where to study

Where you study can be as important as what you study. It is best to set up a study space. This will become your quiet place for study, and once it takes on that meaning you will find it easier to study there.

• It is no good trying to study in front of the TV or on your bed. You may even find it hard to get to sleep if you get in the habit of studying in bed. Bed is your sleeping area; find a study one.

• Clear off the desk. It is best to have the bare minimum in your study area. You do not need any distractions while studying.

• Choose who you study with. It is best to study alone, but if you need to go over notes with someone, choose them carefully. If you think your friends will not take it seriously, don't invite them.

Get in a routine

If you get started early enough before your exams, you will find you don't need to put in any all-nighters.

• One good hour of study is better than a whole night of trying to keep awake.

• Find the time of day that you study best. Pick a couple of hours and stick to this study time.

• Get to know how you learn the best. Your parents or caregiver may not agree with it, but work out if you study better on the floor or outside, with friends or alone, in short bursts or over long hours, then do it that way.

• However, studies have shown that 'multi-tasking' is not a good idea when studying. Multi-tasking is where you do different things at once, like watching TV, texting, surfing the web, and listening to music. Different parts of the brain get used and information is not stored well - so you might have trouble remembering what you studied.

Plan ahead

Getting in a routine early and sticking to it is the best way to maximize your chances of good grades. It may be the case, however, that you have only limited time to study. In this case, you need to make a schedule.

• Make a list of the most important topics to study for exams, or the assignments that will be due first. Work out how much time you can spend on each.

• Don't get overwhelmed by the workload. If you stick to a schedule it will start to seem manageable.

• Make sure you have the syllabus for each subject or course. If you follow the syllabus there will not be any nasty surprises.

• Take it one step at a time. Remember: one calm hour of study is usually better than 6 panicking hours of study. Check out our topic Goals for more on this.

What to study

We all have subjects we like and ones we can't stand. It is very tempting to study the ones we like and leave the ugly ones for another time. This is a mistake. If you study the subjects you hate first, you will better your chances.

• When you first sit down you generally do your best study. This time should be used for subjects you struggle with.

• Putting more time into your weaknesses will improve your overall score.

Coffee and drugs

• You may hear that people study better while drinking coffee. Coffee is a stimulant and can make you feel more alert, but it can reduce your concentration and make you irritable if you drink too much. If you normally feel brighter in the morning after a cup of coffee, then have what you would normally drink. Another around lunchtime would probably be OK as well. But do not suddenly increase the amount of coffee you drink. It is important to try and be in a similar frame of mind during study and sitting exams. Drinking a lot of coffee at night to help you stay awake to study does not help you to remember what you are trying to learn. Lack of sleep will catch up with you.

• Street drugs will not improve your ability to study or sit exams. As with coffee, experimenting with stimulants around exam time will reduce your ability to concentrate.

Look after yourself

• A balanced diet is an important part of being in control of your study habits.

  • Fresh fruit and vegetables will give you reserves of energy and increase your ability to concentrate.

  • Avoid junk food and foods high in sugar.
    
    Check out the topic Healthy eating for more ideas.

• A regular sleeping pattern and some relaxation is important.

  • You may find you nearly fall asleep every time you sit down to study.

  • Don't stay awake all night trying to study. Get a good night's sleep and try to study in the morning when you are fresh.

  • If you are finding it hard to sleep, wait until you have calmed down before going to bed. Wind down after study and try some relaxation exercises.
    
    See the topic Stress and relaxation.

• Having regular exercise will keep your mind active, help you to sleep at night and is a great way to have a break when you find your concentration is dropping.

  • Just jump on the bike, run around the block or take the dog for a walk.

  • It is worth investing the time in exercise for the mental boost you will receive.
    
    Check out the topic Exercise.

Reward yourself

It can't be all about study, study, study. If you have achieved a goal, lets say two hours of study, reward yourself with something you like doing. It may be an hour in front of the box, a trip to the beach, or simply a healthy snack.

Learning from others

• Your lecturers and teachers are some of the best resources you have.

• They are there to help you and will usually be more than happy to meet with you outside of class times. Make appointments to meet with them as much a possible during the year.

• Don't waste their time, however. Plan what you want to discuss and have some questions written down.

• Discussing topics can be the best way to learn about them.

Helping your parents cope

Parents find it hard to accept that they cannot help you with your study, and often will try to pressure you to do more, turn off the radio, stop watching TV, stop playing games, etc.

Things that might help them get off your back include:

• showing them that you have a plan, and that you will manage your plan

• letting them know that you will be taking breaks such as watching TV, but this is in your plan

• eating regularly

• getting out of the house for a bit of exercise

• cutting down on late night phone calls or gaming

• taking some time out to be with friends, and then getting back to work.

Often the only thing parents can think of doing to help you is to nag. If you can feel sorry for them rather than angry, this can lighten the whole thing up.