study guidance

Studying effectively is the key to success, whether you're preparing for exams or trying to stay on top of homework. Turing House School is committed to helping you thrive academically, and this page provides some top study tips to guide you through your learning journey. These strategies will help you manage your time, stay focused, and retain information more effectively.

Before you endure any challenging journey in life, you must have a vision of where you want to go. Imagine the future you want to create for yourself—your ‘vision’ is the first step to making it real. Having a clear vision means setting goals that excite and challenge you, helping you stay focused and motivated. Think about the impact your hard work will have and the opportunities it will unlock. Why not have a look at this 'goal-setting' document, print it out and fill it in? This could be revolutionary to your academic success.   

Now your intentions have been set, a revision timetable is a must to help you get organised and stay accountable to your progress. Please ensure you are clear on what exam board you follow by clicking here. You can download this editable revision timetable, fill it in with your options print it and stick it in your room: Revision Timetable. As you can see, the table is split into 3 'sessions' to allow for flexibility in how you insert your subjects. You can decide how long you want your session to be depending on your availability - 30-60 minutes per session is a good base to start!

If you want to catapult your organisation further, you can download this editable excel spreadsheet, save it to your OneDrive, and insert the exact topics you want to revise and when. Once you're secure on a topic, perhaps consider making the box green so you can closely target your revision to areas that need focus. 

Now your revision timetable is sorted, it's time to discover effective, efficient and practical ways to commit your learning to memory. There are a wide variety of ways to revise, and what works for others may not work for you. The sooner you identify your strategy, the better your outcomes will be. On YouTube, there are hundreds of videos to explore with advice and guidance, but below are two short videos that show scientifically proven ways to partake in effective revision that allow you to revisit, consolidate and memorise accordingly.                   

Alongside the platforms we use in school (Seneca, DrFrost, Carousel), you can also utilise other applications to support studying. Below is a list of 5 websites and apps that you can download to support in developing healthy studying habits.

1. Physics and Maths Tutor - On this website, students can access past exam papers and mark schemes for effective exam preparation. The platform is ideal for enhancing understanding and boosting confidence. It also It offers video tutorials, practice questions, and revision notes that cover a range of topics. 
2. Vaia - The Vaia app enhances studying with features like customizable flashcards, spaced repetition, and interactive quizzes to improve memory retention and test understanding. It also offers a planner for organizing study schedules and access to pre-made materials,
3. Quizlet - Quizlet is a versatile study tool that enables students to create and access flashcards, interactive quizzes, and games for effective learning. With features like spaced repetition and collaborative study sets, users can enhance memory retention and test knowledge. 
4. EverNote - Evernote is a powerful organizational tool for students, allowing them to take notes, create to-do lists, and save web articles in one place. Users can organize notes into notebooks, tag content for easy retrieval, and access materials across devices. Its search feature enhances productivity, making study sessions more efficient.
5. Anki - Anki is a customizable flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to help students remember information over time. With Anki, students can create flashcards with text, images, and audio, and the app schedules reviews based on how well they know each card. It’s ideal for subjects requiring memorization, such as vocabulary, medical terms, or historical facts, and offers syncing across devices to study anywhere.

Another app that students have noted as being helpful for maximising focus is 'Flora', which promotes productivity through a unique, gamified approach. Users plant virtual trees that grow while they study or work, encouraging time management and reducing distractions. By setting specific study sessions, users cultivate a positive environment for concentration. 

Finally, we cannot emphasise enough how important it is to, alongside working hard, look after your wellbeing. Maintaining balance is a crucial part of any academic journey; below are some ways you can 

• Value Sleep: Aim for 8 hours of sleep each night to ensure your brain is rested and ready to retain information. Sleep is critical for memory consolidation, especially during intense study periods. Research shows that reading before bed is the best way to increase your sleep quality.

• Limit Screen Time  Cuting back on non-essential screen time, especially on social media, is incredibly tough. Even the suggestions on here are widely technologically based. That being said, it is crucial that you are able to exercise moderation in your use of technology. Flora is an app that many of our students already use as a way to regulate screen time. If concentration is also your Achille's heel, it may be worth downloading!

• Stay Active: Regular exercise, even something as simple as walking, can improve your concentration and energy levels that are vital to revision. Physical activity is also proven to improve your mental health, reduce stress and supports in establishing healthy sleeping patterns. Nike Training Club and Nike Running Club are two examples of free apps that are great at introducing exercise into your wellness routine, and there are countless others on the app store.

• Manage Stress: Practice mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to manage stress. Taking breaks throughout the day to recharge can help prevent burnout and improve focus. Explore 'mindfulness for students' for structured guidance on how to develop this. Remember, you can always access 'Kooth' if you're struggling to cope with the intense demands of exam season. 

• Maintain a Balanced Diet: Eating nutritious meals, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins, fuels your brain for long study sessions. Avoiding caffeine is vital and sugary snacks will cause severe energy lulls, so it's advised to avoid them prior to and during your study sessions.

For subject specific guidance on how to revise, speak directly to your teachers who are happy to share their ideas. You will also find subject specific revision guides here. Hopefully, using the tools and resources on this page, you will be well-equipped to tackle the journey of revision with boundless perseverance and piqued curiosity.