Masterminds@Play Study Strategies & Exam Prep Masterclass

1. Exam Prep
masterclass

2. This is designed to empower students
with practical study methods and tips
to enhance their academic success,
time management, and overall well-
being.
It can be completed over a number of
days with activities or as a reduced,
purely informative version.
Learning
Objectives

3. Agenda
Goal setting and
time management
Active listening
and note taking
Optimising your
study environment
Common challenges
in school
Experimenting with
study strategies
Physical and
mental wellbeing
1 2 3
4 5 6

4. As students you might face a range of challenges as you navigate
the demands of school.
Addressing these challenges often involves a combination of
academic support, effective communication, stress management
strategies, and guidance on future pathways.
As you embark on this crucial phase of your academic journey, it's
essential to equip yourselves with effective strategies that will not
only help you manage your time efficiently but also allow you to
set and achieve realistic academic goals.
Introduction

5. Group
Brainstorm
What are some common challenges that
students might face over their school
years?

6. did you
identify some
of these?
increased academic
pressure
adapting to
independent
study
stress and
anxiety
work life
balance
transition to
independence
peer and social
pressures
technological
distractions
personal or
family issues
pressure from
parents or
guardians
extracurricular
commitments
time management
issues
increased
workload

7. As we navigate the complexities of school, it's only natural to
encounter some of these challenges.
Although they can seem overwhelming at times, it’s important
to realise these hurdles are part of the journey and that there
are strategies and tools available to help us navigate these
challenges successfully.
By the end of this presentation you should have a range of
tools in your toolkit that, when coupled with determination
and resilience, can help you not only overcome these hurdles
but also thrive in your senior school journey!
common challenges

8. Let’s start with considering our personal goals or
ambitions such as where you'd like to be and what
you’d like to achieve by the end of school.
Setting goals is like plotting a course for success.
SMART goals, in particular, provide a clear and
specific framework for goal setting. Let’s break
down the acronym quickly before we start
planning!
setting goals

9. Smart Goals
Clearly define your goal. What exactly do you want to achieve?
The more precise, the better.
S
Establish criteria to track your progress. How will you know
when you've reached your goal? Quantify your objectives.
M
Ensure that your goal is realistic and attainable. It's crucial to
set challenges but within the realm of possibility.
A
Align your goals with your long-term aspirations. Make sure
they matter to you and contribute to your overall success.
R
Set a timeframe for achieving your goal. This creates a sense
of urgency and helps you stay focused.
T
SPECIFIC
MEASURABLE
ACHIEVABLE
RELEVANT
TIME BOUND

10. Activity 1
Create a couple of SMART goals based on what you’d
like to achieve by the end of school (no more than
three). Make sure they are specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
You have 5 minutes to complete the exercise.
Feel free to share your goals with a friend. Sharing
helps us feel supported and makes us accountable!

11. TIME
MANAGEMENT
Now that we understand the importance of setting goals, let's explore effective
time management techniques. Two widely used methods are:
studying in intervals
creating a schedule
Break down your study time into
intervals, usually 25-35 minutes,
separated by short 5-10 minute breaks.
This technique capitalises on the concept
of focused bursts of productivity,
allowing you to maintain concentration
and prevent burnout.
A weekly schedule provides a structured
overview of your time commitments. By
allocating specific time slots for classes,
study sessions, extracurricular activities,
and leisure, you gain a clearer
understanding of where your time goes
and how to optimise it.

12. Activity
Locate a copy of a blank study schedule and block
out your commitments for the week e.g. school,
sport, extracurricular activities, work etc. Then
look for blocks of free time you might allocate for
homework and/or study sessions.

13. MON TUES WED THURS FRI SA
7 am
8 am
9 am
10 am
11 am
12 pm
1 pm
2 pm
3 pm
4 pm
5 pm
6 pm
7 pm
8 pm
study
schedule

14. Now, let’s move onto some important classroom skills!
In senior school, where academic content becomes more
complex and students are preparing for higher education or
the workforce, active listening is a foundational skill that
supports academic success, social development, and the
cultivation of essential skills for future endeavours.
Active listening is a communication skill that involves fully
focusing, understanding, and responding to a speaker in a
thoughtful and engaged manner. It goes beyond simply
hearing words; it requires concentration, processing, and
providing feedback to the speaker through clarifying
questions. This ensures a deeper understanding,
engagement and retention of the topic studied.
Active listening

15. Strategies for active listening
Make eye contact with the
speaker to demonstrate
attentiveness and focus.
Turn off apps, games or
social media and minimise
distractions to stay fully
engaged.
Pose questions for
clarification or additional
information to deepen your
understanding.
Summarise key points in
your own words to reinforce
understanding.
MAKE EYE CONTACT MINIMISE
DISTRACTIONS
ASK QUESTIONS
PARAPHRASE INFO USE NON-VERBAL CUES PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY
Nodding, leaning forward,
and other non-verbal cues
signal active engagement to
the speaker.
Contribute to discussions.
Active participation aids
comprehension and
retention.

16. Effective note-
taking
Effective note-taking is another indispensable skill that
contributes to academic success in senior school and
preparation for higher education.
Ineffective note-taking often involves disorganised
information, lack of visual cues, and incomplete details
whereas effective note-taking methods enhance organisation,
comprehension, and retention of key information. Let’s look
at two popular and effective note-taking methods!

