B - Breaks. Taking regular breaks while studying is essential. You could refill your snack bowl, go buy more snacks, 5 minute phone call with bae who is also having a study break, have a wank, what ever floats your boat.
C - Colour coding. I don't understand how anyone can possibly study without the use of colour, it makes you more likely to be able to visualise the page. Get yourself some highlighters, colouring pencils, fine liners, sharpies, post it notes, pictures, anything that isn't black and white.
D - Deadlines. DO NOT MISS DEADLINES! Depending on whether you're at a laid back sixth form or a strict (any) university, missing a deadline is never good. You will either be behind on work and then keep missing later deadlines because you're so behind, or just not get a grade for that piece of work. Record all your deadlines so you know exactly what is due in when.
E - Essays. Not easy things to write, but good planning, structure and time management will pull you through. Timing yourself speed writing if writing quickly isn't something that comes naturally to you.
F - Focus. I know it's difficult but stay focus and do not get distracted. Tell your family that you are studying and to not bother you for two hours, they wont mind.
G - Group chats. Apparently not all schools do this but I have no idea why because it's often a life saver. Make group chats on Facebook or iMessage or WhatsApp with all the people in one of your classes and then whenever someone has a question about what the homework, if your teacher is in or to bitch about the class for that subject.
H - Hand writing. No matter how much you tell yourself that you don't get marked on your hand writing in the exam, you do. Especially for essays. One, if an examiner can't read something you've written you can't get the mark for it, and two, if an examiner isn't sure if your work is a B or an A, having well presented work with decent handwriting might just be enough to give you that extra point that pushes you up a grade.
I - iPhone (or any smart phone really but the I was there). Download the app 'Focus' that stops you using your phone while studying and you can grow pretty trees while you're busy.
J - Junk. Or lack of. Make sure there isn't loads of junk and clutter around your study area because it will distract you from your work.
K - Key words. Keep track of all the key words for all your subjects. I tend to highlight them all in my notes and textbooks, all in the same colour, and then make a glossary of them all as well, but just one or the other is pretty good.
L - Laptop. For GCSEs it's not really essential but would be good, but A Levels and university it's pretty much have a laptop or fail. It doesn't need anything fancy, as long as you've got internet and word you probably wont die.
M - Music. I find I either need complete silence or some music, I can't have a little background noise, so if there is any I put some music on. The best music to listen to while studying is music with no lyrics. Spotify has some great studying playlists.
N - Note taking. Try to keep your notes neat so that you can easily look back at them, but remember when in a lesson or lecture or whatever that you are in a rush, these notes do not need to be perfect, they can be re-written. Make sure you understand what you are being taught, you can make pretty notes to help you remember it later.
O - Organise. You will never get good grades if you have no idea where all your stuff is, or where you need to be when. People say they don't need a folder or their class timetable, but they are usually the ones who don't get the best grades.
P - Practice. I hate to say it but the best way to get it all into your head is to just keep practising essays over and over and over and over again.
Q - Quiet. You wont be able to work to the best of your ability is a loud place, coffee shops may be cute but they aren't necessarily the best place to get your homework done.
R - Reading/ Outside reading for your subjects is a brilliant way at making sure you get something a little extra into your exams to wow the examiner.
S - Stress. There is no doubt that to get the best possible grades you will have to go through a little bit of stress, but not too much. One of the best ways to manage your stress levels is to exercise, make yourself go out for a run and you will forget all about your work.
T - Timetable. Different types of timetable work best for different people, you might like to have it set out so you know what you should be doing every hour or you can just have to so that you know what needs to be done by the end of each day, but having some sort of schedule is essential.
U - Under pressure. Being under a small bit of pressure can be good for you because it will hopefully motivate you to get through this shit, but too much pressure can mean you get too stressed and flop.
V - Victory. The best motivation is to imagine what it will feel like at the end when you have got your grades and won the stupid exam system.
W - Water. Both when studying and when you are not, you need to drink plenty of water at all times to keep you healthy, awake and concentrated.
X - Explain. I might sound a bit like a teacher here but in exams make sure you really explain all your points in lots of detail because the examiner doesn't know what you're thinking, only what you have written.
Y - Yummy. Whenever you study, make sure to have a few snacks nearby so that if you do get hungry, you have some thing to get you through.
Z - Zzz. Make sure you get enough sleep or you will be exhausted and nothing will work!
You might also like:
Evening Pamper Session
- The first thing I will do when planning a pamper session is grab myself a little snack and myself a cup of tea, usually lemon green tea.
- I then go to the bathroom where I start by putting on some music, light some candles, and rummage through my massive lush collection to see what I fancy having a bath with.
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Inspired by all of the boyfriend tags going around I thought me and Henry would do a similar sort of thing on here. Bare in mind this is what each other thinks, not necessarily the truth (or what one of us believes to be true).
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