School Leaver Guide
Helpful advice and tips to help you feel more prepared for exams.
Hacks for studying smarter
To do well in your exams you need to master the art of independent learning and revision. Here are some hacks to help you in your studying.
Plan like a pro: Keep track of deadlines, exams, and daily study goals so nothing sneaks up on you. The more organised you are, the less stressful your workload will feel. You could organise your time by subject or topic or based on what you’re most and least confident in. You don’t need a fancy study planner, just a piece of paper with a handwritten timetable for the day/week.
Blurting: a technique where you write down absolutely everything you know and can remember about a topic before you start revising. This is commonly done in the form of a mind map but you can do it anyway that works for you. It should help you see any areas you aren’t sure about or need to work on before you start your study session.
Condense your notes: rather than just passively reading your notes, try to summarise them into as few bullet points as you can, this actively engages your brain and makes sure you understand the content.
Use the Pomodoro Technique: Try studying in short bursts, work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. This keeps your brain fresh and prevents burnout. It’s important to remember if your brain gets too tired you won’t take anything in so shorter sessions of more efficient revision are best.
Figure out when you are most productive: Not everyone is suited to getting up at 7am and revising all morning. Figure out what works for you. If that means that you don’t start studying until 10am that’s okay. Just try not to work too late into the evening as sleep is important too!
Why we avoid studying (and how to break the cycle)
We’ve all been there -textbooks open, highlighters ready, a to-do list carefully written… but instead of actually studying, you suddenly feel an overwhelming urge to clean your room, scroll TikTok, or stare blankly at the ceiling. Sound familiar? That’s procrastination in action.
But why do we procrastinate, even when we know studying is important? The answer lies in psychology. Procrastination isn’t laziness—it’s a way of coping with stress, anxiety, or boredom. The brain prioritises feeling good in the moment over long-term rewards, so when studying feels overwhelming, it seeks distractions that provide instant gratification.
Why do we procrastinate?
Fear of failure: If you’re worried about doing badly in an exam, your brain might avoid studying altogether to escape the stress. It’s a twisted form of self-protection—if you don’t try, you can’t fail, right? (Spoiler: This actually makes things worse.)
Perfectionism: Some people delay studying because they want the “perfect” study plan or the “perfect” environment before they start. The problem? That moment never comes, so nothing gets done.
Lack of Motivation: Revision may just feel really boring. If the reward (good grades) feels far away, your brain struggles to see the point of putting in effort now.
Overwhelm: When there’s too much to do, it’s easy to feel paralysed. Instead of tackling one small task, your brain panics and decides to avoid it altogether.
How to trick your brain into studying?
If traditional studying feels like a chore, try approaching it differently:
The “Just 5 Minutes” Rule: Tell yourself you only have to study for five minutes. Most of the time, once you start, you’ll keep going.
Gamify it: Turn studying into a challenge. Reward yourself for completing a chapter or use apps that make revision interactive.
Change your environment: Sometimes, just moving to a new location (like a café or library) can reset your mindset.
The science behind the perfect playlist - get more done in less time.
Ever found yourself zoning out during revision because the silence is too distracting? Or maybe you’ve tried studying with your favourite tunes only to end up singing along instead of getting any work done? The secret to the perfect study playlist is all about balance.
Songs with lyrics can actually distract you because your brain is processing the words while you’re trying to study. This is why instrumental music, like lo-fi beats, classical music, and movie or video game soundtracks (Mario Kart is a great one!), is your best bet.
How to build the perfect study playlist:
Keep it instrumental: No lyrics means no distractions
Match the tempo to your task: Slow and steady for deep reading,
faster for high-energy tasks.Use a set playlist length: A 45-minute playlist acts as a natural
study timer. When it ends, take a break!Experiment with different styles: Some people focus best with
jazz, others prefer nature sounds.
Pro tip: Spotify and YouTube have tons of pre-made study playlists, so if you don’t want to create your own, just pick one and start studying!
