Study Session - Blog Posts

How To Self Study

This is coming from a girl who spent her fresher and sophomore year studying at home and yes, I got good grades. So, here are some tips that I followed for studying by myself without depending on any teachers.

So, let's get into it!

Gather and organise material

This is important, why? What are you going to study if you have absolutely no idea what your syllabus and study material is? By materials I mean:

Textbooks (If you have any)

Practice papers

Previous year papers

Extra reading materials/ Reference books

If you don't have any textbooks. Go through the topics that you have and gather resources from different sources.

Tip: Have at least 1 extra reading material for every subject/paper. It helps you understand some topics that are explained in a complex manner in textbooks which is almost all the time.

Don't depend on your teacher

Teachers are good. Seriously. But their attention will always be shifty. They have a lot of students to teach, from many other classes so if you depend only on your teachers for clarifying your doubts or being at the back of you to study then newsflash, its going to be hard. Rather, be your own teacher. Don't go "I'll ask this to her/him tomorrow after class" because that will be your answer every time you have even a small question which can easily be solved by a simple search. You're saving your time and theirs.

Tip: If you're someone like me who gets distracted when you take up your phone even for a second then write down all your questions in a paper and search them later after your study session.

Make notes

I usually say this because notes help you understand topics. There are many methods of taking notes. I usually don't follow any structure for note taking, I just read and write keywords under the topic name, linking a few things here and there.

Tip: Notes need not be aesthetic. Seriously. You can be as messy as you can.

Watch videos related to concepts

This helps and I know most already do this.

Tip: When you finish watching a topic, close the video and write down what you understood and then play the video again, fill in the gaps that you missed and watch it again.

Study in chunks

I always believe that whatever you do, you should do in chunks. Instead of doing one chapter, divide it. Into small bits. I'll tell you, you'll see the difference. I don't usually recommend Pomodoro since it doesn't work for me. I don't keep a time limit or a set number of breaks. I finish a chunk and if I am tired, I take a break otherwise i continue.

Tip: Self quiz yourself after each chunk and then take a break. Then after you finish the chunks for the whole chapter with the self quizzing then self quiz yourself randomly for every chunk. Here's an additional tip. Take 20 second breaks.

Period of deep work

This is not a new concept, i didn't realize i did this at first. Basically, when you start your work. You do nothing but work. Like nothing else. No phones. No snacking. No unwanted thoughts. Just nothing but what you have to do. That is to study.

Tip: It is difficult to implement this right away especially if you have a habit of it getting distracted easily so i just suggest => Start smaller. One topic with full concentration. It would usually take you 20 - 30 mins to get immersed in the work. 40 mins if it's something you don't like but once you get the momentum? An unbelievable achievement really. And then, change your environment.

Quality > Quantity && Consistency> Cramming

One hour of productive studying is better than nine hours of useless studying. I feel like it's better to study 20 mins everyday rather than the whole night before an exam. It just causes stress.

Tip: Start early. Your teacher is on chapter 5? And you still don't get chapter 1, it's fine. Start learning. Seriously, it's okay to be behind. You just have to stick. Do it everyday and you'll see results that is better than those who are just keeping up with the teacher.

Deadlines Are Mandatory

Have deadlines. There are a number of ways to do this. I'm a person who is really lazy and a weird soul who would never complete their to-do list for the day if they write it down. It would always be left unfinished. So i just keep a mental time limit and the thing i have to get done.

Tip: Overestimate your deadline. Like, let's say i have to complete around 15 lessons that week. I keep my deadline to around 25-30 and i eventually complete 15. It's about adapting to what works for you. Just change according to what works for you.

Practice questions / Previous Year Papers

I can never emphasize this enough. The best way to prepare for any exam is just do practice questions or previous year questions. You will learn a lot of things. The topics that are important or repeated. The topics that are never asked.

Tip: Grade yourself on each paper. Circle the questions in your textbook while you are studying and practicing. Then when you have to actually study then you can actually revise the topics a bit more thoroughly. If you want to know more, click here.

It's okay to be behind in class

During my first term in senior year, the whole class was around 5 chapters ahead for every test and exam while me? If they were on chapter 12, i was in chapter 4 or 5 but i understood the concepts and took my sweet time with each chapter. Because the more time you take for a chapter, the better it stays in your memory.

