Resources > Study skills

Study skills

Developing a wider vocabulary - PDF

Encourages students to read more in order to broaden their vocabulary

How to make a flashcard - adaptable PPT

Revision and recall - 5 steps approach to making and learning a flashcard

Importance of Year 12: predicted grades (5 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - importance of studying hard in Year 12 + mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Revision 1 - Improving your understanding - TUTORIAL ACTIVITY

This 1 page PDF activity sheet accompanies the video of the same title

From pupil to student activity - discussion exercise PDF sheet

Great activity for induction to help students reflect on being more independent

Personal habit changer sheet PDF

Created by University of Bradford

Importance of Year 12: a foundation for Year 13 (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO outlining a host of reasons why it's important to work hard all throughout Year 12. Use plenary slides at the end for class discussion.

A-Level Mindset (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO outlining the way students need to THINK about A-Level (and the like) plus a suite of follow-up material on growth mindset

Putting in the hours (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO Video -Students outline how many hours they study to be able to achieve top grades. Download 'design your study schedule' activity

Understanding and tackling procrastination - PPT

Understanding and tackling procrastination - tutorial resource

Asking for help: friends - video

Short video of successful sixth form students passing on advice about the importance of friendship groups and peer-to-peer support

Organisation (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Top performing A Level students focusing on being organised in the sixth form. Download daily to do list + organisation activity

Note-taking video 1: tips and skills (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - tips and the importance of taking notes early plus a 17-page booklet on how to take notes to upload to your Teams/Google drive area

How to take notes - 17 page guide

17 page guide on how to take notes in different styles - with exercise to try out the methods

Taking even better notes - selectivity is key

Note-taking activity on how to take more selective notes to use in tutorial time with six formers

Blank study schedules to use

Blank study schedules to use

Reading strategies - 23 page guide

Guide to help students read academic information more effectively by using a series of strategies. Also provides an activity in which students learn how to speed read.

MODEL FOLDER AND REVISION CHECK

Revision and folder check sheet - generic so can be used by nearly any subject

Folder Check pro-forma

Skills Review to check a student's folder is well organised. Ready-made template to copy.

Revision - R is for managing Relationships to reduce distractions

Revision - manage relationships to reduce distractions

Feedback 2: Making the most of feedback (6 mins 43s) - video

Students the value of 'negative' feedback and it's importance in making progress

What's the problem? Questionnaire for under-performing students to complete before they meet their tutor

What's the problem? pre-meeting questionnaire for under-performing students to complete before they meet with their tutor

Barriers to learning - explore what you can control

Barriers to learning - explore what you can control - tutorial exercise

Habit Changer - video

Video (4 mins 39s) Habit Changing strategies based on the research outlined in 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg

A-Level Mindset and Growth Mindset

Developing Understanding 2: Deepening your subject knowledge (6 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO with two mini-plenary points throughout and a discussion activity at the end on deepening subject knowledge and understanding

Feedback powerpoint for tutorial time

Use our two videos on feedback and activities

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Growth Mindset questionnaire

One A4 page of questions and another with a table of what the scores mean

A-Level Mindset (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO outlining the way students need to THINK about A-Level (and the like) plus a suite of follow-up material on growth mindset

A LEVEL MINDSET - VIDEO FOLLOW-UP EXERCISE

A LEVEL MINDSET - VIDEO FOLLOW-UP EXERCISE

Having a goal that drives you (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Students discuss the merits of having a goal to help them put the hours in to get top grades. Use summary slide for discussion activity.

Asking for help: friends - video

Short video of successful sixth form students passing on advice about the importance of friendship groups and peer-to-peer support

Asking for help: teachers - video

Video in which successful A-Level students encourage current sixth form students to ask for help when needed. Fosters the growth mindset in that support is seen as key to making progress.

Looking back: making the most of sixth form - video

Video (4 mins) students in their first year at university reflect on what they realise they valued about sixth form

Growth Mindset - Myth of Genius

Growth Mindset - Myth of Genius - ready-made ppt for tutorial time or assembly

Growth Mindset - Confidence powerpoint

Teach students the importance of confidence and resilience and how they develop from having a growth mindset - ready-made ppt

Growth or Fixed Mindset - assess your mindset exercise

Growth or Fixed Mindset - assess your mindset exercise activity

Fixed and growth mindset: the dangers of praise

Fixed and growth mindset: the dangers of praise - powerpoint for tutorial time or assembly

Responding to feedback - how do you react?

Tutorial activity to help students reflect about the way they respond to low grades e.g. internal test

Attending lessons: valuing every one (5 mins 21s) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - top performing students explain why it's important to value lessons. Includes mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end.

