|Effective Study Tips|

If you study a little bit every day you'll be continually reviewing things in your mind. This helps you understand things. It also helps you avoid the stress of last-minute cramming.

If you're finding it hard to find time to study, cut back on some (but not all!) of your other activities. Prioritising study might mean spending less time online, or it might mean cutting back on shifts at work, or giving weekend sport a miss for a while.

It helps to have some plans in motion so you can make the most of your study time.

• Set alarms – Set alarms to remind you about your study plans. A regular reminder keeps your plans on track.
• Use a wall planner  – Stick a calendar or wall planner up so you can see it whenever you're studying.
• Make to-do lists – Lists break tasks down into manageable chunks. At the start of the day make a list of the things that you need to have done by the end of the day.
• Set time limits – Before you start your study session, have a look at your to-do list and give yourself a set time to spend on each task.

Most of us have a preferred way of learning. Get to know the learning style you're most comfortable with and study in the ways you learn best.

Try each of these out and see which ways you prefer.

• Auditory learners  prefer to learn by listening. Try reading your notes aloud and discussing them with other people.
• Visual learners  prefer to learn by seeing. Try using colours in your notes and draw diagrams.
• Tactile/kinesthetic learners  prefer to learn by doing. Try using techniques like role-playing or building models to revise key points.

At least once a week you should go back over the things you've studied in class. Thinking things over can help you to understand the concepts and help you remember when you need them the most.

• Quiz – Get a friend or family member to quiz you on key concepts. Offer to help your friends with their work too.
• Make your own study materials – Think up some practice exam questions or create your own flash cards to help you study. This way you can learn it easily.

It's very important to take breaks while you're studying, especially if you're feeling tired or frustrated.

When you take a break, make sure you get away from your desk or study space. A bit of physical – even just a walk around the block – can sometimes help you to look at a problem in a different way and could even help you to solve it.

If you're stuck on something, or something just doesn't seem to make sense, you can always ask for help. Talk to your teachers or lecturers about the things you don't understand. Talk to your friends and fellow students too.

When you're studying it helps to keep in mind your reasons for doing all this hard work, like a course or career you're working towards. It can help to have something in your study space to remind you of your goals.

You could also decorate your study space with inspirational quotes or photos of people you admire and family members you want to make proud of you.

There are heaps of apps out there for helping students with all aspects of study. Have a chat with your friends and teachers or lecturers to see which apps they recommend.

You’ll study better if you take care of yourself. Make sure you eat well and get enough sleep and physical exercise. Don't reward yourself with too many sugary or fatty snacks or push yourself to study late into the night. It’s also a good idea to make sure you drink lots of water when you’re studying.