Attend classes as regularly as possible. They are more helpful than you think! Your teachers will give you notes and tips that may not appear in your textbook. Also, take full advantage of any tutorials or extra help your teachers offer. If you’re struggling with a subject, extra help can make all the difference.

Making regular notes will help you remember and keep in touch with the topics you have learned that day. It will also help you gather your thoughts and make quick codes to remember for exams.

Think about a time when you are most fresh and alert to finish homework, or to study for a test or exam. It may be right after dinner or just after your favourite programme ends. Slot that time and stick to it. Trying to fit in study time in around other activities is not a great idea.

Give it some quiet, concentrated time:
Find a place where noise, television and conversations don’t bother you, because quality studying needs undisturbed concentration. Entertaining yourself while studying with music or television is not recommended, as you tend to retain less of what you read. If finding a quiet corner at home is difficult, you could make regular visits to the nearest library.

Making notes and categorising them according to their contents is helpful. You could also highlight important points and summarise the chapters you have learnt, understanding the key message of each before moving on. Identify your strengths and weaknesses while studying. If definitions and formulas are your problem areas for instance, flash cards, abbreviation codes and drawings could work wonders. For example, a classic abbreviation code in mathematics would be BODMAS or Bracket, Exponential, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction or VIBGYOR – for the colours of the rainbow.

Sometimes a study partner can be helpful. You can quiz each other, revise together and help each other. If a study partner is too distracting and your study sessions mostly turn into gossip or video-game sessions, then you could ask a family member to help revise your work. Even better, after you finish learning a chapter, try explaining it to someone else - a friend, parent or sibling. If they understand, you will realise that you really have learned something during your study session and this will boost your confidence.