Tip: Here is where active recall comes handy. When you revise one chapter, take a 2 day break and study another subject and then go back to the chapter and answer the practice questions. If you're able to do them, great! If not, revise more and then look at it after 3-4 days. Repeat until you have no mistakes in your answers. This helps in long term retaining.

Make It Interesting

How do you study boring subjects? You adapt. Mind maps don't work for me. Neither does flash cards. So, i found something that did. Storytelling. Take your most boring subject, turn it into a story. Make it bearable.

Tip: Tie it somethings that you like. For example, business studies was the most boring one for me so obviously, every topic was a story for me. HR Theories and Processes? ==> An office romance story. Management Principles? ==> A fantasy story where a group goes on a quest. Make It interesting. Make it gripping. And let me tell you, this actually works because our minds grasp stories better than just normal theory jargon.

Difficult Topics Are Only Difficult Because You Think They Are

This was something that i learnt the harder way. Everything looked difficult at the beginning. Everything. But the most difficult paper was maths. Because i had no teacher. Literally. I was learning from YouTube, searching different sites for tips and tricks. I thought it was too difficult and then i was like "i have to do it anyway no matter how much i brood" so i started from scratch like 3 months before my exams.

Tip: A mind set change is everything. If you think it is easy. The topic will be more bearable. If you think it's tough, it's going to be more tough. If you want some more tips for complex topics, click here.

Hope this helps !!! :)

You know, being a senior is such a good vibe. Like, nobody messes with you and everyone comes to talk to you from sophomore and junior years to ask about class selection and finals. And you give the vibe of that wise old owl who in fact doesn't know anything.

46 Days left

I had my brain fried.... Just wow... I don't have any pictures for today but...

Arabic - 40 mins

Accountancy - 4+ hours

Computers - 1 hour

And just wow, I feel sleepy and irritated really T-T

Update

I honestly got really off track here, it's been a mess for the past few days and honestly i'm kinda in a processing mode, a lot is happening and i feel disassociated with reality alittle but i guess life goes on?

What was i doing the past few days? Trying to study with severe cramps and not overthink anything... its not really working. I have like ton of tests and assignments next week and mid terms start the week after next and i am not ready.

I don't find myself studying or doing anything and honestly, i need a break but i can't get one until December end and we'll only get like a week so it's gonna be hard but i think i'll manage

136 days left

Today wasn't bad but not too good either :")

Honestly I'm overthinking quite a lot because of the finals so much that i got a freaking headache.... Anxiety has been following me around all week, I don't even know how I'm gonna manage...

Today I:

Studied Accounts (2hr 15mins)

Studied Business studies (1hr)

Honestly nothing much but gosh, my major problem is studies plus teacher pressure and subtract your hobbies/interest multiply zero time and divide your health. Isn't the equation really good? T-T

I can do it... atleast i hope i can. Tomorrow i have school till 3, I'll be at home by 4: 30 and tomorrow is fully accounts in the evening so I'll be studying either economics or business studies in the morning... let's see.

137 days left + yesterday

Well hey there, it's been a productive despite me not going to school and honestly I'm really proud of myself for actually doing something useful for once xD

Completed (yesterday and today)

Economics assignment

English assignment (20%)

Accountancy (3-4hr)

Business studies (1hr 30mins)

Computer Ppt done

I havn't been touching Arabic so I kinda have to start. Plus i got like an English test tomorrow :")

That's it for today <3

Refresh (139 days left)

So, we're going back on the countdown... Since my final exam schedule just got released and honestly I'm feeling kinda excited. If this was last year, I was literally really nervous and was overwhelmed but this year? I just feel calm and excited.

I'm gonna start to study more consistently from now, especially in Arabic and business studies so let's see.

That's it for now <3

How have you guys been?

85 days left

Okay, today was interesting ...

I got my results and I'm only disappointed in accounts.... Even though i didn't score that bad ://

Anyway, I am starting to be a little more productive atleast from some days... I'm planning to make use of this term because honestly I don't know how we are gonna get our final papers...

Today I:

Did accounts + made notes

Revised economics

Revised Business studies

And I'm currently reading this self help book "Think straight" by Darious Foroux. It's kinda good actually, it's been a while since I've read anything so it's nice from my usual routine.

88 days left

Okay, time's flying really fast. My term exam results come on Monday or Tuesday and my accountancy teacher told me that I did really bad and that she was disappointed in me and that i should concentrate more on it.

