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Grab a calendar that works for you - it can either be digital (like a Google Calendar) or paper-based
Allocate study time based on when youâre most/least productive and plug in all your other commitments e.g.
Block out lunch every day 12.30pm-1.30pm
Block out weekends if you prefer to have those off
Schedule in some early morning study time if youâre very productive at the start of the day
Now review your total study time, increasing or decreasing it if necessary:
If youâre on study leave, youâre aiming for ~30 hours per week
If youâve got more time before your exams, aiming for ~8-15 hours per week is ok
Or, anything in between!
â˛ď¸ Set a commitment
Now split those hours across all your subjects, assigning slightly more to the ones you find hardest
TOP TIP! Scheduling the same subject at the same time of day/week can build habits and help you stick to your schedule more easily
Try to mix up different subjects in your study plan rather than cramming one subject at a time. This method is called interleaving and can help boost learning.
Youâre aiming to study for blocks of time that work for you:
30 min âĄď¸ work for 25 mins then take a 5 min break
1 hour âĄď¸ work for 50 mins then take a 10 min break
TOP TIP! Use the Pomodoro technique to help you. The break is just as important as study time
âď¸ Schedule in Up Learn
You can simply add âUp Learnâ slots to your study plan or if youâd like to get more granular, read onâŚ
Schedule in the topics with the detailed video lessons - these cover the hardest 20% of biology
Next, schedule in time to cover the following sections:
Exam Technique âĄď¸ teaches you how to approach specific types of question in your exam
TOP TIP to get maximum marks for your answers check out:
Recall Practice Quizzes âĄď¸ practice facts and definitions with varying levels of difficulty. The easier ones are a good starting point to help you learn and the harder ones will ensure you master them
As soon as you feel youâre ready (or when you hit 40-50% Up Score), itâs time for Exam Practice Papers. Be sure to schedule enough time to complete this and mark it after (using the mark scheme provided)
Finally, as you get closer to your exam or if you want to revise content you feel quite confident in, schedule in:
Exam Practice Questions âĄď¸ complete exam-style questions, practice applying what youâve learnt, identifying areas of weakness and recapping key knowledge and exam technique. You mark your answer using an interactive mark scheme
Summaries âĄď¸ a very quick way to get an overview of the topic right before exams and/or figure out whether it is something you need to spend more time on
TOP TIP: Check out the Science of Learning module to learn how to optimise your studying!
đŞ Review and strengthen
Review your study plan every couple of weeks at least by checking through your Up Learn course (Year 12 + Year 13):
Which of your topics have a lot of green bars and which ones donât? Head over to the topics that need some more work (or are completely empty of green)
TOP TIP! Once you hit 7/8 bars move on to another topic and come back to that one later. The algorithm doesnât like you repeatedly strengthening the same topic on the same day
Is your Up Score stuck on 40-60%? Itâs time for Exam Practice Papers. Complete and redo them, aiming to get a better score the second time
TOP TIP! Up Score dropped sharply after completing a paper? Donât panic - redoing the same paper replaces the mark you just got. Your average exam score (which feeds into your overall Up Score) is calculated using the average of the highest score on each paper you have attempted
Need some general tips on how to increase your Up Score? Find those here
Need some general tips on the best way to learn? Find those here
Remember! These guidelines are intended as hints and tips to help you but if youâve already got a process that you like - stick with it! Everyone has slightly different study habits and itâs really important to figure out what works best for you. Happy learning đ