SKILLS for LEARNINGSKILLS for STUDY

MAKE Your BRAIN WORK for YOU

Successful Confident Responsible Effective

Learners Individuals Citizens Contributors

Pay attention in class Take good notes

STUDY SKILLS

Keep an organised Notebook Ask questions in class

Plan a definite study time Don’t cram for hours the

and place for each day night before a test or exam

The following are characteristics of a successful student.

Develop these in yourselfAsk questions

Discuss topics with your peers

If you don’t understand something, speak up

INDEPENDENT LEARNERS

You are responsible for your own learning

‘Ideas are funny things, they don’t work unless you do’

‘Learning is not filling the bucket, but the lighting of the fire’

Study sessions just don’t happen when you feel like doing them.They need to be scheduled on an organised timetable.Your study timetable should rule your life.

STUDY TIMETABLE

Don’t study after 11.00pm

Divide time equally between subjects

Put a copy somewhere to keep parents informed

Revise your study timetable – things change

Stick to it !

“Well done is better than well said”

SOME TIPS

How do you study?What are you supposed to do?

Study has 3 partsOrganising subject matter efficiently

Getting ongoing day to day work and assignments done

Researching and revising work for exams

STUDY SESSIONS

Don’t make study sessions too long

Drink some water before you start

Break tasks down into smaller manageable ones

Do daily summaries of work covered in class in your own words under Main Points

Set a task to achieve for each session

Record your plan of attack for each sessionPractise skills learned by doing problems,

exercises and essaysAim to build a clear understanding by connecting

areas of knowledgeThese sessions are the backbone of your Study

Programme

‘ Some succeed because they are destined to: most succeed because they are determined to.’

When do you study?How often?What about the other things you do?

Write down :The fixed things that you have to do

Time you have no control over – the ‘musts’

Activities where you have a choice of the ‘options’

PRIORITISING

What are your favourites?You can’t do everythingTo achieve your goals, sacrifices have to be madeAvoid time wasters – make a list of the main onesReward yourself for working well and achieving

short term goalsTo perform at your best requires fulfilling and

stimulating leisure/relaxation timeYou are responsible for the organisation of your

time and lifestyle

‘The first step is the most difficult part of the journey’

PRIORITISE your OPTIONS

Setting yourself a specific task to achieve each night is a necessary skill

Too often you tend to ‘let it happen’ and don’t plan ahead

Procrastination is an obstacle to your goals

Each morning or each night before, make a list of study tasks in order of priority for the following night

PRIORITISING STUDY

You can also use travel time to and from school for PlanningListening to recorded summaries or points on an

MP3 player

Then when you arrive home, it is much easier to get down to study

You are psyched upYour purpose and task are setYou can apply yourself immediately

In the run up to your exams, you must adopt a more disciplined attitudeYour performance in the exam is vital to your successLook at them positively as an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding

COUNTDOWN to the EXAMS

Social Life :Put this on holdGive up parties, nights out etc.Plan your rewards you will give yourself after the

exams

Exercise :Walk or jog daily to reduce the pressureIt clears the mind and encourages positive

thoughts

Distractions :Eliminate noise

Organise for friends to call at an agreed time

Travel time :Read over notes

Listen to study tapes

Plan and revise

The key is to study actively :Take notes

Test yourself

Don’t just read

‘ Many drops fill the bucket ‘

The secrets to success:Have genuine faith in your preparationDon’t leave anything to chanceKnow exactly what is required for each examUnderstand each subjectQuiz your teachersKnow your exam format

Multiple choiceShort answerEssaysHow many questions

EXAM PREPARATION

Around the house put up lists ofKey factsFormulaeQuotesExamplesRecite them aloud when you see themDo past papers under exam conditionsIdentify areas of weakness and address themBecome comfortable with the vocabulary usedPerfect the pace you must work atYour timing is critical

EXAM PREPARATION

Test your knowledge and understandingDiscuss it, explain itJustify it with friendsQuestion each otherList any improvements neededWork through them systematicallyRetest your knowledgeBe thorough and focused – have a Study Timetable

in your study area

‘ When only the best will do ‘

EXAM PREPARATION

Understanding Instructions

On the front cover of the exam paper are instructions

Read themUnderstand themKnow what questions to doWhere to put your answers

EXAM TECHNIQUE

Reading Time

Read the paper throughPlan your approachIdentify questions you can do immediatelyPut the questions in the order you wish to do themDon’t work out answersYour confidence will build with more difficult

questions

EXAM TECHNIQUE

The Exam itselfStart on straight forward questionsDon’t dwell on those you can’t doMove on

On multiple choice questionsEliminate those answers you think are incorrectBeware of careless mistakesPlan your answersDraw big, clear and accurate diagrams

EXAM TECHNIQUE

The magic word in exams is

Not fast

Not slow

But consistently and persistently

‘ You make your own luck’

EXAM TECHNIQUE

Follow these guidelines – they will work for you

Put a copy of your Exam Timetable in a place where your family can double check times and dates

Take a bottle of water to the examArrive in plenty time before the exam, but don’t be

too earlyDon’t listen to music beforehand – the songs will

play on your mindHave a watch and the necessary equipmentBe relaxed and focused – your preparation has you

ready for your exam

SITTING EXAMS

Use reading time effectivelyUnderline / highlight key words and phrasesDo plans - do they address the questions?But don’t spend too much time on planningMake sure that you have filled in all the detailsDuring the answer, consider how well it answers

the questionStay alert – don’t daydreamDon’t panic if short on time – note the main pointsIf you finish early, check your work thoroughlyNever leave earlyCross out any answer if it is not requiredWrite neatly and legibly

‘ Achievement is a habit – work on it ‘

EXAM STRESS …and how to beat it

Revision Notes Exam Timetable

Try to work to a Revision Timetable

Start planning well before exams begin

Make your Books, Notes and Essays user friendly with Summary Notes, Headings,Sub-Headings and Revision Cards

Use Key Words and / or Spider Charts

Get tips on other revision techniques from others

DON’TDon’t leave Revision to the last minuteDon’t avoid revising subjects you don’t like or find

difficultDon’t forget that there is life beyond Revision and

Exams

A RESUME

REMEMBER :Remember it is important to eat and sleep wellPut yourself first – it is an important time for you –

try to talk to family about how they can make studying a little easier for you, e.g. by agreeing times when you can have your own space, when they will try to be a bit quieter around the house and when you would rather not be disturbed

DON’T REVISE ALL THE TIME – TAKE BREAKS AND DO THINGS YOU ENJOY AND HELP YOU RELAX

A RESUME

CHECK …Have a good breakfastGive yourself plenty of time to get to the exam

roomMake sure you know where the exam is being heldTake everything you need – pens, pencils, water,

anything else?Go to the toilet before the exam starts

PREPARE for the BIG DAY

Read the instructions

Read all the questions and give yourself time to answer those you are required to answer

Plan how much time you will need for each question

If you are stuck, go to the next question. You can come back to the unfinished one later. If you are really stuck, try to have an intelligent guess

PACE YOURSELF

Perform as well as you can – ‘YOU are YOU’ so you can only do the best you can on the day

Don’t go through the answers with your friends afterwards, if it is only going to worry you

Try to put the last exam out of your mind and look ahead to the next one – you can’t go back to change things

Exams are Important, but they are not the only key to a successful future.

GOOD LUCK !

ABOVE ALL …