Content

• Steps
• Advice

No matter what level of study you are at, studying well is also a challenging goal. However, you can excel at this goal by building a well-organized study routine, and by organizing study time and school supplies. It is also important to take care of yourself to stay healthy and full of energy ready for learning!

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Be active in school

1. 

   Take notes while listening or reading. Taking notes not only helps you remember what you are hearing or reading, but it also helps your brain function and absorb information better. If you get permission from your teacher, take notes when the teacher talks. When reading a book, you should write down important points or questions that you ask about the lesson.
   • While typing is a faster and easier way to take notes, hand-writing can help you absorb and remember the lesson better.

   Do you know? Taking notes with scribbles can really improve your concentration and help you remember what you're listening to!

   
   

2. 

   Ask the teacher when you don't understand something. The teacher's job is to help you learn and understand the lesson, so don't hesitate to ask questions! This not only helps you understand the lesson better, but also shows the teacher that you are focused and interested in the lesson.
   • If you don't dare raise your hand and ask questions during class because you're shy, try seeing your teacher after class or emailing.
   • At the college or university level, instructors have office hours that you can come to ask them or discuss with them individually.

3. 

   
   
   Do homework. This may seem obvious, but sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed by your work and forget the task to do. Remember to complete the assigned reading and prioritize all required assignments.
   • If you do not do the homework, you will not only suffer from scores but also not gain much knowledge!

   

   
   

   Jennifer Kaifesh

   Founder of Great Expectations College Prep Jennifer Kaifesh is the founder of Great Expectations College Prep, a Southern California-based counseling and tutoring service firm. Jennifer has more than 15 years of experience in administering and organizing tutoring and exam preparation to prepare for standardized exams related to the college admissions process. She graduated from Northwestern University.

   

   Jennifer Kaifesh
   Founder of Great Expectations College Prep

   Expert warning: Don't lose points that are easy to get just because you didn't submit your assignments or filed late.

4. 

   Attend school attendance. Attend school as regular as possible every day. Even if you don't have to, you'll learn more and won't miss out on any important points if you come to class regularly.
   • If you miss a class, see your teacher or classmates to find out what you missed out on. After all, someone will be willing to lend you your notebook.
   • Ask your teacher for permission if you need to take a class off but don't want your attendance deduction which also counts toward your grade. The teacher can travel for you that day or give you a chance to make up for it.

5. 

   Join extracurricular activities. Consider enrolling in school club, sports team or student union. These are fun and rewarding activities, and also a way for you to get to know your teacher and classmates. Plus, this is also a plus on your college application or job application!
   • Research has shown that students who participate in extracurricular activities generally attend school more regularly, achieve higher rankings and are more likely to continue on a higher academic path than students who do not.
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Method 2 of 4: Create good habits in learning

1. 

   Test your knowledge yourself. Self-tests can help improve your ability to understand what you are learning. It also helps you identify your weaknesses to focus on while reviewing. You can try the knowledge self-test methods, such as:
   • Create a memo card
   • Ask a classmate to ask questions and try to answer
   • Make use of multiple choice questions and test knowledge in textbooks
   • Take mock exams or quizzes if provided by your teacher

2. 

   Create a quiet and comfortable school environment. To maintain focus, find a study space that won't be disturbed by noise or disruptions. Your study corner should be neat, bright and not too hot or too cold.
   • For example, you can study at your study desk in your private room, find a favorite corner in the library, or in a quiet cafe.
   • Be careful, don't choose a place that is too comfortable! If you study in bed or on the comfy sofa, you may fall asleep in no time.

3. 

   Get rid of phones and other pastimes. Distractions can be a big deal when you're trying to study. During class, turn off your phone or keep it somewhere (in your pocket or drawer). Turn off the TV, radio, or anything else that might distract you.
   • If you are tempted to play on your phone, try installing a productivity-enhancing app that will limit access during class, such as Offtime or Moment.
   • If you are studying at home, let everyone in your family know that you need to stay quiet and not be disturbed while studying or doing homework.

4. 

   Set breaks during class time. When studying or working, try to take a 15-20 minute break every hour or so. It's time to recharge and refocus if your mind starts to wander.
   • During breaks, you can get up and take a few laps, sip healthy snacks, watch a short movie, or even take a nap to recharge.
   • Just a short walk can help your brain, improve your problem solving skills and creative thinking!
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Method 3 of 4: Organize it

1. 

   Use the planner to keep track of your schedule. If you have more than one subject, you should use a daily or weekly timetable notebook to make it easier to keep track of all subjects. At the beginning of the term, sit down and write down the class schedule for each day of the week. Note the time, location and duration of each lesson.
   • Record extracurricular activities such as clubs or sports teams if you are involved.
   • You can write on paper or use a scheduling application, such as Any.do or Planner Pro.

2. 

   Schedule homework, chores, and leisure activities. Once you've filled in your class schedule, you should also schedule the activities that you need to do each day. This will help you avoid spending too much time on anything.
   • For example, you could schedule 2 hours of homework after school to get home on a Monday, followed by half an hour of cleaning and 1 hour for pastimes, playing games or playing with friends.

