Time managements tips for HSC students

Every student’s dream is to have an ability to learn quickly and efficiently, get good grades and have fun at the same time.

But as we all know, learning is a process that requires a lot of energy, personal engagement and time.

However, it’s good to stick to certain rules that in most cases work. We’ve picked a few tips on how to manage your time and nail the upcoming exams.

Time management 

Time management is great but tricky. You never know when you’ll have a sudden headache or mood song. After all, we aren’t robots and things don’t always go smoothly. Stick to the plan you’ve made for each day and create your own timetable. Some students work better in the morning and some are more productive in the evening. Regardless of what part of the day you opt for, don’t get nervous when lessons just don’t stick. Instead of being nervous, just leave the book where it is, go outside and take a 30-minute walk. Students who study a lot need to have a break, otherwise they risk serious burnout. Also, don’t forget to air the room you’re studying in because your brain needs fresh air in order to function properly.

Take notes

While attending a lecture, always take notes of what you think is important. Usually, teachers use slide presentations to point out the most essential parts, so don’t forget to copy them to your notebook. When you make notes, use colours, highlighters, images, associations and of course imagination. Well organised and perfectly arranged notes will ease your learning, repetition, help organise your thoughts and present the content you are learning. On the other hand, if taking notes isn’t your thing, you can always exchange it with your study group and even so, find them on various online platforms such as Think Swap, and many others, which can be great help. Whichever way suits you and is crucial for you to remember info, stick with it.

Start in advance

The biggest mistake we tend to make is thinking we have enough time. The key to efficient learning is to start way before the exams. You might think you have the time, but truth be told, time passes in a blink of an eye, and all of a sudden, it’s the exam day and you’re having a mental breakdown praying to pass. So be wise and set your own daily dose of reading to avoid unnecessary pre-exam stress. By reading exam material in small portions every day, you are likely to remember and learn better before the exams start. Don’t be lazy or bored because your future self will be thankful for it.

Create your own memory techniques

We all have different ways of remembering information, but when it comes to studying the best and the most effective way is to use associations, acronyms, drawings or small sketches next to the sentences you find hard to remember. It might seem childish, but if that will help you remember certain chapters, you’re way more clever than those who find it ridiculous.

Provide your personal space

Each student deserves to have their own room where they’ll be studying and preparing for exams in peace. Not everyone is used to studying with music playing in the background or with a sibling in the same room, so it’s essential to have their little sanctum. But, if there’s no other way than to share the same room with your brother or sister, you could always ask them to leave the room while you’re studying or use them for checking your knowledge. Sometimes, it’s better when we hear ourselves talk about the matter we’ve learnt and it’s always easier to speak in front of your family first, and then later at the exam. Also, if you happen to have a spare room in your house be sure to remove stuff that will distract you and ruin your peace.

By following any of these tips, you’ll be on the right path to pass exams and turn proper learning into a habit.

Written by Isabel Frank William. Find out more about her by clicking here