21 Nov 2020

So you want to improve your marks..? First of all, props to your proactive self for seeking to be better! Let's keep this motivation momentum going and suss out how we can get those marks of yours soaringggg.

1. I get by with a little help from my friends

Studying with friends is genius. Not only will you have someone else motivating you to get studying, you will also be able to pool resources and get notes for anything that you might have missed over term. There’s legit science that says studying in groups helps students learn more effectively; Dr Thomas Neilsen from the University of Canberra says that you can find energy and inspiration from the people around you, and he’s an expert on wellbeing, so it’s definitely worth giving this method a crack.

Also, a little bit of competition never hurt nobody. In fact, it could be that extra kick in the butt you need to study up! Why not have an innocent and lighthearted competition between your mates to see who can score the highest marks? Obviously, don't take it too seriously. Keeping vibes fun will encourage studying to be a little bit more entertaining.

2. Inspiration

Sure, the best way to improve marks is to study study studyyyy. But to keep yourself from burning out and stay motivated, get inspired!

What do I mean by this? 

What really helped me through the HSC was having a clear Post-School Plan ie. I wanted to take a gap year and then go to film school. Having something to strive towards kept me inspired to knock out studying -  I knew I'd be onto bigger and better things soon enough and that excitement kept me going! During my study breaks, I spent time researching and daydreaming about what I'd do after school.

If you have no idea what you see yourself doing after high school, suss out our Post-School Plan! By doing this, you can assess path options and careers that could suit you and if those careers need an ATAR or not. Essentially, it's like a choose your own adventure. We give you a certain map with path options and you figure out what route works best!

3. Figure out how you learn best

So, studying is kinda the most important thing to do to keep those marks up. But what if I told you, you might not be studying at your best potential.

Ok, so I used to always study by reading and writing notes. That was kind of all I was taught but news flash, I am not a reading/writer learner. I realised I learn best by hearing. I'm an auditory learner! So I'd read my notes out and listen to them, listen to podcasts and teachers. I'd even create rhymes to remember facts. Oh and listening to music whilst studying always helped a lot - I'd link a topic to a certain song. 

If you make an effort to adapt your methods of studying to what suits you best and you’ll exponentially speed up your learning curve.

Here are the four main types of learners - 

  • Visual learners - Respond to visual cues, like to draw up mind maps, use images to explain concepts and ideas, use colour extensively in your note-taking.
  • Auditory learner - Learn best when information is spoken, prefer lectures and discussions, process information by talking through things.
  • Reading/writing learner - Process information by writing notes and reading textbooks/essays - most traditional way of studying.
  • Kinesthetic learners -  Excel at more practical subjects with the opportunity to put learning directly into practice, prefer concrete personal experience and recreating what they've learnt.

4. Get organised

Plan your study time in advance instead of hoping it will “happen” somewhere in between your social life and classes. Leaving it to the last minute and inevitably cramming is never a vibe.

Organise when you'll study each subject. Set priorities and split intelligently between subjects. If you stick to just a little bit of studying a day, you'll feel productive and motivated, eliminating as much pressure and anxiety as possible!

5. Practice makes perfect... duh!

Get into the mindset of what the exams will be like. Time yourself whilst writing an essay and have a crack at past papers. Grow accustomed to the time frame of exams, writing like a speed demon and the vibe of questions that'll be asked of you. This genuinely made SUCH a difference in my final marks. I guess it's true what they say. Practice really does make perfect (or as close to perfect as I can get).