3. 

   Make a note of important dates and deadlines. In addition to your daily schedule, keep a note of upcoming tests or submission deadlines. Be sure to mark all of these days in your timetable or planner so you don't get it confused or forgotten.
   • You can use an app like Google Calendar to get reminders from your phone or computer when it comes to important dates or deadlines.

4. 

   Prioritize the assignment over the rest of the tasks. When you have so much to do, you may be confused as to where to start. To avoid getting overwhelmed or stuck, make a to-do list and put the most difficult or urgent tasks at the top. Once you've solved these tasks, you can move on to the smaller, less foldable items in the list.
   • For example, if there is an important math test tomorrow, you could place the math review task first on the list. English vocabulary review for the week can be found in the row below.

   Advice: When working on a large project, break it down into easier steps. For example, if you need to complete an essay by the end of the week, try breaking it down into steps like researching the document, writing an outline, and drafting the essay.

5. 

   Gather school supplies in one place. In addition to timing, you'll also need to organize your school supplies. Gather your textbooks, sticky notes, documents, school supplies, planner and everything you need in one place for easy access when you need it.
   • To keep notes, documents, and assignments, you can use a binder with multiple compartments for each subject.
   • Set aside a neat place as a study corner so that books and documents are not scattered in many places.
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Method 4 of 4: Take care of yourself

1. 

   Take enough time to good night sleep. It's hard to do well in school if you can't concentrate because you're too tired. Schedule a time to go to bed early to get 9-12 hours of sleep each night if you are a teenager, 8-10 hours if you are a teenager, and 7-9 hours if you are an adult.
   • To get a good night's sleep, try a relaxing routine before bed, such as doing yoga, meditation, or taking a hot bath before bed. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
   • Practice “sleep hygiene” by turning off bright screens at least 30 minutes before bed, avoiding caffeine and other stimulants at night, and keeping your bedroom quiet, dark and comfortable at night.

   Do you know? While we sleep, our brain processes the information we receive during the day. Sleep is an important part of acquiring and remembering what you learn in school!

2. 

   Eat 3 nutritious meal everyday. If you do not eat properly, you will become tired, lose your ability to focus, and feel restless. You need to eat at least 3 balanced meals throughout the day. A nutritious breakfast is especially important to start your day energized and ready to learn. Each meal should include the following:
   • Fresh fruits and vegetables
   • Whole grains
   • Lean proteins like chicken or fish breast
   • Healthy fats, such as those found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils

3. 

   Stay hydrated. Keep water at hand throughout the day to drink whenever you start to feel thirsty. Being hydrated will help you focus and maintain your energy levels. Although drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated, you can also drink fruit juices, herbal teas, soups, or eat vegetables with a lot of water.
   • The amount of water needed by the body depends on the age group. For example, a 9 to 12 year old child needs 7 glasses of water; Older children and adults should drink 8 glasses of water per day.
   • On hot days or when you exercise a lot, you may need to drink more water. Always listen to your body and drink water whenever you feel thirsty.
   • Avoid drinking a lot of drinks that contain sugar and caffeine. These drinks will provide temporary energy boosts, but will ultimately leave you feeling exhausted and tired.

4. 

   Perform Stress relief measures. Study is stressful work, so take the time to relax and do the things you love. Learning is much better if you are not always stressed and anxious. Some stress relief activities include:
   • Practice yoga or meditation
   • Go for a walk or play outside
   • Spend time with friends, family and pets
   • Relax with interests in creative activities
   • Listening to music
   • Watch movies or read books

5. 

   Reward yourself for meeting your goals. When you have completed a mission, celebrate! It will motivate you to continue enthusiastically studying and working. Remember to reward yourself for your accomplishments, big or small.
   • For example, after each lesson, you could reward yourself with a favorite snack or a few minutes of watching YouTube videos.
   • If you get a good score on an important test, celebrate with a picnic and pizza with friends.

6. 

   Practise positive thinking. A positive attitude toward school not only relieves you of stress, but also does better in class. If you find yourself having negative thoughts about your school or subjects, try to replace them with positive thoughts.
   • For example, instead of thinking “I hate math! I will never be good at math ”, think“ This subject is very challenging, but I will continue to improve if I work hard! ”
   • Scientists have found that a positive attitude can actually help the brain's memory center function better!

7. 

   Get help when you need it. You don't have to deal alone when you're under pressure from school. Talk to your friends and family about how you are feeling and how they can help you. If you do not have a strong support network or need additional support, ask if your school has a school counselor to speak to.
   • Sometimes just talking to someone and you will feel much better.
   • Don't be afraid to call for real help. For example, you could ask your mom: “Mom, I'm so worried about the test tomorrow. Can you read some of the multiple-choice questions in the review for me? ”
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Advice

• Take advantage of the opportunities to earn extra points if the opportunity arises.
• If you have trouble, let the teacher know. Teachers can help you find ways to improve your study habits or better understanding.