The way students study matters.

As we step into Term II, it’s important to reflect on just how pivotal this term is for students across all year levels. Whether you're in Year 12 finalising course content and preparing for Trial exams; in Year 11 marking the halfway point of your senior studies; in Year 10 shaping academic performance to inform subject preferences, or in Years 7–9 working towards Semester 1 reports—this term is a cornerstone of the academic year.

More than ever, this is the time when the way students study matters. It’s not just about how much time is spent with the books open, but how that time is used. With increasing demands and deadlines, effective study habits can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed and feeling in control.

  

Effective Study is Active Study

It’s tempting to fall back on what feels familiar: highlighting notes, rereading chapters, or writing out page after page of material. While these strategies may feel productive, research consistently shows they are among the least effective study methods. Why? Because they don’t require the brain to actively engage with the content.

Instead, strategies that push students to retrieve information, organise it meaningfully, and apply it are far more effective. This is where cognitive science comes in.

  

Understanding Cognitive Load: Why How You Study Matters

Cognitive Load Theory reminds us that our working memory has a limited capacity. When we overload it with too much information—or with disorganised information—we reduce our ability to understand and retain what we’re learning.

Effective study reduces this load by:

• Breaking learning into manageable chunks
  
  
• Connecting new content to what’s already known
  
  
• Practising with purpose, not just for time
  
  

By using techniques aligned with these principles, students can make learning stick and reduce last-minute cramming stress.

  

Tools That Work: The Pomodoro Technique and Eisenhower Matrix

To support smarter, not harder, study, two simple but powerful tools can make a big difference:

1. The Pomodoro Technique
   This time management method breaks study into 25-minute focused sessions followed by 5-minute breaks. After four sessions, a longer break is taken. This aligns beautifully with cognitive load theory—keeping sessions short enough to maintain focus, while the breaks allow for mental rest and consolidation.
2. The Eisenhower Matrix
   This organisational tool helps students prioritise tasks based on urgency and importance. Students can ask themselves:

• Is this task urgent?
• Is it important?

By sorting tasks into four quadrants, students can avoid spending too much time on low-priority work and stay focused on what will move them forward academically.

  

Retrieval, Spacing, and Interleaving: Smarter Strategies for Real Learning

In practical terms, students should aim to:

• Self-test regularly using flashcards or past papers
• Space out study over several days instead of cramming
• Mix up topics (interleaving) to deepen understanding and improve long-term memory

These methods may feel harder—but that’s the point. When your brain has to work harder to retrieve and apply information, learning is deeper and more durable.

Every student, from Year 7 to Year 12, has a unique journey in Term II, but what unites them all is the need to study with purpose. As a community of learners, we have the opportunity this term to elevate not just the quantity of our efforts, but the quality.

Let’s commit to working smarter, using proven strategies to reduce stress, increase retention, and build the confidence that comes from truly mastering content.