So, I'm wondering how the heck did I do bad in a subject that I was studying almost everyday?! And then this other girl studied 3 days before the exam and got like 95+

Honestly, the paper was alright but i panicked and did some shitty things :// gonna avoid that in the future.

Today I:

Revised some Economics

Did accounts (1 and a half hours)

And yes, I'm gonna be putting extra effort from now on because it's really close to my next term exams and then it's gonna be followed by Revision exams and I have a school function on top of that.... i just wanna sit and cry honestly T-T

Projects to complete:

Economics (by Monday)

Computers (By Oct end)

I just finished my term exams yesterday and honestly, school starts in like 4 more days so I'll make the most use of my time till then. I've got multiple projects to complete and right now, my main aim is to learn from the mistakes I did during the exams. Especially in accounts.

My projects:

Computer

Business studies

Economics

[I'll start my countdown once my school starts again]

Highschool tips that no one told me.

Explore. Clubs. Extra curriculars. Sports. Anything. When you get to freshman year, start exploring. Even if you're a sophomore, junior or senior. Start exploring because you need to be involved in something other than your school. (But don't overdo it!! Max of 2-3 extracurriculars)

Do your homework/assignments as soon as you can.

Get a planner/calender. Update it daily.

Exercise. Dance. Jog. Jump. Do whatever you want but exercise atleast 3 times a week.

Sleep earlier. Before 11 preferably.

Whatever you do, don't back answer a teacher.

Allow yourself to relax but don't overdo it.

Choose your friends carefully. Keep 2 or 3 close friends.

Don't just blabber everything about anything. Think before you speak

Don't involve yourself in any sorts of drama. Clear everything out before it even starts cause it's definitely gonna backfire if you don't

Choose your friends carefully. I mean, very carefully.

Time is investment, use it to your advantage.

For exams, solve past year question papers!!!

Have a doubt in something? Go ask your teacher (it will save you the trouble)

YouTube has a wide variety of videos for you to learn from

Study everyday. Just for an hour. It's more than enough.

Read. Read. Read. Write. Write. Write. Anything.

Honestly, get a study group. (I mean it. Don't study together in the same place. Just send important questions and ask doubts.)

Study things that were thought in previous classes. You will be behind the class but it definitely helps during exams/tests.

Most of all, try to enjoy. You won't get back your highschool years. I realise that now.

I did a similar post a few months ago. The mistakes that I made during my junior year. You can find it here.

Hope this helps! :D

How to avoid distractions while studying.

.

Social Media.

I personally know how hard it is to study when constant social media notifications are popping up so i just turn them off. This is obvious and the easiest way. Keep your phone in another room while you're studying.

Youtube

Here's the thing, YouTube is something we can't avoid, especially when it comes to studying because many times, we want to learn from the videos but end up getting distracted and therefore, i maintain 2 accounts. One, a personal account where I watch all my own channels like vlogs and other content videos and another account only for studying. I don't subscribe to any other channels beside the channels that help me with my studies in this account. I've noticed that I get a lot less distracted because your recommendations would only be study related or the content related!

Write them down

When you're studying and you noticed that you're getting a lot of distractions. Take a paper and write down the distractions with the timings and then continue studying.

Distractions - Time

Phone - 20 min (specify time: 8:20-40)

By this, you can analyse what's distracting you more than the others and you can actually calculate your study hours better and help yourself improve it.

Reduce everything by 5 mins

It's okay to get distracted. Everyone gets distracted and the best way to decrease your distractions is to decrease them by 5 mins for some days and then keep decreasing them gradually. It's the best way to work honestly because it helps you remove the distractions over time as a habit.

Complete your chores before sitting down

You might know that whenever you sit down with a firm motivation to study and then you take your notes, books, materia etc and a voice from the kitchen comes saying"You haven't finished the dishes!" So, now you go to do the dishes and then another chore pops up when you sit to study and another and another. So, here's my advice, either you complete all your chores before you study or you complete them after or you could complete them during breaks. But make sure you're not distracted by them.

Turn daydreaming into a weapon

Personally, this is something i really really struggled with, like whenever I sit down to study, I ended up daydreaming about a certain book or plot. It would definitely not help me study so recently, I started assigning fictional characters to subjects and personally, like, gosh my economics was alittle more interesting when I was "teaching" it to Cardan Greenbriar (tfota). It's kinda childish to have like an imaginary friend or such but it certainly helps with boring subjects. Imagine scenarios or do anything with your imagination as long as you're studying the content. It helps you remember important points even though it may be absurd.

