Leveling up as a student

You’ve made up your mind that you are going to absolutely dominate this school year. How?
To level up as a student, embracing a proactive approach towards learning and personal development is essential. In the ever-evolving landscape of education and technology,
students must equip themselves with the right mindset, strategies, and tools to excel academically. This guide aims to provide valuable insights, practical tips, and actionable
steps to help students. By implementing the strategies outlined here, students can enhance their study habits, maximize their potential, and navigate the challenges of the modern
educational environment with conOdence and success.

In the fast-paced world of education today, being a successful student requires more than just attending classes and completing assignments. To
truly level up as a student, you need to adopt a proactive approach to your learning journey. Here are some tips and strategies to help you excel
academically and personally in the upcoming year:

Embrace a Growth Mindset Set Clear Goals

kne of the Eey ingredients to success as a student is having a growth Detting clear, achievable goals is essential for academic success. 2eOne what you want to ac-
mindset. This means believing that dedication and hard worE can complish in 040H, whether itSs improving your grades, mastering a new sEill, or getting involved
develop your abilities and intelligence. 'mbrace challenges, learn in extracurricular activities, or, all of them. BreaE down your goals into smaller tasEs and create
from criticism, and persist in the face of setbacEs. By cultivating a a timeline to tracE your progress. Aaving a clear roadmap will Eeep you focused and motivated
growth mindset, youSll be more resilient, motivated, and open to throughout the year. The best way to stay on tracE is to write down your goals on a piece of paper
learning new things. and sticE it in the front of your school diary cover, or anywhere that you will see it often. : template
is provided below…

This year, I want to improve my ...............................................................................

and UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU I will also try my best to
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU By the end of the
Stay Organized
year, I will accomplish these goals and UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.
Dtaying organized is Eey to managing your time and responsibilities
as a student. Pse tools liEe planners, calendars, or digital apps to
Eeep tracE of assignments, deadlines, and important dates. Crioritize
your tasEs based on urgency and importance to avoid last-minute
cramming and reduce stress. Dome good organization tricEs are
outlined in the same colour boxes.
ORGANIZATION

T. School bag
our school bag is the place where almost all of your study resources are Eept. Waturally, you must Eeep your bag as clean and organized as possible. Try to handle your textbooEs
carefully.
;JJJJ Try not to write on them with pens unless it is a worEbooE.
;JJJJ )eep your handwriting neat and small.
;JJJJ Try not to cram too many booEs in your bag and follow your school timetable, meaning only taEe the booEs you will need that day.
;JJJJ 2on(t draw=doodle on your booEs
;JJJJ 2on(t taEe your anger for the curriculum out on the booE and bend its pages and cover.JJJJ
:long with your textbooEs and notebooEs, your school bag will also contain worEsheets, handouts, printed concepts and topics, notices, Fyers, and permission slips. “e don(t
want all these things crumpled up at the bottom of your bag, so you should use a clear plastic Ole for all the things that aren(t stucE in your notebooEs. But, we also don(t want all
these things to get mixed up in one Ole. )eeping one Ole for each sub/ect may seem liEe a good idea, but, speaEing from experience, they become almost impossible to control.
: better solution would be to Eeep two Oles… one for permission slips, Fyers, and extracurricular documents” and one for your worEsheets, handouts and printed topics. “rite your
name neatly in a corner or attach a small, smart slip of paper with your name and class on it. It is advised to always put your papers in theright side up and maEe sure the corners
don(t fold.

2. Workspace 3. Use your calendar app

Dtudying on your bed or Foor is very ineGective because you(re jalendar apps are often overlooEed or underrated despite being incredibly useful tools for orga-
going to end up falling asleep. Ideally, you should be studying on a nizing our lives. These apps oGer so much more than /ust a digital version of a paper calendar.
desE. : decluttered worEspace gives peace of mind and helps you Dtudents can beneOt greatly from them. The most popular calendar that syncs across devices is
focus better. kn your desE, you should only Eeep your booEs and ?oogle calendar. Dee the video linE below to learn more about how to use it…
stationery. Invest in a pen holder and Eeep your home stationery in
it. )eep your school stationery separated inside your school bag. My Google Calendar System Student, Productivity & Time Management - YouTube
https…==www.youtube.com=watchZvRV1ThzV7&?3E’tR0KHs

