The #1 Study Habit That’s Sabotaging Your Teen’s Exam

“Oh God I have a test. Then I freak out.”

These are the exact words a student said to me during a coaching session earlier this week.

She went on to explain that she had a History exam this week and she had ‘learned’ 5 essays for this exam.

However the exam did not go according to plan.

The first question she did not understand.

The second question was tough but she ‘gave it a go.’

The problem was she could not remember many of the facts and stats.

This is common for most students who come to me for help.

Many students do the same thing when it comes to study and it is completely sabotaging there success – they highlight and re-read.

Many re-write.

Highlighting and re-reading feels effective but it isn’t.

I used to spend hours and hours on end reading, highlighting and then re-transcribing what I had highlighted into my own handwriting and notes. Then I tried to ‘learn off’ my notes.

I was studying hard. But I was not studying smart.

Many times I did not get the grade to reflext the level of effort. This was so frustrating. It can really drag your confidence.

Highlighting and re-reading is so common.

John Dunlosky in his famous research paper called “Strengthening the Student Toolbox” talks about this and then poses a great question – why aren’t students learning the best strategies to learn?

We spend so much time focused on content. However we do NOT spend any time learning about process.

Once you understand HOW-TO-STUDY and HOW-TO-LEARN suddenly school and study become a lot more doable, and a lot more enjoyable.

We need to learn how-to-learn.

It’s a bit like golf. Once you know to swing the club, you hit the ball further. Then you can enjoy the game more.

At the end of the coaching session, I asked my student, how do you feel now?

“A lot more confident” she replied. Her face beamed.

Exams do not have to be stressful, there is a better way.

Until next time, keep RAYSING THE GAME.