How to Study Effectively: 5 Lessons I Wish I'd Learned at 16

Sarah left school having achieved straight A’s in her GCSE and A-Level equivalent exams. She went on to graduate from The University of Glasgow with a 2.1 MA (Hons) in English Literature and Theatre Studies and was later awarded an MA with Distinction in Acting from East 15 Acting School. In this article, she shares her top tips for students facing their school exams.

I remember that nervous feeling in the bottom of my stomach before exam season began, both at school and university.

There were subjects where I felt comfortable with my knowledge and ability, and others where I had to work extremely hard to achieve my goals. There was a lot of trial and error: peaks and troughs, highs and lows, and plenty of discovering what worked — and what really didn't.

Looking back, there are five things I wish someone had told me at 16.

If you're preparing for GCSEs, A-levels or another set of important exams, these study tips can help you build a revision routine that works for you rather than simply copying what everyone else is doing.

1. Start Early and Experiment With Different Study Techniques

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is waiting until exam season to figure out how you study best.

Starting earlier doesn't necessarily mean spending hours at your desk every evening. Even small amounts of revision, or taking time to consolidate what you've learned that day or week, can help you develop a routine before the pressure of exams arrives.

It also gives you something extremely valuable: time to experiment.

Try different revision techniques

If this is your first time properly preparing for exams, you might not know which study techniques will work best for you — and that's completely normal.

Try different approaches, such as:

testing yourself with questions
using flashcards to recall information
completing past-paper questions
creating mind maps or diagrams
explaining a topic to somebody else
summarising information from memory
using worked examples and then attempting similar questions yourself

The important thing isn't to find a label for yourself as a particular “type” of learner. Instead, pay attention to which techniques actually help you remember information and apply it later.

Something can feel easy and productive while you're doing it without being particularly effective for long-term learning.

That's why it's worth experimenting well before your exams. By the time exam season arrives, you'll have a better idea of which revision techniques are worth your time.

2. Create a Study Space That Helps You Focus

We've all been guilty of sitting on the bed, rereading notes and calling it “revision”.

Having a designated study space can make it easier to switch into work mode. Ideally, it should be clean, reasonably tidy, quiet and organised, with the materials you need close by.

This doesn't mean you need a perfect home office. A desk, kitchen table or other consistent workspace can work just as well.

The useful thing is creating some separation between studying and other activities. If possible, keep your study space for homework and revision rather than mixing it with scrolling on your phone, gaming or relaxing.

If you already have a space where you normally do homework, consider using that as your regular revision space too.

3. Don't Copy Your Friends' Revision Routines

When you're unsure about how to revise, it's incredibly easy to look at what your friends are doing and assume that their approach must be better.

It probably isn't.

We all work differently, and a revision routine that works brilliantly for one person might be completely unhelpful for another.

If you concentrate better alone, it's OK to study alone. If discussing ideas with somebody else helps you understand them, a study partner might be useful.

Study groups can help — but they aren't always productive

Studying with friends can be a great way to test each other, explain difficult topics and keep one another accountable.

But let's be honest: if you’re anything like me, a study group becomes 70% chatting, giggling and winding each other up.

If you consistently leave a study session feeling as though you haven't achieved what you wanted, try changing the format or studying independently.

Your revision is yours. You don't need to follow somebody else's timetable simply because it seems to be working for them.

Talk to your parents about what works for you

Parents can sometimes find it difficult when your study methods are different from the methods they used at school.

If this happens, try explaining why your approach works for you and, where possible, give them something concrete to judge it by. For example, you might be able to show that you're completing more practice questions or remembering more information using your approach.

If you're struggling to explain what you need, a teacher, tutor or guidance professional may be able to help you communicate it.

4. Use Active Revision Techniques

One of the most important changes you can make to your revision is moving beyond simply rereading your notes.

Active revision asks your brain to retrieve information and use it — much more like what you'll eventually have to do in an exam.

For example, instead of reading a page of notes several times, close the book and try to write down everything you can remember. Then check your notes and identify what you missed.

You can also use:

practice questions
flashcards
quizzes
past papers
explaining a topic without looking at your notes
teaching a concept to somebody else
practising how you would apply information to an unfamiliar question

If you'd like to explore this in more detail, read our guide to active revision techniques.

The goal isn't simply to spend more time studying. It's to make the time you spend studying more useful.

5. Prioritise the Subjects and Topics You Find Difficult

It might seem obvious, but one of the most useful study habits is spending more time on the areas where you're least confident.

This can also be one of the hardest things to do.

Revising a subject you enjoy or already understand can feel great. You can answer questions correctly, recognise information and finish a session feeling confident.

But if there's a topic you've been avoiding because you don't understand it, spending a little more time there is likely to be much more valuable.

Break difficult topics into smaller tasks

You don't have to conquer an entire difficult subject in one evening.

Instead, break it down into manageable pieces. Spend a short amount of time working on one difficult topic, ask for help when you're stuck, and return to it regularly.

Doing a little of a difficult topic each day can feel much less overwhelming than waiting until you have a huge amount of work to do.

There's another benefit too: when you're tired or struggling to get started, finishing with a subject or topic you enjoy can give you something positive to work towards.

How Parents Can Support GCSE and A-Level Students

Parents can play an important role during exam preparation, but supporting a teenager doesn't necessarily mean managing every part of their revision.

Encourage a balanced routine

Revision is important, but so are sleep, rest, hobbies, exercise and time away from schoolwork.

A balanced routine can give students some perspective during what can otherwise feel like an intense period.

Help minimise distractions

If possible, help your teenager create a study environment where distractions are limited.

That might mean helping them find a quiet place to work, making sure they have the resources they need or agreeing on some practical boundaries around interruptions.

Collaborate without controlling

It can be difficult to relinquish control when you're worried about your child's exams.

However, giving teenagers some ownership over how they study can be empowering. Instead of deciding exactly what they should do, try asking what they've planned, where they're struggling and what support would actually be useful.

The aim is to help them develop the skills to manage their own learning — not to take over the process.

The Most Important Study Tip: Find What Works for You

The most important thing I'd like you to take away from this is that you may not get it right the first time.

That's true whether you're a student trying to work out how to revise or a parent trying to work out how best to support them.

Starting early and revising little and often gives you something incredibly useful: space to experiment.

You can try different study techniques, change your routine, discover what helps you concentrate and work out which methods actually help you remember and apply what you've learned.

You don't need to have the perfect revision strategy from day one.

You just need to start paying attention to what works for you — where, when and how you study most effectively — and keep adjusting as you learn more about yourself.