Do you feel like you are doing everything right regarding study habits? Revising your notes, doing assigned homework, maybe even spending extra time with your teacher or tutor with no results to show for it?

It is easy to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for yourself after a bad result (or two). You are putting in the hard work but you may need some small tweaks in your process. Whether you are a VCE student or a junior, we can all agree we would like to work smarter and not harder. That way we can spend more time on the fun stuff!

We have written a set of questions that you can use to assess your study skills. This self assessment is a good tool to use while on holidays (so you don't feel time pressure to complete it). It might help you prepare yourself to go back to school after a break with new found habits and confidence. 

We recommend that you print it out and spend 10 minutes determining which statements apply to you (Y=Yes, N=No). Be honest with yourself to identify areas where you might want to focus or improve.

Time Scheduling

1. Y / N I spend more time than I need to studying what I am learning.

2. Y / N I often cram the night before a test or exam.

3. Y / N If I be as social as I feel I want to, my studies suffer. If I study as much as I feel I should, my social life suffers.

Concentration

4. Y / N I often study while the TV or music is on.

5. Y / N I get distracted or tired when studying. 

6. Y / N I am often distracted in class (daydreaming, falling asleep, getting into trouble).

Listening & Note Taking

7. Y / N The notes I take during class are often difficult to understand later.

8. Y / N The notes I take are often inaccurate. 

9. Y / N I don't review my notes throughout semester very often. 

Reading Comprehension

10. Y / N In finishing a chapter or page of a textbook, I struggle to remember what I've just read.

11. Y / N I struggle to identify what is important in the text.

12. Y / N I frequently end up getting lost in the details of reading and have trouble identifying the main ideas and key concepts.

Exams

13. Y / N I often feel prepared for a test and then drop a lot of marks I didn't think I would have.

14. Y / N I study a lot leading up to a test but I go blank as soon as I put my pen to paper.

15. Y / N I often study with very little routine or habit, only working to get through the next test.

Speed Reading

16. Y / N I struggle to keep up with my pre-reading / assigned books and therefore have to cram before an exam / test. 

17. Y / N I don't usually change my reading speed in response to the difficulty level of what I'm reading, or my familiarity with the content.

18. Y / N I wish I was able read faster.

Writing 

19. Y / N When I am assigned assignments or essays I feel overwhelmed about where to begin and procrastinate. 

20. Y / N I often write my essays or assignments the days leading up to or the night before they are due.

21. Y / N I really struggle to organise my thoughts into a logical essay that makes sense.

If you answered "yes" to two or more questions in any of the above categories, we recommend that you speak to your teacher or tutor for some tips or tricks. If you have one "yes" in any of the categories, it is probably worth keeping an eye on yourself without worrying too much. 

We hope this post has helped you understand the makings of a successful student. As always, this post was written by an Indigo Education Tutor. If you have any questions or you wanted to make an inquiry please don't hesitate to contact us and we'll get back to you. 

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