Reading your notes over and over feels like studying, but it's one of the slowest ways to remember anything. Here are five habits that work much better, whether you're in Grade 5 or preparing for CSEC.
1. Test yourself instead of rereading
Close the book and try to answer a question from memory. The effort of remembering is what makes it stick. A quick quiz, like StudyBuddy's QuickFire, does exactly this.
2. Space it out
Come back to a topic after a day, then a few days, then a week. Each time you remember it just as you're starting to forget, it lasts longer. FlipSide cards bring back the ones you found hard.
3. Mix it up
Instead of twenty fraction questions in a row, mix in decimals and percentages. It feels harder, but it trains your brain to choose the right method, which is exactly what exams ask.
4. Explain it out loud
Kezia explains each Science topic to her little brother after school. If you can teach it simply, you understand it. If you get stuck, that's the part to review.
5. Practise under exam conditions
Once a week, sit a full practice paper with a timer, the way Imran does before CSEC. You'll learn to pace yourself, and the real exam will feel familiar.
Try one habit this week, then add another. Small changes add up.