Mix up your study methods

Keep it fresh, and think about how you learn best in different subjects.

There are plenty of places online that’ll help you decide if you’re a visual learner, an aural learner, someone who can only take in information by eating it… but things aren’t always that straightforward. If you really want to get all that knowledge into your mindtanks without dying of boredom, your best bet is to shake up your study schedule from time to time.

Try a bunch of different things

Some people are all about flashcards, but maybe they’re no good for you because you prefer to read your notes out loud. And maaaaaybe flashcards are no good for you in English, but they’re surprisingly helpful in memorising Maths equations. Some subjects reward diving in and getting your hands dirty – think Art, Music and Drama – while in others you’re going to have to strap in and do some mind-numbing memorisation. Experiment with a range of techniques.

Move to a new location

And we do mean “move”. Go for a walk while you listen to some recorded notes – either your own or someone else’s – or even a podcast related to what you’re learning. When you’re in an exam, you’ll be more likely to close your eyes for a second, remember that spot where the light took FOREVER to turn green and link it to whatever you were listening to at the time.

The new location will help, too

Not all study is best done on the move, but learning certain things in certain locations means you’ll mentally link it to that space. Do Maths in the local library, English on your bed, read your Science textbook on the toilet, History in a park… If that sounds insane, forget we mentioned any of it. But you should still study in different spaces from time to time. Otherwise you’ll get bored out of your mind.

Study with someone else

Maybe not someone you have a crush on, because it’s hard to read their notes when your eyeballs have turned into lovehearts and you’re sniffing the page like a creeper. Working alone all the time can be boring, and having a study buddy’s a good way to mix things up. They’ll know different bits to you, and they’ll probably have different ways of learning stuff. Swap notes, quiz each other and be each other’s motivation when your energy is flagging.