Learning

Study Skills

You've heard it all before, but your homework and revision efforts are important and will make a difference.

Homework tactics

Keep a homework timetable to help you keep track of when you get work and when it has to be handed in. If you try to do your homework as soon as you can, it will be fresh in your mind and easier to do. Try to find out when the best time is for you to complete your homework - straight after school or later in the evening? It's what works best for you that matters.

Not everyone finds sitting at a desk with a book the best way of doing their homework. If you are one of these people then why not try some of these other ways:

• Look through the TV guide for any educational programmes. Sometimes seeing it on screen can make a subject easier to understand
• Turn on the radio. As with TV, the radio has lots of educational programmes to help young people study
• Use the Internet to find useful sites that can help you with your homework
• Encyclopaedia DVDs have lots of information on them, so have a hunt through and get the answers you need.

Revision tactics

Never leave your revision to the last minute. The best thing to do is draw up a plan for all your subjects and make sure that you stick to it. Have a think about what's the best way of revising for you. Are you better revising by yourself or with a friend, or do you prefer doing lots of short revision sessions or longer sessions?

It can be helpful to write yourself reminders, make notes and highlight important facts when you are revising. Try putting your notes somewhere you can see them; good places are on the fridge, in your bedroom or even in the bathroom! The more you look at them, the more you should be able to remember the information. Summarise different subjects onto cards or an A4 sheet of paper which you can use as a revision guide.

You could also try recording information and playing it back to yourself - good times are when you are in bed just before you go to sleep or while you are travelling.

Find a quiet place to work with no distractions

Try to find somewhere which is away from any distractions such as the television. There are mixed views on whether listening to music helps you concentrate. If it works for you, keep it low and in the background so you're not distracted or tempted to sing along.

Make sure that you take regular breaks

If you spend too long revising without a proper break you will stop taking the information in.

You also need to make sure that you are eating and sleeping well. Doing some exercise is a great way to clear your mind and will help you to feel refreshed.

In an exam

During an exam, try to stay calm, breathe slowly and don't worry. Make sure that you read all the exam instructions carefully and keep an eye on the time so that you spend enough time on each question. Remember that you can only do your best.

Coursework

You need to try and plan your projects carefully and make sure you don't leave them until the last minute. Break down the work you have to do into sections, and complete one section a week so that you divide the workload properly over the time that you have to do it.

Take your time and make sure that you choose topics that you find interesting and then make sure that you research them properly before you start writing!

You will need to write carefully and clearly and always check your spelling, grammar and punctuation. It also might be worth checking if there is a word limit that you need to stick to.

Who can help?

If you feel that you need help you can speak to your teacher, parent or carer. You can also speak to your friends as they might be having the same problems.

Look into going to revision classes at your school or college. They can be good fun and can really help you with your revision.

If you need help with your studying, homework or revision then an ideal place to look is the BBC website.

BBC Learning Zone has useful resources and interactive activities. It is designed to help you find information to help you further your learning. There are hundreds of tests, games, quizzes and revision information to help you learn. Visit www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/.

Key Stage 3 Bitesize has everything you need to help you prepare for your National Curriculum tests. Revision Bites and Test Bites have been designed to help you check what you know and understand.

GCSE Bitesize combines TV programmes, books, CD-ROMs and a website to give extra revision support to students studying GCSEs. It concentrates on material that students find particularly difficult and is written by examiners and teachers to reflect the key areas of the examination syllabus.

You can speak to a Personal Adviser at your local Connexions Centre. To find your local centre click on the Local Services icon in the footer of the homepage or check out your local phone book.