Study tips.
The methods are the big stuff. But there are loads of little tricks that make studying easier, faster, and way less annoying. Here are the best ones. Try a few and see what works for your brain.
Beating "I'll do it later"
Putting things off isn't because you're lazy. It's because your brain is dodging something that feels boring or too big. Here's how to trick it.
- Make the first step tiny. Don't say "revise science." Say "do 5 flashcards." Tiny things are easy to start.
- The 2-minute trick. Tell yourself you'll only study for 2 minutes. Once you start, you'll usually keep going.
- Decide the night before. Pick what you'll study tomorrow before you go to bed. Then you don't have to decide when you're tired.
Where to study
- Same spot every time. Your brain learns "this is where I study" and switching on gets easier.
- Not on your bed. Your brain should think "bed = sleep," not "bed = maths."
- Tidy desk, good light. A messy desk is distracting. Daylight keeps you awake.
- Sit up properly. Comfy sofas make you sleepy. A normal chair at a table is better for focus.
The phone problem
Your phone is REALLY good at stealing your attention. It's designed that way. You can't beat it by trying really hard — you beat it by moving it away.
- Put it in another room. Not on your desk. Not in your pocket. Another room.
- Check it on breaks only. Not while you're studying. Save it as a reward.
- Try focus apps. Apps like Forest grow a little tree while you study — but the tree dies if you pick up your phone!
The tomato timer trick
This one has a funny name — the Pomodoro (that's "tomato" in Italian, because the first timer looked like a tomato). It works like magic.
- Study hard for 25 minutes. No distractions.
- Take a 5-minute break. Get up, stretch, get a drink.
- After 4 rounds, take a big break — 20 to 30 minutes.
The breaks aren't being lazy! Your brain uses break time to lock in what you just learned. Pretty cool.
Sleep, food, and moving about
These three things secretly control how well your brain works. Get them right and everything gets easier.
- Sleep is when your brain saves your memories. Staying up late the night before a test is the WORST thing you can do. Your brain needs sleep to lock in what you learned. Get a good night's sleep, especially before a test.
- Eat proper food. Your brain runs on energy from food. Things like eggs, porridge, and nuts keep your brain going. Too much sugar makes you crash.
- Move every day. Even a quick walk or a kickabout helps your memory and your mood. Exercise actually makes your brain work better!
- Drink water. A thirsty brain can't focus. Keep a water bottle nearby.
Test-day tips
- Sleep beats last-minute cramming. By test morning, you've done the work. A rested brain remembers way better than a tired one.
- Do a few easy flashcards to warm up. Don't try to learn anything brand new — just get your brain into "remembering mode."
- Read every question TWICE. Loads of marks get lost by answering the wrong question by accident.
- If you get stuck, move on. Skip the hard one, do the others, come back. The answer often pops into your head later.
- Don't panic. Take a deep breath. You've practised. You've got this.
Keeping yourself going
Some days you won't feel like studying. That's normal! The trick is to not rely on feeling like it.
- Stick it to something you already do. "After dinner, I do 10 minutes of flashcards." Easy to remember.
- Watch your streak grow. Use the Sticker Tracker. Earning stickers and keeping a streak going feels great!
- Reward yourself. Finish your studying, then do something fun. Your brain learns that studying leads to good stuff.
- Missed a day? No biggie. One missed day means nothing. Just start again tomorrow. Don't give up because of one day.
Mistakes to avoid
- Reading your notes over and over. Feels like studying. Isn't. Test yourself instead.
- Colouring in your notes for hours. Pretty notes don't help you remember. Turn them into flashcards.
- Cramming everything the night before. Little bits often beats one big panic session.
- Studying with your phone buzzing. Every buzz breaks your focus. Put it away.
Sleep well. Put your phone away. Make the first step tiny. Study in little chunks. Keep your streak going. The methods do the learning — these tips make sure you actually do them!