The Best Study Skills to Build at the Start of the School Year 📚✨

helloelevatedtutor
Feb 2
3 min read

The start of a new school year is one of the best times to build study skills that make learning feel more organised, confident, and manageable — not stressful or overwhelming.

Instead of trying to fix habits later in the year, focusing on a few high-impact study skills early helps create momentum that lasts across every subject and assessment.

Below are the most valuable study skills to build at the beginning of the school year — explained simply, with practical examples you can actually use.

1. Setting Clear, Achievable Goals 🎯

Goals work best when they focus on actions, not just results.

Instead of:

❌ “Do better this year”

❌ “Get higher marks”

Try:

✅ Review notes for 10 minutes after school

✅ Check the planner every evening

✅ Practise one exam-style question each week

Small, repeatable actions lead to steady improvement — and much less pressure.

📌 Try this: At the start of the week, choose one academic goal and one wellbeing goal (e.g. earlier bedtime, short walk after school).

2. Active Note-Taking (Not Just Writing Everything Down) ✍️🧠

Good notes aren’t about writing more — they’re about understanding better.

Effective note-taking usually includes:

🧩 Summarising ideas in your own words
🖍️ Highlighting key points (not entire paragraphs!)
🧠 Using diagrams, arrows, or mind maps
📒 Leaving space to add questions later

📌 Mini example: Instead of copying a definition word-for-word, rewrite it as if explaining it to a friend.

🔁 Quick win: Re-read notes for 5 minutes within 24 hours of the lesson — this dramatically improves memory.

3. Planning Backwards From Deadlines 🗓️⏳

Large tasks feel overwhelming when everything is left until the last minute. Planning backwards helps break work into manageable steps.

🧠 How it works:

Write down the due date
Split the task into steps
Assign each step a day

📌 Example:

Essay due Friday

Tuesday: research
Wednesday: plan
Thursday: draft
Friday: edit & submit

This keeps progress steady and stress levels low.

4. Prioritising Tasks (Without Trying to Do Everything) 📊

Not all tasks are equally important. Learning how to prioritise helps avoid burnout and panic.

🟡 The 3-Task Method

For each study session, list:

Must do
Should do
If there’s time

Starting with the must do task builds momentum and confidence — even on busy days.

💡 Tip: Finishing one important task is better than half-starting five.

5. Learning Through Self-Testing 🧠💪

Re-reading notes feels productive, but memory improves most when information is actively recalled.

Try:

🧪 Practice questions
🗂️ Flashcards
🗣️ Explaining a topic out loud
✏️ Writing everything remembered before checking notes

📌 Challenge: Close your book and explain today’s lesson out loud in under 60 seconds. If you get stuck, that’s your focus area.

6. Weekly Reflection: Learn How You Learn 🔄✨

Strong study habits improve when there’s time to reflect and adjust.

📓 Weekly check-in questions:

What worked well this week?
What felt difficult or unhelpful?
What’s one small change for next week?

This builds independence and reduces repeated mistakes over the term.

7. Managing Distractions With Structure 🎧📵

Distractions are normal — focus improves with the right setup.

Helpful strategies include:

⏱️ Short focus blocks (25–30 minutes)
☕ Breaks that recharge (stretching, water, fresh air)
📵 Notifications off during study time
🪑 Studying in the same spot each day

🎯 Remember: Focused study for 30 minutes beats distracted study for two hours.

8. Asking for Help Early 🤝🌱

One of the strongest study skills is recognising when support is needed.

Support can come from:

Teachers
Classmates
Tutors
Extra revision sessions

Asking questions early prevents small gaps from turning into big stress later.

💬 Reframe it: Asking for help = taking control of learning.

Building Study Skills That Last 🌟

The start of the school year isn’t about perfection — it’s about building strong foundations.

When the right study skills are in place early, learning feels:

✔ More organised

✔ Less stressful

✔ More confident

✔ More independent

At ElevatEd Tutors, the focus is on helping students build study systems that work with their learning style — not against it — so progress feels achievable all year long 💚