The transition from secondary school to Junior College (JC) can be rough: not only do you have to adapt to a new environment, but you also have to keep up with the rigorous coursework. It is thus critical to build good study habits to cope with the changes and better settle into the school.

Read on to discover how you can develop impeccable study habits and achieve your academic goals.

Create a study schedule

Making a study schedule allows you to maximise your learning and holds you responsible for the learning process.

It ensures that you provide adequate time to do your work, prepare for tests, and review the material you are studying. You can also divide the high study load into manageable, bite-sized bits by designating distinct times of the day for studying.

When planning your schedule, ensure that there is a balance between the subjects and that it won’t need you to mentally pack large amounts of material. Making time for breaks is also essential because doing so will save you from getting burned out.

As you progress through the year, you can continually edit your plan according to your needs. 

Set study goals

Establishing clear and achievable goals means that you can prioritise your tasks according to their importance. This makes studying more structured and ensures you manage your time efficiently.

Goal-setting also makes it easier for you to track your progress. Seeing how much you have completed and achieved will motivate you to continue working towards the rest of your goals.

Minimise distractions

To create an environment conducive to learning, you should eliminate all distractions. This includes keeping your phone on silent and blocking time-wasting websites on your laptop.

If you’re studying at home, you should stay away from the television and the bed as you may be tempted to rest outside your schedule. 

Avoid cramming

Cramming the night before an examination may get you a high test score, but it is ineffective in the long run.

When you cram, you’re engaging your short-term memory. However, your brain cannot form lasting connections with the information, and you will not be able to develop a deep understanding of the material.

Instead, you should have regular, spaced-out sessions as the spacing effect suggests that people tend to recall information much more clearly when learning them in multiple, spread-out sessions.

Adding breaks between these sessions is vital as your brain needs time to process and consolidate the information you have learned.

Take notes effectively

The generation effect suggests that individuals retain information better when it is generated from their mind rather than when simply read. Hence, you should not be copying the lecturer or textbook word for word; instead, you should pick out the keywords and main ideas to actively process the information.

By taking notes effectively, you can sort, select and synthesise the new information with your existing knowledge, improving your comprehension and retention. 

Join a study group

You stand to gain more when in a study group because you can share your knowledge and engage in in-depth discussions that encourage you to think more critically about the concepts and how they connect.

Furthermore, each individual has a unique learning style and experience. Working together allows you to interact with diverse perspectives and develop a better understanding of the topic.

Seek help when needed

If, at any point, you face difficulties in understanding the material, don’t hesitate to approach your teachers or classmates. Asking for help is not a sign of intellectual weakness; instead, it is a sign that you are eager to learn and keep up with the coursework.

However, your teachers may not always have ample time to evaluate your learning style and guide you accordingly.

One way to receive personalised feedback and guidance is to enrol in a tuition class. For example, IB Super offers H2 Math tuition that can help you by offering a targeted approach so you can achieve the desired results.

Reward yourself

Positive reinforcement is essential to keep your motivation up. Acknowledge your hard work after you accomplish your goals. Take a day off and engage in your hobbies. Rewards create a sense of accomplishment that fuels your desire to succeed. 

Conclusion

The life of a JC student is often hectic, and it can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to keep your grades up. Hence, it is vital to develop good study habits, which will reduce your stress levels and help you cope with the transition.

If you want to enrol in tuition classes, check out IB Super. We offer IB online tuition and H2 Math online tuition in Singapore that will definitely help you achieve your academic goals. Contact us at ibsuper.com.sg to find out more.