Study

Strategies
for mastering exams
Learning
Objective
This presentation is designed to
empower students with practical
study methods and tips to enhance
their academic success, time
management, and overall well-being.

It can be completed over a number of

lessons with activities or as a
reduced, purely informative version.
 agenda
1 2 3
Common challenges Goal setting and Active listening
in upper school time management and note taking

4 5 6
Optimising your Experimenting with Physical and
study environment study strategies mental wellbeing
 an introduction
As students, you might face a range of challenges as you
navigate the demands of upper school.

Addressing these challenges often involves a combination of

academic support, effective communication, stress
management strategies, and guidance on future pathways.

As you embark on this crucial phase of your academic journey,

it's essential to equip yourselves with effective strategies that
will not only help you manage your time efficiently but also allow
you to set and achieve realistic academic goals.
 small group
brainstorm
What are some common challenges
that students might face over their
senior school years?
 increased time adapting to pressure from
academic management independent parents or
pressure issues study guardians

personal or increased
family issues
did you identify workload

work life some of these? stress and

balance anxiety

extracurricular transition to peer and social technological

commitments independence pressures distractions
common challenges
As we navigate the complexities of upper school, it's only
natural to encounter some of these challenges.

Although they can seem overwhelming at times, it’s

important to realise these hurdles are part of the journey
and that there are strategies and tools available to help us
navigate these challenges successfully.

By the end of this presentation you should have a range of

tools in your toolkit that, when coupled with determination
and resilience, can help you not only overcome these
hurdles but also thrive in your upper school journey!
setting goals
Let’s start with considering our personal
goals or ambitions such as where you'd like
to be and what you’d like to achieve by the
end of high school.

Setting goals is like plotting a course for

success. SMART goals, in particular, provide a
clear and specific framework for goal setting.
Let’s break down the acronym quickly before
we start planning!
 smart goals
S
Clearly define your goal. What exactly do you want to
SPECIFIC
achieve? The more precise, the better.

M
Establish criteria to track your progress. How will you know
MEASURABLE
when you've reached your goal? Quantify your objectives.

A
Ensure that your goal is realistic and attainable. It's crucial to
ACHIEVABLE
set challenges but within the realm of possibility.

R
Align your goals with your long-term aspirations. Make sure
RELEVANT
they matter to you and contribute to your overall success.

T
Set a timeframe for achieving your goal. This creates a
TIME BOUND
sense of urgency and helps you stay focused.
 your turn
Create a couple of SMART goals based on what
you’d like to achieve by the end of high school (no
more than three). Make sure they are specific,
measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

You have 5 minutes to complete the exercise.

Feel free to share your goals with a friend. Sharing

helps us feel supported and makes us accountable!
 TIME MANAGEMENT
Now that we understand the importance of setting goals, let's explore
effective time management techniques. Two widely used methods are:

creating a schedule studying in intervals

A weekly schedule provides a
structured overview of your time
commitments. By allocating specific
time slots for classes, study sessions,
extracurricular activities, and leisure, you
gain a clearer understanding of where
your time goes and how to optimise it.
Break down your study time into
intervals, usually 25-35 minutes,
separated by short 5-10 minute breaks.
This technique capitalises on the
concept of focused bursts of
productivity, allowing you to maintain
concentration and prevent burnout.
 your turn
Locate a copy of a blank study schedule and
block out your commitments for the week e.g.
school, sport, extracurricular activities, work etc.
Then look for blocks of free time you might
allocate for homework and/or study sessions.
 MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN

study schedule
7 am

8 am

9 am

10 am

11 am

12 pm

1 pm

2 pm

3 pm

4 pm

5 pm

6 pm

7 pm

8 pm
active listening
Now, let’s move onto some important classroom skills!
In upper school, where academic content becomes more
complex and students are preparing for higher education
or the workforce, active listening is a foundational skill that
supports academic success, social development, and the
cultivation of essential skills for future endeavours.

Active listening is a communication skill that involves fully

focusing, understanding, and responding to a speaker in a
thoughtful and engaged manner. It goes beyond simply
hearing words; it requires concentration, processing, and
providing feedback to the speaker through clarifying
questions. This ensures a deeper understanding,
engagement and retention of the topic studied.
 strategies for active listening
MAKE EYE CONTACT MINIMISE DISTRACTIONS ASK QUESTIONS

Turn off apps, games or Pose questions for

Make eye contact with the
social media and minimise clarification or additional
speaker to demonstrate
distractions to stay fully information to deepen
attentiveness and focus.
engaged. your understanding.

