Ahhh, that sweet feeling of a new school year. It’s exciting to have a fresh start! It’s time to learn from last year’s mistakes and kickstart another year of reaching your potential. But it’s important to understand that what you do in the first few months, and even weeks, of school sets the tone for the entire academic year.
In fact, the routines you build now will be the very reason you ace your exams. Luckily for you, we’re experts in helping students ace their exams. It’s kind of our thing here at Performance Learning.
So, with the help of exam coaching expert Dr Tej Samani, we’ve put together the 5 best exam coach-approved habits that will make a huge difference this year…
1. Write your plans down
One of the biggest mistakes students make is thinking they can keep track of everything in their head. News flash: you can’t. Nobody can! Without a solid plan or structure, homework builds up, deadlines sneak up on you and revision gets squeezed into the last minute.
“As an exam coach, I always encourage students to use a calendar or planner,” says Dr Tej. “It doesn’t need to be fancy, either! A paper diary, a wall planner or an app like Google Calendar will work. What matters is making it a habit.”
Start by adding any key dates from your school timetable, and then block out time for homework, sports, hobbies, seeing friends and downtime. Having everything visually laid out stops you from overloading yourself. It’ll also help you balance study with rest, which is essential to acing GCSE and A Level exams.
Performance Learning pro tip: Colour code your planner so you can easily see which slots are for school, revision or rest. All three are is important as each other!
2. Build a distraction-free study space
You’ve probably heard it before, but your environment has a huge impact on how well you can focus. The reason why experts stress this is because it really is true. Trying to study at the kitchen table while your family is walking in-and-out of the room will slow you down.
“As an exam coach, I recommend creating a space that tells your brain it’s time to work,” recommends Dr Tej. “It doesn’t have to be a private study or even a full desk – a tidy corner with good lighting and all your materials ready is enough.”
If you find it hard to stay off your phone, try apps like Forest, which is a timer that helps you focus on a task by growing virtual trees when you lock in for a set period of time. Cultivating this environment early in the school year means your brain can flick between study and rest modes when it needs to.
Performance Learning pro tip: Keep a small ‘study starter kit’ ready with pens, highlighters and paper so you never waste time hunting for supplies.
3. Use active learning techniques
At Performance Learning, we see lots of students who rely on simply reading over their notes to revise. To put it bluntly: this is the least effective way you can prepare for your exams, and it’s never one that exam coaches will recommend.
“Exam coaches teach students to use active learning techniques instead,” says Dr Tej. “These include mind mapping, flashcards, practice papers and teaching concepts out loud in your own words.”
Start practising these methods now, even for smaller tests or class quizzes. It’ll mean that by the time exam season comes around, active learning will feel natural and you will retain information much more effectively.
Performance Learning pro tip: After each revision session, write down the single hardest idea you covered and explain it out loud in 60 seconds.
4. Reflect and reset each week
Weeks can blur together during the school year when homework, lessons and extra-curricular activities or hobbies feel endless. Sure, it’s important you have time for all of these things, but you also need to take some time for yourself to reflect. Reflection builds self-awareness and helps you take control of your learning rather than just drifting through. It’s also a great skill for when you enter the world of work.
Exam coaches at Performance Learning encourage students to take 10 minutes at the end of each week to reflect, and you should try it too. Ask yourself: What went well this week? What was difficult? What will I do differently next time? Write your answers down in a notebook or even on your phone.
Performance Learning pro tip: Try writing your reflections as three short bullet points each week as this will make the habit easier to stick with.
5. Protect your wellbeing
No exam coach will ever tell you to study non-stop. In fact, they’ll actually encourage you to take time away from schoolwork because your brain needs time to relax. If you burn out, your grades and your wellbeing both suffer… and nobody wants that to happen!
“Make rest and relaxation part of your weekly routine,” encourages Dr Tej. “Exercise, hobbies, seeing friends and simply switching off all matter just as much as revision. Protecting your sleep is especially important, so aim for around 8 hours a night and avoid scrolling on your phone right before bed.”
By treating wellbeing as a priority, you will have more energy, more focus and a more positive outlook as the year goes on. Here at Performance Learning, we know this is the perfect recipe to ace your exams.
Performance Learning pro tip: Create a simple (and screen-free!) evening wind-down routine like reading, journaling or stretching to help your brain switch off before bed.
How to get started with our exam coach-approved habits
Pupils, there’s no time like the present. Start implementing exam coach-approved habits into your school life now!
The routines and regimes you cultivate at the start of the school year are like laying the foundation of a house. If you get them right early, everything else stands stronger.
And always remember: success is not about cramming at the last moment. It is about steady effort, consistent habits and looking after yourself along the way.
Start small, stick with it and you will thank yourself when exam season arrives.
Keen to find our more exam coach-approved habits?
If you think you’d benefit from even more exam coach-approved habits, then look no further.
Performance Learning exam coaching can give you more personalised strategies and ensure you have the best school year yet.
Find out more about our packages (which will teach you heaps of exam-coach approved habits!) here.
You can also get a parent or carer to reach out to our team for an in-depth discussion.