7 Principles of learning

Mindset Growth

Emotions and learning

Feedback powerpoint for tutorial time

Use our two videos on feedback and activities

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Perfectionism 2: Finding solutions video - new designed student voice video (8 mins)

Students share how they tried to avoid and tackle unhelpful perfectionism - features mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end

Feedback 2: Making the most of feedback (6 mins 43s) - video

Students the value of 'negative' feedback and it's importance in making progress

Emotional side of learning: feeling overwhelmed video

Video (4 mins) - successful students discuss feeling overwhelmed in Year 13 and how to cope.

Emotional side of learning - self esteem

​Emotional side of learning - self esteem - reflection task​

Leap from Year 12 to Year 13 - video

The pressure of the first term of year 13 is outlined (trial exams, personal statements, choosing universities, step to 2nd year work, EPQ)

Looking back: making the most of sixth form - video

Video (4 mins) students in their first year at university reflect on what they realise they valued about sixth form

Responding to feedback - how do you react?

Tutorial activity to help students reflect about the way they respond to low grades e.g. internal test

Seeking support - part 1

Seeking support powerpoint for tutorial time

Seeking support - part 2

Seeking support - part 2 - powerpoint for tutorial time - mindfulness

Independent learning

Importance of Year 12: predicted grades (5 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - importance of studying hard in Year 12 + mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Revision 1 - Improving your understanding - TUTORIAL ACTIVITY

This 1 page PDF activity sheet accompanies the video of the same title

From pupil to student activity - discussion exercise PDF sheet

Great activity for induction to help students reflect on being more independent

Fixed and growth mindset: the dangers of praise

Fixed and growth mindset: the dangers of praise - powerpoint for tutorial time or assembly

Independent Learning (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Comes with a range of activity downloads including 'rate your own independent learning skills'

Having a goal that drives you (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Students discuss the merits of having a goal to help them put the hours in to get top grades. Use summary slide for discussion activity.

Motivating yourself to keep working - video

Successful sixth form students pass on advice about how to keep motivated when approach examinations. Discipline and routines seem to be key.

Habit Changer - video

Video (4 mins 39s) Habit Changing strategies based on the research outlined in 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg

Leap from Year 12 to Year 13 - video

The pressure of the first term of year 13 is outlined (trial exams, personal statements, choosing universities, step to 2nd year work, EPQ)

Study skills guide for EPQ from University of East Anglia

Study skills guide for EPQ from University of East Anglia

17 DAY CHALLENGE OVER EASTER

​17 DAY CHALLENGE OVER EASTER Adaptable PPT to encourage students to do some work over easter, ready for exams in the summer term.

MODEL FOLDER AND REVISION CHECK

Revision and folder check sheet - generic so can be used by nearly any subject

Blank study schedules to use

Blank study schedules to use

Rate your independent learning skills - questionnaire

Rate your independent learning skills - sixth form questionnaire

Independent learning resources checklist

Independent learning resources checklist in which students explore the range of resources they need to be able to help themselves learn

Independent learning skills log for a UCAS Personal Statement

Independent learning skills log for a UCAS Personal Statement

Barriers to learning - explore what you can control

Barriers to learning - explore what you can control - tutorial exercise

Independent Learning: cartoon exercise

Independent Learning: cartoon exercise

Understanding and tackling procrastination - PPT

Understanding and tackling procrastination - tutorial resource

Taking even better notes - selectivity is key

Note-taking activity on how to take more selective notes to use in tutorial time with six formers

Design your weekly study schedule

Design your weekly study schedule - activity for GCSE or Sixth Form tutor time

Motivation

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Importance of Year 12: predicted grades (5 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - importance of studying hard in Year 12 + mini-plenaries and 'Think about' discussion at the end

Having a goal that drives you (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Students discuss the merits of having a goal to help them put the hours in to get top grades. Use summary slide for discussion activity.

Having a goal to motivate yourself

Having a goal to motivate yourself - research exercise for 6th form tutorial time

Growth Mindset - Myth of Genius

Growth Mindset - Myth of Genius - ready-made ppt for tutorial time or assembly

Motivating yourself to keep working - video

Successful sixth form students pass on advice about how to keep motivated when approach examinations. Discipline and routines seem to be key.

