The school year approaches and the selective entry exam is only six months away. As students prepare for the rigours of the academic year, it’s vital that they have a well-structured study schedule and consistent study habits – good time management now will save a lot of heartache at the crunch point!
A well-structured study schedule is like a map that will guide your child to their destination, and good study habits are the fuel that will power their academic engine. Without proper time management and study habits, students can find themselves lost, struggling to keep up with all the deadlines and responsibilities that preparing for the selective entry exam requires.
Maps and destinations: setting up a well-structured study schedule
You know what your destination is. You want to do well in the selective entry exam, earn your Superior grades, and get into your dream school – and, of course, the journey continues from your dream school to getting into your dream degree at your dream university to graduating into your dream job. But you need a tool to get there; you need a map. You need a study schedule.
A well-structured study schedule will give you and your child confidence that not only are they managing their time wisely, but that they are covering all the topics and concepts that they will need to succeed.
Having an individual learning plan means that you know which areas to focus on, and can plan your study schedule accordingly. It’s mapping out your journey so that you can reach your destination by the most efficient possible route.
Set aside time for the various concepts you need to study, and make sure you include specific time slots for your extracurricular activities and leisure time. Using a planner or calendar is the best way to plan like this, and a well-organised planner will help you navigate the journey to selective entry with ease.
Fuelling the academic engine with good study habits
You have your map, now you need to power your way through the journey. The fuel you need to get there? Good study habits. Good study habits carefully cultivated now won’t just assist your child with selective entry, but with long term academic consistency.
Make sure your study sessions are broken up into manageable chunks to ensure that your child doesn’t lose focus or application. Remember, the best practice didactic research tells us that there are diminishing returns when it comes to the amount of homework students undertake: if your child is buried under homework, they won’t be effectively learning how to critically apply the concept, they’ll just be burning out. This is the worst outcome – burning out means that students don’t develop the intrinsic motivation to study that is critical for sustained success throughout their education and their future careers. Consistent, small study periods are far more effective at instilling this habitual motivation than pressure-filled long sessions.
It’s important to take breaks and engage in activities that aren’t academic. Extracurricular activities and sports can not only be helpful when it comes to making your case as part of the selective entry interview process, but they can encourage students to think about concepts in different ways. This is invaluable for exams like selective entry that tests for how students think, rather than rote memorisation of concepts. If good study habits are the fuel for your academic engine, these non-academic activities are like replenishing your engine’s oil – essential to make sure all the parts are operating smoothly. Finding the right balance is key.
Another element that can work wonders is to have a specified study area. Distractions are plentiful, and having a space that is separate from other household activities – and minimising the disruption caused by technology or the volume of the rest of the house – will help make your study sessions more effective.
Excel in your academic journey
In conclusion, time management and good study habits are essential for everyone if they want to excel in their academic journey. A well-structured study schedule helps students stay on track and reach their goals, while good study habits enable them to retain and understand information. With the help of these tools, students can achieve academic success and be prepared for any challenges that may come their way.
Don’t forget to take advantage of our resources to ensure you are on track in your selective entry journey.
