Study skills – High Intensity Sessions work best!
Whether you are in Junior Cert, Leaving Cert or in college, preparing for exams can be compared to training for a marathon, in which case some effective planning and a strong work ethic combine to make the perfect training schedule for students. If you haven’t gotten into the stride of study yet, don’t worry there is plenty of time but now is the time to start. Midterm break has given everyone some time to recharge the batteries after a very busy start to the school & college year. If you haven’t done so already now is the time to develop a well thought-out study plan giving you the best possible chance of realising your potential in state or college exams. Keeping the plan simple and achievable while staying focused on your exam targets will challenge you to achieve the goals you have set for yourself. The following tips will get you started:
1. Write down the targets you hope to achieve in each subject. You need to aim to achieve this target in as many class tests and assignments as possible during the year if you are realistic of reaching it by May/ June 2021.
2. Plan ahead and organize all your notes. Have a separate folder for each subject and divide them into the sections of the course. On an A4 page for each exam subject, make a list of all the topics/areas to be covered and keep this at the front of the folder. Tick off topics as you study and revise them.
3. Draw up a weekly study timetable and fill in your evening activities. Allow adequate time for homework/assignments on each evening and then allocate revision/study slots of 40-45 mins in duration to each evening. On days where you have a lot of homework or assignment deadlines it may be only possible to do one revision slot. It can work very well to assign a particular subject to a specific night, for example, geography on a Monday night, biology on a Tuesday night and so on. As the year goes on you will be increasing revision slots as homework decreases. Include all your subjects in revision slots at least once in the week, one per week day and the remainder at the weekend. Plan the sections you are going to revise at the beginning of each week and have all notes, texts, utensils at hand. Don’t forget to include breaks and fun activities!
4. Stock up on highlighters, post-it notes, mind-map templates, flashcards etc to use for revision sessions.
How to approach a revision session of 40-45 mins
Just like a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session, you will get the maximum out of a revision session if you work hard and remain focused for 40-45 mins rather than ineffective study for longer periods. Break it up as follows:
· Survey the key headings, sub-headings, key points, diagrams, tables, maps etc (5 mins)
· Read the important information carefully, take very brief notes if it helps but don’t overdo it. Concentrate on learning the content. Use whatever techniques work best for your style of learning here such as mind-maps, bullet lists, flashcards, saying the content out loud, recording keywords on your phone and playing them back, visualisations etc. (20 mins)
· Recall what you can by brainstorming what you can remember on a blank sheet of paper (5 mins)
· Review what you are unsure about and have a look at an exam question on the topic to see how confident you would be to attempt it. (10-15 mins)
It isn’t an easy task to get and stay motivated for an entire exam year but if you can start early with a good study routine it will become habit before long and by putting in the hours with effective techniques you will cross the finishing line in May/June knowing you have given the exams your best shot!