it is entirely up to you!
Advantages
At-a-glance timing for every activity.
Busy periods show up clearly.
Lead-in time to deadlines can be shown by a long arrow.
Time limits for tasks can be set and adhered to.
This timetable should then be backed-up with a detailed daily plan which states what you need to do day by day.
DO NOT rely on memory for this! Get a planner, whiteboard, voice recorder, something to keep track of tasks.
There will always be something you have forgotten to take you by surprise at the worst possible time.…Be Prepared…

7. NEVER FORGET WHAT YOUR TIMETABLE IS FOR!
Daily Time Tabling
Plan your activities for each day. Don’t forget to include breaks, meals and leisure activities. Be as accurate about time needed as you can.
For the evening, make up a timetable from the time you get home. Divide your time in slots of minutes or so.
For example :
And so on….
Don’t forget the weekend! Most of this will be taken up with other things but do try spare some time preparing for the week ahead and/or revision for tests and exams.
Everyone is different.
The timetable must suit YOU and YOUR needs, NOT what someone else says you must do.
GET SETTLED – LOOK AT THE TASK – DIVIDE YOUR TIME
FIX TARGETS – SET DEADLINES
REWARD YOURSELF!!
and finally
NEVER FORGET WHAT YOUR TIMETABLE IS FOR!

8. Working out priorities
Priorities can be divided up into:
URGENT – must be done now.
IMPORTANT – must be done soon.
UNIMPORTANT – must be done eventually.
There is, of course, a lot of overlap so you might also list the things you have to do only in order of importance – the top one or two becoming urgent.
Keep a diary and a pencil handy to record things as they come up.
You could also use a card index, or even a computerized database, whatever you feel you can work with.

9. BE FLEXIBLE – LEARN TO FIT THINGS IN and
If you find that more than two items are urgent, then you are the victim of bad planning – do it better next time!!
MOST OF ALL
BE FLEXIBLE – LEARN TO FIT THINGS IN
and
BE EQUIPPED – DIARY, TIMETABLES, CARD INDEX, ETC.
Another way of setting priorities is to use the 4D system:
DUMP anything that does not need to be done at all…
DELAY what you can’t dump…
DESIGNATE a time for what you can’t delay…and then…..
DO IT!

10. NEVER REGARD “FAILURE” AS FINAL
Turn it into a challenge and use every opportunity to put it right! Only small changes in effort or attitude are required to move between grades – preferably upward!!

11. Seven steps to dealing with problems
If you follow this guide carefully, the things you might see as difficulties now become enjoyable challenges.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PROBLEM? Make sure you know what it is!
WHAT END RESULT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE? Decide on what “success” means to you.
COLLECT INFORMATION What are the facts? Who / What can help? (Teachers, books, time, etc.) What are your priorities?
DECIDE WHAT HAS TO BE DONE How will you achieve your aim?
PLAN AHEAD When? How? Why?
ACT Carry out your plan.
REVIEW Have you achieved what you set out to do? (Yes or No) Were you unsuccessful? (Go back to Number 1…) Did you fall short in any way? (Go back to Number 2…) Have you learned anything? (If not, why not…?)
What should you do next…?

12. Setting up your study area
Setting up a study area will help you get into the “study habit”.
In an ideal world the study area would be:
QUIET
FREE OF DISTRACTIONS
COMFORTABLE
WELL LIT AND VENTILATED
In the real world the first two are difficult to achieve! There is no ideal place to study, only one in which you are able to study. This is a very individual place.