Q and A sessions

From time to time, get in the habit of quizzing yourself, I do it after every topic i complete. I'll ask questions which are not in the book, I'll twist the questions just like in the tests. This means that you have to stay focused if you truly want to answer the questions or even form the questions. You can even do it with a friend/study buddies!

Tennis method

This method is really useful and i kinda made it up. You hold your hands up in the air facing towards each other. Now, after you completed a topic, you "throw" your first point from one hand to another and the other hand should "throw" back the second point and so on until you're completely done with it. If you can't "throw" a point back in less than a minute, you need to revise more. Personally, I love doing this because I'm focused on answering and it's actually kinda fun "throwing" points like balls, even though it may look crazy to any outsiders xD (You can use this for maths for formulae, vocabs etc!)

Hope this helps! :D

28.06.2024

Did the English test, it was alright, not too bad i guess... Arabic test was cancelled, more like forgotten by the teacher, yes, we didn't remind xD

Today was uneventful but I guess it's good...

Did some accountancy sums

Studied economics lesson 2 (Part 2)

Yeah, that's it.

27.06.2024

I'm tired. Gosh. I've been waking up at 6:45 am and then returning home at 5:00 in the evening, it's so exhausting... Anyway, today I:

Completed one lesson in economics

Did some accounts sums and revised concepts

Did my computer homework (50%)

Got an English and Arabic test tomorrow. Yay T-T

I'm in my "I don't know how but i will" era

26.06.2024

Well, no idea how to describe today. Kinda boring and tiring... I'm struggling with English alittle, no it's not the stories or poetry or prose or assignments... It's freaking grammar. I mean, I'm fluent in English, I don't have that many mistakes in it either thankfully but if our teacher teaches us grammar using tabular columns and grammar rule formulae type stuff, I'll obviously struggle because I can't freaking comprehend how you use that in this T-T

Anyways, today I:

Completed English assignment

Did some accounts

Completed 1 lesson in Business Studies

Completed Computer homework

I guess that's it...

25.06.2024

Today was alright, I guess. My project finally got accepted by our computer teacher, like after suffering for a week or two we finally completed.

Nothing much to update here so....

Did some accounts sums

Completed 40% of English assignment

Completed 20% of Arabic assignment

I've been meaning to wake up at 5:30 from tomorrow to start studying. Let's see... O-O

24.06.2024

Well, I'm freaking exhausted! Like, i literally woke up at 6:30 in the morning and it's now 11:30 at night, I didn't even rest even for 10 mins. Gosh, it's starting frustrate me so damn much...

Anyway, the seminar went better than expected, some how i managed the computer test and the business studies teacher believes so much in me that she never picks me to answer a question xD and the economics test is postponed to tomorrow, I'm gonna study that in the morning. And we submitted our computer project today and the teacher liked it and she said that she was impressed with our team's report and even used it as a reference to show the others, I was jumping inside xD

And today i:

Practiced 10 Accountancy sums

Did some computer writing assignment

Reviewed some concepts in business studies

Not alot but still something...

23.06.2024

So i kinda missed a day yesterday, I was busy with my project and i got a cold... i literally didn't study anything, i have no idea what I'll write in tomorrow's 3 tests. Praying they'll get cancelled T-T

Anyways, today I:

Finished off the computer project

Completed 20% of the English assignment

Practiced for tomorrow's English seminar

Okay, i hope I'll do good tomorrow but I have faith. So yeah.

If I had to give one advice, and only one advice, to everyone going through highschool (although it also works for uni), it would be this:

Do as much past papers as you can. Lessons are not enough, practice is the key. There is generally a pattern in the exercises. That's what you should learn to identify. Learn to see, from the first glance, what they ask you in a question, even if you don't know the answer to it yet. That is more than helpful. That makes you learn your lessons better and you'll be confident in front of any exercise even if you don't really know the answers, you know the steps. You know what is asked from you. You know what to do. So practice, practice, practice.

Based on experience.

Hey dear Anon! :)

I know what you're saying because I literally passed sophomore and junior year with this method. I agree it's very beneficial and it definitely gives you more confidence in the actual exam!

Thanks for sharing :)

21.06.2024

Well, today was uneventful and boring as always. The English period ended before i could present my seminar so now I have to wait till Monday (kinda bad if you ask me). Completely did something else on the economics test today, boring old accounts got me crying like always and don't get me started on computers... T-T

Completed 65% of the computer project (Took me 3 hours)

I did absolutely nothing else... gosh...

