In Year 9 or 10 and have no idea how to study? Need some study tips to point you in the right direction?
We’ve prepared an article to help you on your way!Â
Years 9 and 10 can be a challenging time with an increase in workload, study hours and difficulty. That’s why we’ve come up with our top 5 study tips to help you manage this change as you go through Stage 5 of high school!
Have we convinced you yet? Let’s dive right in!Â
Tip #1: Have a Consistent Study Time
Tip #2: Revise Regularly
Tip #3: Leave Time for Self-Care
Tip #4: Use a TimetableÂ
Tip #5: Create a Term Overview
Tip #1: Have a Consistent Study Time
Years 7 and 8 were light on the workload, and you may not have had an opportunity to study much, or even form much of a study habit. That’s why it’s important in Years 9 and 10 to get into the habit of studying and managing your time well before you enter senior high school.
Get into the habit of leaving time to study during the week. This might look different for everyone but generally in Years 9 and 10 it’s good practice to leave about 2-3 hours each weekday to get your homework done.
A great study technique is to use the Pomodoro Technique! This is a technique where you study in 25 minute intervals then take a short break before undertaking another 25 minutes!
It makes your study much more focused and reduces procrastination! You can read about how to use the Pomodoro Technique effectively.
You can also check out Tomato Timer or Marianara Timer which are online timers specifically designed for using the Pomodoro Technique — they’ll time you at each 25 minute interval!
You may find that there are some periods where you are busier, for example during an exam period, but it’s still important to study around the same time each day. This might mean leaving a slot of time before or after dinner for school work.
Tip #2: Revise Regularly
It’s a common mistake to forget to revise and leave learning content crammed into a few days before an exam. However, we’re pleased to tell you that there’s a much healthier, less-stress way to revise!
The secret to studying is to revise regularly. At least once a week go back through your notes and content that you have learned in school during that same week.
Find out what method of revising suits you the best; this could be making summary notes, drawing diagrams, using flashcards or even starting a bullet journal to organise your revision content!Â
If you’re not sure how to make study notes, check out our article on organising your study notes.
Whatever that may look like for you, make sure into the habit of consistently studying and revising now so that you aren’t left feeling overwhelmed when your teachers pile on the assessments.
Haven’t heard yet? There are major changes coming to the Years 7-10 Maths Curriculum in NSW starting from 2024 onwards!
Tip #3: Leave Time for Self-Care
While it’s wonderful to get into good study habits, don’t forget that part of studying well means taking care of yourself well too!
You’ve probably heard this a thousand times by now, but leave time for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day!
Exercise helps you concentrate, improves productivity and helps you take care of your physical and mental wellbeing. Take a look at any local sports clubs and programs, or take a browse through YouTube and exercise in the comfort of your own room!
Make sure to also schedule in time to do the things you love like spending time with family, hanging out with friends, reading or watching some Netflix.
Discover the ultimate guide to acing your English studies here!
Tip #4: Use a TimetableÂ
There’s a jump in workload between Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8) and Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) and sometimes it might feel a bit overwhelming.Â
That’s why it’s important to leave more time for homework and revision than you would have in previous years.Â
A handy way to make sure you’re managing your time well is to make a schedule. This might be a hand-drawn timetable or a virtual one.
Timetabling and to-do lists might sound a bit tedious, but it will be very handy in the long run!Â
Here’s a quick step guide to making your timetable:
- Start by making a weekly timetable for your extracurricular activities so you know which days you may be feeling more tired.
- Schedule in your regular study times
- Schedule in exercise and self-care time
Keep in mind that you can be flexible with this! If there are days where you have more or less homework, prioritise what you need to complete and what can be left to finish on the weekend.
You can download your very own FREE weekly study planner below!
Need some support with getting your study habits on track? Work with one of our North Shore tutors!
Tip #5: Create a Term Overview
Ask your teacher or year advisor for a term overview for each subject. Often, they will know what weeks certain assessments or assignments will occur.Â
From there, the next step is to put into your calendar or diary when assignments may be due or when exams occur. This will help forecast when you need to start working on certain things for your different subjects.
And that wraps up our top 5 study tips to studying effectively in Years 9 and 10!
We hope this article helps you get started on your study plans. Forming good study and time management habits now will set you down the path to acing your senior years of high school!Â
Starting Year 11 next year and have no clue which English subject you should be taking? Check out our guide to the different HSC English levels!
Looking for some extra help in Year 9 or 10?
We have an incredible team of tutors and mentors!
We can help you ace your upcoming assessments with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or at one of our state of the art campuses in Hornsby or the Hills!
We’ve supported over 8,000 students over the last 11 years, and on average our students score mark improvements of over 20%!
To find out more and get started with an inspirational HSC English tutor and mentor, get in touch today or give us a ring on 1300 267 888!
Millicent Tai hopes to one day become a full-time teacher and is currently studying a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science at UNSW. She enjoys tutoring students at Art of Smart in English and Maths and has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. In her spare time, you can find her avidly reading Christian biographies or fishing in Animal Crossing.
