Struggling to be a successful student? Don't get discouraged, it isn't magic! But it does require desire, dedication and a lot of work. If you want to learn how to become a successful student, then you've come to the right place.

You are allocated 5 hours per subject per week in the classroom with your teachers. Outside of your taught lessons you will still need to take part in a range of tasks to enhance both your academic and personal profile - this is called independent study.

You will need to make sure that within your independent study you complete all homework, revisiting of your classwork, coursework and examination practice. That’s why it is so important that you have effective study skills.

In order to assist you in completing your independent study you will receive 3 hours of supervised silent study in the private study area (on average this equates to 1 hour per subject) per week.

Reflect now on the areas of your study you would like to improve – you might wish to click this link Study Skills Resources for a variety of study skills guides, tutorials and articles for students, parents and teachers that offer proven tips and strategies for improving study skills habits, effectiveness and learning ability.

Topics covered include time management, learning style, note taking, reading, math, vocabulary, writing, and listening, among others.

Watch these videos for suggestions from other students on how to improve your study skills.

Complete this Effective Revision Course to improve your revision skills.

You may prefer a more structured approach to improving your study skills. Start auditing how you approach your studies by taking this study skills test to see what area you struggle with the most Study Skills Checklist.

‍Now ask yourself the following questions. If you answer no to any of them then use the links and notes provided to access help. The more honest you are with yourself the better.

Are you organised? Making sure you are on top of classwork and homework takes some organisation. Organising your study tips can be found here Organising Your Study

‍Do you have the right equipment? You will need folders, lined paper, cue cards where appropriate, pens AND highlighters to complete homework and revisit class work for most subjects. If you are struggling with collating these items please see the study supervisor Mrs Willoughby ASAP.

‍Do you use Private Study Effectively? Using Private Study Effectively

‍Do you spend time revisiting topics you studied in class? Do you know how to make notes effectively? Effective Note Making

‍Do you know how to revise effectively? Think about if you actually remember the information you are revising later – is your strategy working? Please watch this video to learn more about effective revision.
See both this link Effective Revision and the next section on subject specific revision strategies. In addition, your subject teachers would be more than happy to share tips on successful revision.

‍Are you creating an effective study environment? Effective Study Environment

‍Most importantly are you being honest with yourself about how you spend your time? It is easy to sit in a room with your equipment making cue cards, notes and mind maps but are you really learning anything or completing the task? Please see Mrs Willoughby for a 1:1 if you are struggling to use your time effectively.

Taking an applied subject such as Business Core or Applied Science? Click here for advice for Applied Subjects and Coursework  based subjects.

Different subject require different techniques of study and you may not want a one size fits all approach. For example, learning how to do calculus is very different from studying American heritage.

While both subjects require good study habits, effective listening, and reading comprehension skills, each requires a different approach to learning.

Below we'll explore specific study skills and strategies as they relate to performance within individual subject areas.

Biology
‍Business
‍Chemistry
‍Computer Science
‍English
‍Foreign Language
‍Geography
‍History
‍Law
‍Math
‍Physics
‍Science
‍Sociology