20.06.2024

Today was tiring. And I'm pretty sure tomorrow is gonna be exhausting as well. Wrote 2 class tests today, no idea what I wrote xD I have a seminar, a test and an assignment submission tomorrow... A project submission on Monday and another test on Saturday, in simple words, I'm gonna have a busy weekend T-T

Learnt a new accounts concept and wrote some notes

Learnt lesson 1 in business studies

Prepared for English seminar

Worked on the computer project (10% done)

Did I study for tomorrow's test? Nope, just have to wing it I guess T-T

19.06.2024

First day of school after Eid holidays and gosh, I'm tired but it was an overall alright day. Postponed the tests they were supposed to keep today (about 3 tests) and kept 2 other suprise tests... I don't think teachers know the meaning of "informing in advance" and "actually following their schedule" T-T

No one even asked for the assignments, I was annoyed because i literally wasted my time doing them and they didn't even ask ://

Anyways, I got done atleast somethings...

Did half of the new economics assignment

Completed Arabic homework

Completed English homework

Economics lecture (YouTube) 50 mins

Discussed computer assignment (we've barely started and we have so much to do)

Tomorrow, we have tests in economics, business studies, a seminar in English and probably my computer teacher's wrath... For some reason, despite starting so early this year, i feel way less confident than last year when i only touched my books during exams... life is so weird... And mid terms start in July (don't ask me how it's mid term already when it's only like the 2nd week of school and they haven't even completed half the portions for it T-T)

16.06.2024

Did absolutely nothing today because one, I was fasting and two, I'm a lazy ass potato. So, nothing to update though I did do some Computer project with my classmates. So... Kinda did something? And tomorrow is Eid so I guess i wouldn't do anything tomorrow either so... :")

15.06.24

I slept till 9 today and wow that helped but I'm still sleepy xD Nevertheless, I did alot...

Assignments:

Economics (another one, yes T-T)

Computer (40% done)

Arabic (90% done)

English seminar

Tests:

Economics 2 lessons

English 1 lesson

Homework:

Accounts

Islamic studies (memorizing 1 Ayn of Dhukhan- 5% done)

Still have a lot to do. It doesn't help that my computer group isn't really helping that much, like a few girls are participating but the other two, like she's missing :")

Besides that, tomorrow i'm gonna start studying so... T-T

14.06.2024

Today was exhausting but atleast we get a 4 day break till Tuesday because of Eid-ul-adha and gosh am i dreading the coming Wednesday, we have so much due then.

I didn't do much today, just completed my business studies assignment. Now, I'm gonna make a list of my assignments and tests due on Wednesday...

Assignments:

Economics (another one, yes T-T)

Computer (the hardest one)

Arabic (kinda easy)

English seminar

Tests:

Economics 2 lessons

English 1 lesson

Homework:

Accounts

Islamic studies (memorizing 1 Ayn of Dhukhan)

Right and I have to do my own studying... looks like it's gonna be toooo productive and my plans of reading a novel just went out the window T-T

13.06.2024

4th day of school and I'm more exhausted, for some reason I feel like senior year is going more slowly than junior year. Like, last year, I blinked and bamn, end of the week and right now I feel like I'm processing every minute T-T

Write some Accounts notes

Read an English lesson

Completed eco assignment

12.06.2024

Today was... Alright , I guess? I'm not sure how to feel, it's literally the 3rd day of school and we have a test tomorrow :/ not like I'm gonna study for that test, I'm gonna wing it and follow my own schedule this year because last time our teachers just messed everything up by giving unimportant topics as tests :///

Anyways...

Completed writing notes for lesson 1 in Economics

Read all the poetry in our English syllabus

Wrote short notes for Computer lesson 1

Revised some Arabic

11.06.2024

Second day of school and gosh was it exhausting, i somehow seemed to have forgotten how tiring school really is :")

Today was a full on Computers and Accounts day T-T

Completed Accounts homework and reviewed some concepts we learnt today

Prepared computer notes for lesson 1 (only half)

Economics assignment 90% done

10.06.2024

It was the first day of school, just got my textbooks and the whole class spent the day talking and doing nothing. Classes start tomorrow but I'm starting sooner this year. I'm keeping this as a tracker for progress so... Yeah

Read 1 chapter of Business studies and English

Completed 50% of the assignment in Economics

Revised last year's accountancy notes