PARAPHRASE INFO USE NON-VERBAL CUES PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY

Nodding, leaning forward, Contribute to discussions.

Summarise key points in
and other non-verbal cues Active participation aids
your own words to
signal active engagement comprehension and
reinforce understanding.
to the speaker. retention.
 effective
note-taking
Effective note-taking is another indispensable skill
that contributes to academic success in upper
school and preparation for higher education.

Ineffective note-taking often involves disorganised

information, lack of visual cues, and incomplete
details whereas effective note-taking methods
enhance organisation, comprehension, and retention
of key information. Let’s look at two popular and
effective note-taking methods!
General tips
Focus on recording the main points of the lesson. Listen for key words and
phrases, but don’t try to frantically write everything you hear.
Try to summarize the information in your own words rather than writing down
the teacher’s words verbatim. Write your notes in a way that will make sense
to you later on.
Jot down words you’re unfamiliar with or confused about and look them up
later. Consider circling these words so they’re easy to spot when you’re
reviewing your notes later.
Add color, either while you’re taking notes or later on, with a highlighter. Color
helps show relationships between concepts, and it engages the brain better
too.
Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher to repeat something if you feel like you
missed it. If you feel like you can’t interrupt, put a star by that section to remind
you to ask about it after class.
If your handwriting is hard to read, or you think you can organize the
information in a better way, go ahead and re-copy your notes after class. It’s a
good way to reinforce the information too.
Symbols &
Abbreviations
cornell method
TITLE

MAIN NOTES (Right Column):

Summarise key concepts and main
ideas on the right side of the page. CUE MAIN
QUESTIONS NOTES
CUES (Left Column):
Create cues or questions based on
the main notes to aid in reviewing.

SUMMARY (Bottom Section):

Write a summary at the bottom of
the page to reinforce key takeaways. SUMMARY
cornell method
SUBTOPIC SUBTOPIC MIND MAPPING
CENTRALTOPIC
Place the main concept or topic in
the center of the page.
CENTRAL
TOPIC BRANCHES
Create branches for subtopics, using
keywords and brief phrases.

COLOUR & IMAGES

SUBTOPIC SUBTOPIC Use colors and simple images to
enhance visual memory.
MIND MAPPING
CENTRAL TOPIC

1. HEADING
OUTLINE METHOD
A. SUBHEADING STRUCTURE
1. Hierarchical structure
2. Start with the main topic as the
3. heading and use subheadings for
subtopics or key concepts.
B. SUBHEADING
Further indent for details and
1. supporting information.
2.
FORMATTING
3.
Use a consistent format, such as bullet
points, numbers, or letters to denote
different levels of information.
This makes it easy to identify the
relationship between ideas.
OUTLINE METHOD
 CHARTING METHOD
HEADING HEADING HEADING STRUCTURE
Charting involves organizing information in
rows and columns.
Each column represents a different
category or aspect, while rows contain
specific details or examples.
USES
This method is effective for comparing and
contrasting different concepts, tracking
changes over time, or presenting data in a
structured manner.

Charts can include tables, grids, or matrices

depending on the type of information being
presented.
CHARTING METHOD
 HEADING
BOXING METHOD
If you have trouble keeping things organized
(including your thoughts), the boxing strategy can
SUB-HEADING SUB-HEADING
be very helpful.
Each box contains a complete concept, idea, or
category.
Adding extra colors with pens or highlighters
makes things even better