STUDY HABITS

Develop EHective Study 1abits T. Fhe qeynman technifue

The Yeynman Technique is a powerful method for learning and understanding
'Gective study habits are crucial for academic success. Yind a study routine that worEs
complex concepts. Aere is a breaEdown of how it worEs…
for you, whether itSs creating a study schedule, setting speciOc study goals, or using
T. Simpli:yA Dtart by simplifying the concept you want to learn. BreaE it down into
mnemonic devices to help you remember information. : mnemonic is a device such as
basic components and understand the core idea.
a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations that assists in remembering something, for
2. FeachA Cretend to teach the concept to someone else. This step helps you
example Richard of York Gave Battle In Vain or ROYGBIV for the colours of the spectrum
identify gaps in your understanding and reinforces your Enowledge.
Nred, orange, yellow, green, and blue, indigo, violet . 'xperiment with diGerent study
3. 4nalogiesA Pse analogies and simple explanations to clarify the concept
techniques to Ond what worEs best for you and sticE to it consistently.
further. This helps in solidifying your understanding.
Dome great study tips are outlined in boxes of the same colour. R. BeIneA jontinuously reOne your explanation until it becomes clear and con-
cise. This iterative process enhances your understanding of the concept.
By following the Yeynman Technique, you can deepen your understanding of
complex topics and improve your learning process eGectively. ou can use a
whiteboard, a stylus and your phone, or even a simple sheet of paper to explain
2. Plurting the concept with diagrams and mind maps. :lternatively, you could explain the
The Blurting Technique is a revision method that can help improve memory retention and concept to someone else, liEe a younger sibling, to solidify your understanding.
enhance active recall of information. Aere is a breaEdown of how the Blurting Technique
worEs…
a JJJJJ 5ntense BevisionA Blurting involves intense revision sessions where you challenge
your brain to worE extra hard. It is recommended to do this in short bursts and taEe
frequent breaEs to avoid mental fatigue.
b JJJJ 4ctive BecallA By using the Blurting Technique, you engage in active recall of infor-
mation, which can strengthen your memory and aid in better retention of the material.
You do this by writing out all the information you remember about the concept and then
checking what you have missed. 3. Mind Mapping
c JJJJJ Spotting GapsA This method helps you identify gaps in your comprehension of the 7isualizing information through diagrams and charts can help in organizing
sub/ect matter. thoughts and maEing connections between concepts. To do this, /ust start free
By blurting out the information, you can pinpoint areas where you need to focus more sEetching on a blanE paper and connect related points with arrows. Yor example”
attention and study. the template of the mind map below.
1emember to incorporate this technique into your study routine in a structured manner
to maximize its beneOts and optimize your learning experience. It is advised that you do
not looE bacE on the textbooE or your notes every time you forget something. Must write
down all you Enow, and then checE what you have missed.

R. 6ractice

“e(ve all heard the phrase, 5practice maEes perfectL, and it(s true. In many sub/ects we
need to focus on our problem solving sEills, rather than our memorization sEills. The
best way to prepare for these sub/ects is to practice questions. ou can start by solving
questions from your textbooE. The Eey is to practice them after you have learnt the topic.
Try not to looE bacE to the topic when solving questions. If you need more questions, the
next point will help you out.

(. Use the internet to your advantage

By using the internet mindfully and purposefully, students can turn it into a powerful tool
for learning, growth, and academic success. Detting boundaries, staying focused, and
leveraging the internetSs resources can transform it from a potential distraction into a
valuable educational asset.

9any textbooEs have digital resources you can access, from websites.
). Fake breaks
Psing :I, you can get concepts explained to you, and generate practice questions. It is TaEing breaEs is crucial for students to maintain focus, productivity, and overall
advised that you do not misuse AI to do your homework, otherwise, how will you learnZ well-being during study sessions. It is important to striEe a balance between study
The most popular, free, and easily accessible :I tool is ?oogle ?emini. To asE ?emini to times and breaEs to ensure e cient learning.
generate practice questions, load up the website and asE. It is recommended that you Short Preaks L( minutes between easy topics0A
use the following template…
Dhort breaEs help prevent burnout and maintain concentration levels.
“I’m a ……………… grade student and need help with ………………….. Could you generate
They allow the brain to rest and recharge, improving overall cognitive function.
some practice questions for my upcoming exam?”
By taEing short breaEs between easy topics, students can stay fresh and
There are also a lot of ouTube channels that can help you with your worE. Dome
alert, ready to tacEle the next sub/ect with renewed focus.
good ones are…
xonger breaks LTN to T( minutes between harder topics0A
&. JThe organic chemistry tutor
Aarder topics require more mental eGort and concentration, maEing longer
0. ?ohar )han
breaEs essential for cognitive recovery.
K. Jjognito
onger breaEs allow students to relax, refuel, and reset their minds for the
H. 9r. M next challenging sub/ect.
. J)han :cademy N'W and NP1 These breaEs help prevent mental fatigue and enhance retention of complex
information.

Dtudents must avoid procrastination during breaEs and return to studying

promptly once the breaE ends. Crocrastinating can disrupt the study Fow and
xi:estyle maEe it harder to regain focus. By adhering to a structured breaE schedule and
9aintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for students as it directly impacts their academic returning promptly, students can maintain momentum and optimize their study
performance, physical well-being, and overall quality of life. Aere are some Eey aspects sessions.
of a healthy lifestyle that students should prioritize…
Palanced Diet… jonsuming a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean
proteins, and healthy fats is essential for fueling the body and brain. :voiding excessive
/unE food and sugary snacEs can help sustain energy levels and cognitive function.
Begular E-ercise… Incorporating regular physical activity into their routine can improve
focus, concentration, and mood. “hether itSs a brisE walE, yoga session, or worEout at
the gym, staying active beneOts both the body and mind.
4defuate Sleep… ?etting enough quality sleep is crucial for memory consolidation,
learning, and overall well-being. Dtudents should aim for 3- hours of sleep per night
to ensure optimal cognitive function and academic performance.
Stress Management… 2eveloping eGective stress management techniques such as deep
breathing, meditation, or engaging in hobbies can help students cope with academic
pressure and maintain mental health.
1ydration… Dtaying hydrated is Eey to cognitive function and overall health. Dtudents
should aim to drinE an adequate amount of water throughout the day to support brain
function and energy levels.

In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle, having a bo- o: nuts by their desk can oGer
various beneOts for students…
utrient Bich Snack… Wuts are pacEed with essential nutrients such as healthy fats,
protein, Obre, vitamins, and minerals, maEing them a nutritious snacE option.
Prain Poosting 6roperties… Wuts contain nutrients liEe omega-K fatty acids, antioxidants,
and vitamin ' that support brain health, cognition, and memory.