Holidays can take your study situation one step ahead or ten steps backwards. Where do you decide to go?
Taking a break between terms and exams is extremely important to recover your well-being, reset, spend time with friends and family, and cultivate hobbies. But! A long break from studying can slow you down when starting back. You can prevent this slow start by building healthy study habits during the holidays.
I teach these skills to my students in one of my private holiday sessions. Let me share these study habit-changing tips and get you a head start for the following term.
Overview
Before you start studying for your mocks, make a revision schedule, or even leave for the holidays, take some time to make an overview of your programme. Use the specification and your or your teacher’s notes to compare how far you are with the overall programme.
As you check what has been done this year and the previous one, ask yourself:
- Are there any topics your teacher skipped?
- Was something covered too quickly?
- Are there areas you don’t fully understand or remember?
Make a note of these! This step will set the foundation for everything that follows.
Set Goals
Holidays are the perfect time to catch up on topics you missed during the term. Don’t leave old topics for exam preparation time—this will slow you down when you can’t afford to lose time.
With your overview and list of weaker areas, turn these into specific revision goals. Treat them like a checklist you can tick off as you go.
If you have mock exams in January, focus your goals on mock preparation. Break this down to include filling in knowledge gaps, practising past papers, and strengthening weaker areas.
Set Time Goals
Balancing revision with rest and social activities during the holidays is important. Schedule time to see friends, enjoy family days, or pursue hobbies, but also block out specific revision slots where you won’t be disturbed.
Be realistic:
- Choose times of the day when you focus best.
- Keep sessions manageable—don’t aim for eight hours of non-stop study!
- Commit to these blocks as you would to a class or appointment.
Interleave Your Studies
Avoid spending an entire day on a single subject. Instead, use interleaving, a technique where you mix subjects within a study session.
For example:
- Start with a content-heavy subject like biology.
- Switch to practising maths problems.
- End the day with a lighter subject, like history, or one you enjoy more.
This variety keeps your mind engaged and helps you retain more.
Use Dynamic Study Techniques
Revising doesn’t mean sitting for hours reading a textbook—that’s neither effective nor sustainable! Try different study techniques depending on the subject and your mood:
- Active recall: Test key concepts while walking around or using flashcards.
- Practice papers: Simulate exam conditions and identify weak points.
- Blurting: Write down everything you know about a topic on a whiteboard, then fill in the gaps.
- Creative methods: Create mind maps, explain topics to a friend, or even record yourself summarising material.
Dynamic revision keeps you motivated and helps you absorb information better.
Reflect on Your Progress
At the end of each week, take 10 minutes to reflect:
- Did you achieve your goals?
- What worked well?
- What can you improve for next week?
This reflection helps you stay on track and adjust your plans as needed.
My Takeaway Points:
- Holidays are a balance of rest and productivity.
- Plan with a clear overview and specific goals.
- Use a variety of techniques to keep study sessions effective.
- Enjoy the holidays—it’ll refresh your mind for the term ahead.
I wish everyone the best holidays! If you’d like to build these study skills with me, book a lesson—let’s make the most of your time together!