Who am I? 20 tutorial exercises

​Who am I? 20 tutorial exercises in which students read about someone famous, guess who they are, answer questions about their life

Note-taking

Revision strategies

Revision strategies - recall, understanding, practise

Revision PPT includes links to three videos on recall, understanding and practise

How to make a flashcard - adaptable PPT

Revision and recall - 5 steps approach to making and learning a flashcard

Cheating in exams and valuing feedback

PPT for tutorial time

Revision - R is for managing Relationships to reduce distractions

Revision - manage relationships to reduce distractions

Revision - E is for Environment - think about where you revise

Revision strategies

Revision - S is for Strategies to recall information

Revision - S is for Strategies to recall information - tutorial booklet for GCSE and Sith Form students

Revision - T is for Testing yourself

Revision - T is for Testing yourself - activity booklet for sixth form tutorial time. Great for linear exams.

Revision: improving your understanding - video

Video (4 mins max) Revision: improving your understanding - top performing students focus on time spent genuinely trying to understand all aspects of the specification

Revision 1 - Improving your understanding - TUTORIAL ACTIVITY

This 1 page PDF activity sheet accompanies the video of the same title

Revision: to improve recall - video 4 mins

Original style. Newer version available.

Revision 3: application and practise - video

Video (max 4 mins) advice about the importance of past paper questions, mark schemes and practise

Motivating yourself to keep working - video

Successful sixth form students pass on advice about how to keep motivated when approach examinations. Discipline and routines seem to be key.

Using mobile phones to support learning - video

Video (max 4 mins) in which students discuss the way mobile phones can actually be helpful for studying

Making technology useful for studying - video

Video (4 mins max) Making technology useful for studying - lots of ideas to embrace technology for learning

Emotional side of learning: feeling overwhelmed video

Video (4 mins) - successful students discuss feeling overwhelmed in Year 13 and how to cope.

Design your weekly study schedule

Design your weekly study schedule - activity for GCSE or Sixth Form tutor time

Habit Changer - video

Video (4 mins 39s) Habit Changing strategies based on the research outlined in 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg

17 DAY CHALLENGE OVER EASTER

​17 DAY CHALLENGE OVER EASTER Adaptable PPT to encourage students to do some work over easter, ready for exams in the summer term.

9 Day Challenge - Powerpoint for subscribers

Ppt to encourage students to study hard over February half term - change the title if you have a longer period

Technology and learning

Making technology useful for studying - video

Video (4 mins max) Making technology useful for studying - lots of ideas to embrace technology for learning

Using mobile phones to support learning - video

Video (max 4 mins) in which students discuss the way mobile phones can actually be helpful for studying

The leap from GCSE

Leap from GCSE to Sixth Form 1: realising the challenges (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO with plenary slide - ask students to choose 2 pieces of advice to act on

Developing Understanding 2: Deepening your subject knowledge (6 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO with two mini-plenary points throughout and a discussion activity at the end on deepening subject knowledge and understanding

Leap from GCSE to Sixth Form 2: understanding your subject (3 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO with plenary slide at the end - ask students to state what they already think they do and what new behaviour they need to adopt

Having a goal that drives you (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Students discuss the merits of having a goal to help them put the hours in to get top grades. Use summary slide for discussion activity.

What skills do universities want sixth formers to develop?

Tutor activity to help sixth formers understand what skills academic skills universities need students to develop

Having a goal to motivate yourself

Having a goal to motivate yourself - research exercise for 6th form tutorial time

Thinking skills

Thinking fast and slow: helpful resource to get students thinking about thinking!

Thinking fast and slow: helpful resource to get students thinking about thinking!

Creative thinking skills: ideal for 5 - 10 mins tutorial exercise

​Creative thinking skills: ideal for 5 - 10 mins tutorial exercise

Starters and thinking skills exercises

Starters and thinking skills exercises. Induction activity for Year 12 students starting in September

Essential Skills for Dealing with a Post Truth World

June 2022 Head of Sixth Form Conference

Time management and procrastination

Choosing A Levels: student voice video

Listen to students discussing advice about choosing their sixth form courses

9 Day Challenge - Powerpoint for subscribers

Ppt to encourage students to study hard over February half term - change the title if you have a longer period

9 Day Challenge - infographic

9 Day Challenge - infographic

Blank study schedules to use

Blank study schedules to use

Putting in the hours (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO Video -Students outline how many hours they study to be able to achieve top grades. Download 'design your study schedule' activity

Procrastination 1: Routines and Discipline (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - Procrastination: Routines and Discipline. DOWNLOAD - To-do list and study schedule activity

Procrastination 2: Phones and Social Media (4 mins) captioned video

GETTING THE GRADES VIDEO - advice about tackling social media and phones as a source of distraction. Comes with PPT activity.

Design your weekly study schedule

Design your weekly study schedule - activity for GCSE or Sixth Form tutor time

Understanding and tackling procrastination - PPT

Understanding and tackling procrastination - tutorial resource