1. Study Skills
Studying should not be a time when you ‘cram’ before a test or exam.
Studying regularly reduces stress leading up to exam time and helps you succeed

2. Benefits of regular revision
“The best revision is continuous revision, started as early as possible, spread into several sessions, rather than lumped in at the last minute".
Rather than spend hours on end th night before the exam, study regularly and this will help you get the result you deserve!

3. How long should I study for?
30-40 minute study sessions are enough!
You should break up sessions by taking a break, going for a walk, eating a snack etc.

4. My study environment Do I study better at night or in the morning?
If you walk your dog in the morning then you could study afterwards.
Am I more focused at a table or in my bedroom?
Cool or warm room?
Tidy or messy room?

5. My study environment
Do I study best when I am with a group of friends… or is this just time spent chatting.
Do I focus more when I am on my own?

6. Checking your phone every 2 minutes disrupts the flow of your study
Checking your phone every 2 minutes disrupts the flow of your study. Give your phone to a parent/guardian to keep hold of during your study time

7. How to ‘MAKE IT HAPPEN’
Understand
Condense
Memorise
Review

8. 1. Understand Ask questions & ask for help if you need it
Attend supported study sessions
Keep track of the work & keep it organised so you don’t lose anything important.

9. 2. Condense Make coloured notes & mind maps using only KEY points
Use post it notes and stick on wall
Make revision cards with questions on one side and the answer on the other.

10. 3. Memorise
Rather than just reading your notes, try one of these ways:
Use mnemonics
Funny stories or rhymes
Make a song
Remember the rhythm
Draw a diagram, with annotations and picture it in your head
If a primary school pupil can do it, it wont work e.g. copying or reading.
You need to DO SOMETHING with your notes.

11. 4. Review
Make time to come back and check that you remember what you have learned.
Test yourself or ask someone to test you after a few days/weeks.
Don’t let all your knowledge drain away!!

12. Different ways to study
Audio learning
Effective note taking
Teach a friend
Revise with friends
Changing the format of notes

13. Different ways to study
Audio learning
Effective note taking
Teach a friend
Revise with friends
Changing the format of notes

14. Audio Learning Record your notes
On your phone you can record yourself reading chunks of your notes. (Apps to change text into talk)
You should shorten these down into small, memorable parts
Like song lyrics, you will learn the words and rhythm and be able to produce answers in your exam.
THIS WORKS VERY WELL FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MUSICAL AND DON’T LIKE WRITING LOTS!

15. Effective Note taking
Always write notes in your own words – unless the teacher tells you otherwise
Less is more – you don’t need every single word, just the key points
Make your notes visual e.g. draw small pictures to represent ideas
Use different coloured pens for different points or to link knowledge

16. Teach a friend/family
Teach someone you know, who doesn’t study the subject
Choose a small part of the topic e.g. Causes of climate change
Teach the person by speaking, showing diagrams etc.
Test their knowledge at the end
Evidence shows that this helps develop the knowledge of the person teaching the lesson as they think of how to explain it to others

18. Revise with friends
Share resources – everyone makes a mind map for a different topic and then photocopy
Create some questions on a topic and test each other
Revise together at school, in the library or in each others houses – this means you still see your friends but can revise at the same time

19. Change the format of notes
Reading/copying notes – PASSIVE
This means you are not thinking or being challenged
Make revision cards
Make mind-maps – linking ideas with colour
Shorten notes into small chunks

20. Revision cards example
Easy to carry around!
Effects of climate change:
Flooding – Bangladesh
Drought – Ethiopia > starvation
More hurricanes – Philippians
Water shortage – California
Melting ice caps - Arctic
Question:
Explain 5 causes of climate change
Show example of revision cards, tied together with an elastic band
Question on one side
Answer on the other
Short, to the point notes on a topic

21. Mind Maps
Link ideas with colour – use large branches then into smaller to develop lines of thinking. Add images to represent ideas.

22. Look after yourself! Drink lots of water Eat healthily
Get fresh air & some exercise
Get plenty of sleep! Tiredness ≠ success
Put the phone away

23. Organise your time Schedule specific nights for each subject
Make sure you know which topic you will study otherwise you spend time choosing/looking for the relevant notes