Does anyone have good tips on studying?

[1tonyt]

I just want a decent ATAR score for next year but only having problems in studying. What is the most effective ways to study. Should I use my breaks at school to study or just leave them as breaks?

[m_chellen]

I studied differently for all my subjects and to be honest, it's very hard to give you a definite answer but i hope that by letting you know how i studied, you'll have some insight into different ways you can study. By now, you should have at least some idea of what works best with you.
For me, i found that content subjects such as food tech, philosophy and psychology were best learnt if i made my own notes. In depth yet concise so that i wouldn't need to go to the primary text too often. It was enough so that, if i were to read my notes over many times, i'd have a good understanding of the unit. Of course, it's also best to KNOW your content as opposed to just MEMORIZING. I tried very hard to just rote learn things in year 11 but i found that when you know the substance, all the links to the answers you need will come quickly. Why do you think you can recall your address and phone number so effortlessly? When you study your material so much so that you understand it, the trouble and time it takes to recall things will decrease.
With Math and Science involving math (e.g. chem/physics) ~ practice practice practice. You will learn how to work out different equations but it is difficult to do them quickly without exposing yourself to the various ways the problems may be worded. Make sure you keep up to date as well and constantly ask teachers if you need help. CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW MUCH YOU CAN LEECH KNOWLEDGE OFF YOUR TEACHERS. they are your source of power.
English, is a bitch, but can be a nice bitch sometimes. With the books i studied, i found that making my own quote bank and highlighting, writing notes in my books were very helpful. Yes, you might be conflicted with wanting to keep it clean because selling 2nd hand blah but you will most likely find someone who wants it even if it's covered in scribbles. Well, unless you sell it for 200% the price then lol no.
I suggest writing HEAPS of practice essays, get them marked, talk to your teacher about what to improve on. After writing many essays, you'll see the pattern in the faults you make and you fix em. By the end of the year, you should be able to avoid these problems and write consistently good essays. Write essays regularly so you keep on top of it and you don't forget how to write these things.
Also, getting to know your texts well definitely helps. After reading/watching it the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time you pick up new things that you can bring into your essays. Again, it's important to communicate with your teachers. They mark your SACs and english is not a completely objective subject to grade so talk to them about your essays. If you get a bad SAC, don't worry, ensure you sit down and inspect what you did wrong with your teacher and try to avoid repeating the same mistake again.
With your breaks at school, i think you should leave them be. You'll be studying during your frees, at home, learning in class, it'll all be very demanding of you so it'll be nice to unwind and chill out with your buds at least some time during the day.
Anyway, good luck this year. I hope you do well!

[kawfee]

I say with your breaks/free periods at school...you should complete the majority of your set homework (chapter exercises, reviews, work). And ensure you REVIEW everything you learnt on that day, at the end of the day...on public transport, walking to home or even just at home in your study hour. So really, you should do this often so everything is fresh in your mind and you don't need to go back because you've forgotten. And at the end of the week, revise everything you've learnt...maybe?
I completed Psychology this year, and some days I would get a piece of paper and write anything and everything I had learnt on that day. Then fill in the gaps by reviewing that topic again, asking friends or just searching it online. Then after revision, ofc I would do some questions to consolidate my knowledge. (questions from book, or VCAA ones...you should do VCAA ones throughout the year instead of cramming at the very end- I think).
For me what worked this year was:
- writing a to do list
- doing that work, for a solid hour and giving myself little breaks
-crossing out anything I've finished made me..eh 'feel good' and accomplished
- I also had a book, where I'd note down any of my mistakes and questions
-With questions, I'd ask my peers most of the time (nice people who are willing to help )
- Or ofc, ask people from AN

Not sure if whether this was helpful or not, but I reckon you should have a routine (which I myself find hard to get into...but it won't be if you reward yourself )...and actually make use of your free periods!

Oh and also, most of the time...actually always, after I get back from school...I do the 'fun stuff first' ie watch TV, computer etc THEN study. But for next year, I'm going to change that and actually study first then reward myself. Hmm, I shall see how that goes.

Edit: may I ask what subjects you are doing?