Start a box on the page, but don’t draw the fourth

SUB-HEADING SUB-HEADING line on the bottom.
Take your notes inside that box, keeping
everything relating to one idea or concept
together.
When you’re finished with that section, draw
the final line to close the box, and begin a new
one.
BOXING METHOD
 HEADING
SENTENCE METHOD
The sentence method looks similar to the outline
method, but it includes much more information.
1. ... You write full sentences for each line.
2. ... This requires the ability to write (or type) quickly
3. ... and is best for students who have mastered both
4. ... these skills.
One benefit to the sentence method is that you’re
5. ... likely to have more-complete notes to refer to after
6. ... class.
7. ...
8. ... Write the main point on one line.
On the lines beneath it, add bullet points and a full
9. ... sentence describing the supporting information.
10. ... Be sure to use your own words rather than the
teacher’s.
This ensures you’re fully understanding the
information rather than just recording what you
hear.
SENTENCE METHOD
 HEADING
QEC METHOD
The Q/E/C note-taking method is ideal for subjects in the
humanities, such as history, philosophy, and literature.
Question: It helps students keep track of how information is
being presented, while focusing on the bigger picture.
Evidence:
1. ... Students organize their notes by listening first for the
question being addressed.
2. ... Then, they write the evidence that answers the
3. ... question. Finally, they draw a conclusion.
At the end of a lecture, students can review their
Conclusion: notes and have concise summaries of each main
topic.
QEC METHOD
SKETCH-NOTE METHOD
 your turn
Practice using each of the two note-taking
methods to form notes on the following topic/s in
this presentation. As our learning styles are
different, you might find one easier than the other
or different methods might suit different subjects.
 study
environment
Do you have a set space you use to study for
upcoming tests, assessments and examinations?

The study environment plays a significant role in

influencing concentration, focus, and overall
academic performance.

A conducive study space can enhance cognitive

abilities, promote effective learning, and
contribute to a positive mindset.
 small group
brainstorm
What kind of things make for an effective
or ideal study environment?
 did you identify some of these?
QUIET LOCATION COMFORTABLE SEATING LIGHTING & TEMPERATURE

Select a quiet and Invest in a comfortable Ensure there’s adequate

secluded area, away from chair and desk to support lighting to reduce eye
noise and potential good posture and reduce strain and maintain a
interruptions. physical discomfort. comfortable temperature.

MINIMISE DISTRACTIONS ESTABLISH ROUTINE ORGANISE SUPPLIES

Turn off notifications, use Have a consistent study Keep study materials
apps that block distracting routine or schedule to organised and within
websites, and tell others signal to your brain that it's reach. Use storage
your study hours. time to focus. solutions to reduce clutter.
study strategies
Study strategies refer to intentional
methods and approaches that individuals
use to enhance their learning and
academic performance.

These strategies are designed to make

the process of acquiring and retaining
information more effective and efficient.
In upper school, where academic
demands are high, mastering effective
study strategies becomes crucial for
success.
 how do we learn?
Before we discuss some study strategies, it’s important to understand
the difference between active learning and passive learning.

passive learning active learning

involves receiving information without
actively engaging with it.
might include listening to lectures, reading
textbooks, watching videos, and memorising
information without interactive involvement.
involves engaging with material actively.
might include asking questions, participating
in discussions, solving problems, teaching
concepts to others, conducting experiments,
and engaging in practical scenarios.

can allow retention of information in the enhances understanding, retention, and

short term but may not promote deep critical thinking skills, promoting a deeper
understanding or long-term retention. level of engagement with the material.
 study strategies
Varying your study strategies is a great idea for establishing yourself as a well-rounded
and adaptable learner. The key is to find out which strategies work best for the following:

learning style topic or subject context

Assess your learning style Consider the nature of the

— whether you're visual,
auditory, kinesthetic, or a
combination. Certain
strategies can be better
suited to certain types of
learners.
topic e.g. visual, text-heavy,
mathematics or sciences,
languages, research
intensive or practical and
choose strategies that are
appropriate and suitable.
Adapt your strategies to
the context of the
situation — whether you're
studying alone, in a group,
or in a noisy environment.
 your turn
Some stations have been set up around the room to
help you practice and experiment with various active
learning study strategies. Move around the room in your
small groups and try out different techniques. You will
have 5-7 minutes at each station.

Alternatively, read through the following slides and note

down some strategies that you currently use and
some that you would like to experiment with this year,
based on your particular learning style.
 create
flashcards
Create flashcards for quick review of key
concepts, definitions, quotations and
important details. Regular revision helps
cement information from short term to
utilise
long term memory.
mnemonics
Develop mnemonic devices (acronyms,
rhymes, associations, or visual cues) to
remember lists, sequences, or complex
terms. Mnemonics can be a fun and
effective memory aid.
 socratic
questioning
Formulate open-ended questions related

concept
to the material you are studying then
challenge yourself to answer them. This
encourages deep thinking and critical

mapping analysis.

