How to help your high school students develop good study habits

Concentration capacity varies from person to person, and from one situation to another. That’s why students should adopt study habits that align with their attention span and grade level. Students with ADD or ADHD may also need strategies adapted to their specific needs. Below are a few tips to share with your students:

• Complete this test to estimate your attention span.
• Take a 5-minute break once your attention starts to drift.
• Reread the information and try to summarize it aloud.
• Repeat these steps until you feel that you’ve fully understood the concepts.
• Reread your notes a week later.

Given that each school subject is learned differently, a student’s study methods should be varied and adapted to suit the curriculum and concepts being taught. For certain subjects, like French or Social Sciences, a cheat sheet can be a very practical review tool. To get the most out of their cheat sheet, students should prepare it several days before the exam. Here are the key steps to creating a successful cheat sheet:

• Do a first reading of the preparatory texts or novel that will be on the exam.
• Search
• Search credible sources for additional information (if needed).
• Read over your class notes and pick out important information: examples, definitions, etc.
• Make sure you have references for your citations.
• Put together your cheat sheet with all the information you’ve gathered.
• Organize the information using whatever method works best for you: bullet points, tables, a colour code, etc.

Mind maps (also known as concept maps, spray diagrams, or spider diagrams) are a highly effective means for visualizing and retaining information. They allow students to associate concepts, organize their thoughts, and group information in a logical way. In a mind map, semantic links provide a hierarchical, big-picture view of the central theme and secondary ideas.

To build a mind map (printable template), the central theme or topic is at the center, represented by keywords or images. The main ideas (also represented by keywords or images) branch out from the central theme in all directions. Different colours can be used for each branch. Secondary ideas branch out from the main ideas, and so forth.

With Alloprof, high school students can make a game plan for their end-of-year exams and maximize their chances of success. To start, they can check out:    

• Our YouTube channel : A collection of videos explaining key concepts in high school math and science. More subjects coming soon!
• Concepts sheets: Our math and science concept sheets offer simple explanations of the academic concepts as outlined in the Quebec Education Program. More subjects coming soon!

High school students likely know what they need to do to prepare for their end-of-year exams: make a study plan, use a calendar, write down important dates, etc. But for some, learning to manage their time and prioritize tasks is a challenge. Fortunately, there are plenty of useful tools to help students plan and schedule their work. Here are some tips and tools you can recommend to your students:

• Check the exam dates for the current school year.
• Read our article on the best time management tools.
• Get personalized help using our Ask a Teacher service or by visiting the Help Zone.
• Read our article on study tips.
• Check out our study organization tool for high schoolers.