Create detailed concept maps (spider,

hierarchy, flowchart or system) to
visualise relationships between key
concepts, making it easier to
understand complex topics.
 group study
sessions
Form study groups with classmates to

peer
engage in discussions, seek clarity on
areas of difficulty, test one another on
concepts and give peer feedback.

teaching
Practice taking turns teaching different
sections or topics to your peers or
classmates. Teaching others solidifies
your own knowledge, and helps to
identify areas of difficulty.
 active
reading
Engage with the material actively

timed
(especially written texts) by highlighting
key points, taking notes, summarising
concepts in your own words and posing

practice questions as you read.

Create timed, simulated exam conditions

and practice answering past questions
from tests or exams. This helps improve
time management skills and timed
writing skills.
 test using
quizzes
Use online quiz platforms or educational
apps that provide interactive quizzes

utilise
tailored to specific subjects to help test
your knowledge.

apps
Leverage a variety of digital apps (flashcard,
note-taking, mind-mapping, study timer and
productivity etc.) to enhance your studying
and learning experiences.
 reflection
Remember, the key is to experiment with
different study activities and techniques to find
what works best for your individual learning style.
Focus on active learning over passive learning
and don’t be afraid to mix it up from time to time!

These strategies, when tailored to suit your

learning style, can contribute to effective
studying, improved understanding, and ultimately,
academic success in Year 11 and 12.
physical & mental wellbeing
Lastly, recognising and actively improving our physical and
mental well-being is the key to not just surviving but thriving
through the ups and downs of senior school. A healthy body
and a resilient mind go hand in hand.

Regular exercise, good nutrition, and ample rest not only

sharpen our cognitive abilities but also prep us for the
challenges of a demanding academic routine. At the same
time, practicing mindfulness, stress-relief techniques and
emotional self-care can equip us with the resilience needed
to navigate challenges. Let’s start by looking at a few simple
techniques to promote mindfulness.
 MINDFULNESS EXERCISES
DEEP BREATHING BODY SCAN MEDITATION

Inhale deeply for four counts, hold for four Close your eyes and mentally scan your
counts, and exhale for four counts. Repeat body from head to toe, noticing any areas
several times to calm the nervous system. of tension and consciously releasing it.

PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION 5-4-3-2-1 GROUNDING TECHNIQUE

Name five things you can see, four things

Tense and then relax each muscle group,
you can touch, three things you can hear,
starting from toes and working up to the
two things you can smell, and one thing
head. This relieves physical tension.
you can taste.
 your turn
Choose one of the four mindfulness
exercises and practice it quietly on your
own for the next 3 minutes.
 small group
brainstorm
What are some other strategies for managing
stress and anxiety? What types of activities
do you use to manage your emotions when
you feel the pressure?

Be prepared to share some of your answers if

you feel comfortable doing so.
 did you identify some of these?
SPORT OR EXERCISE STRETCHING OR YOGA HEALTHY EATING

Sport or exercise releases A few minutes of stretches A balanced and nutritious diet
endorphins, the body's or simple yoga poses can supports both physical and
natural mood lifters, to release physical tension mental health, contributing to
alleviate tension. helping you feel calmer. stress reduction.

SOCIAL SUPPORT LAUGHTER BREAK JOURNALLING

Spending time with friends or Watch a funny video or TV Writing down thoughts
family can provide emotional show or laugh with a and feelings helps process
support and a sense of friend. Laughter is an emotions and gain clarity
connection, reducing stress. excellent stress-reliever. on challenging situations.
 support & resources
Remember, there are a host of support services and resources to assist you with any
issues you might face, be it for academic challenges or personal well-being.

Don't hesitate to engage with your teachers if you have questions about
teachers coursework or need clarification — they are there to guide and support you.

Your year coordinators, school psychologist and school chaplain are also
support services there to assist if you have issues related to personal wellbeing.

Explore the wealth of academic resources at your disposal — libraries offer

resources a treasure trove of knowledge, online tools provide interactive learning
experiences, and tutoring services can provide personalised assistance.
any questions?
let’s have a
great year!