17. Cornell
method
MAIN NOTES (Right Column):
• Summarise key concepts and main
ideas on the right side of the page.
CUES (Left Column):
• Create cues or questions based on the
main notes to aid in reviewing.
SUMMARY (Bottom Section):
• Write a summary at the bottom of the
page to reinforce key takeaways.
TITLE
SUMMARY
MAIN
NOTES
CUE
QUESTIONS

18. MIND
MAPPING
CENTRALTOPIC
• Place the main concept or topic in the
center of the page.
BRANCHES
• Create branches for subtopics, using
keywords and brief phrases.
COLOUR & IMAGES
• Use colors and simple images to
enhance visual memory.
CENTRAL
TOPIC
SUBTOPIC SUBTOPIC
SUBTOPIC SUBTOPIC

19. Activity 2
Practice using each of the two note-taking methods
to form notes on the following topic/s in this
presentation. As our learning styles are different,
you might find one easier than the other or different
methods might suit different subjects.

20. Do you have a set space you use to study for
upcoming tests, assessments and examinations?
The study environment plays a significant role in
influencing concentration, focus, and overall
academic performance.
A conducive study space can enhance cognitive
abilities, promote effective learning, and contribute
to a positive mindset.
study
environment

21. small group
brainstorm
What kind of things make for an effective or
ideal study environment?

22. Select a quiet and secluded
area, away from noise and
potential interruptions.
Invest in a comfortable
chair and desk to support
good posture and reduce
physical discomfort.
Keep study materials
organised and within reach.
Use storage solutions to
reduce clutter.
Turn off notifications, use
apps that block distracting
websites, and tell others
your study hours.
QUIET LOCATION COMFORTABLE SEATING
ORGANISE SUPPLIES
MINIMISE
DISTRACTIONS
ESTABLISH ROUTINE
Have a consistent study
routine or schedule to
signal to your brain that it's
time to focus.
did you identify some of these?
Ensure there’s adequate
lighting to reduce eye strain
and maintain a comfortable
temperature.
LIGHTING & TEMPERATURE

23. Study strategies refer to intentional
methods and approaches that individuals
use to enhance their learning and academic
performance.
These strategies are designed to make the
process of acquiring and retaining
information more effective and efficient. In
senior school, where academic demands
are high, mastering effective study
strategies becomes crucial for success.
study strategies

24. how do we learn?
Before we discuss some study strategies, it’s important to understand the
difference between active learning and passive learning.
active learning
passive learning
• involves engaging with material actively.
• might include asking questions, participating
in discussions, solving problems, teaching
concepts to others, conducting experiments,
and engaging in practical scenarios.
• enhances understanding, retention, and
critical thinking skills, promoting a deeper
level of engagement with the material.
• involves receiving information without
actively engaging with it.
• might include listening to lectures, reading
textbooks, watching videos, and memorising
information without interactive involvement.
• can allow retention of information in the short
term but may not promote deep
understanding or long-term retention.

25. study strategies
Varying your study strategies is a great idea for establishing yourself as a well-rounded and
adaptable learner. The key is to find out which strategies work best for the following:
Assess your learning style
— whether you're visual,
auditory, kinesthetic, or a
combination. Certain
strategies can be better
suited to certain types of
learners.
Consider the nature of the
topic e.g. visual, text-heavy,
mathematics or sciences,
languages, research
intensive or practical and
choose strategies that are
appropriate and suitable.
Adapt your strategies to
the context of the situation
— whether you're studying
alone, in a group, or in a
noisy environment.
learning style topic or subject context

26. Activity 3
Some stations have been set up around the room to help
you practice and experiment with various active learning
study strategies. Move around the room in your small
groups and try out different techniques. You will have 5-7
minutes at each station.
Alternatively, read through the following slides and note
down some strategies that you currently use and some
that you would like to experiment with this year, based on
your particular learning style.

27. create
flashcards
Create flashcards for quick review of key
concepts, definitions, quotations and
important details. Regular revision helps
cement information from short term to
long term memory.
utilise
mnemonics
Develop mnemonic devices (acronyms,
rhymes, associations, or visual cues) to
remember lists, sequences, or complex
terms. Mnemonics can be a fun and
effective memory aid.

28. Formulate open-ended questions related
to the material you are studying then
challenge yourself to answer them. This
encourages deep thinking and critical
analysis.
socratic
questioning
concept
mapping
Create detailed concept maps (spider,
hierarchy, flowchart or system) to
visualise relationships between key
concepts, making it easier to understand
complex topics.

29. Practice taking turns teaching different
sections or topics to your peers or
classmates. Teaching others solidifies your
own knowledge, and helps to identify
areas of difficulty.
peer
teaching
group study
sessions
Form study groups with classmates to
engage in discussions, seek clarity on
areas of difficulty, test one another on
concepts and give peer feedback.

30. Engage with the material actively
(especially written texts) by highlighting
key points, taking notes, summarising
concepts in your own words and posing
questions as you read.
active
reading
timed
practice
Create timed, simulated exam conditions
and practice answering past questions
from tests or exams. This helps improve
time management skills and timed writing
skills.

31. Leverage a variety of digital apps (flashcard,
note-taking, mind-mapping, study timer and
productivity etc.) to enhance your studying
and learning experiences.
utilise
apps
test using
quizzes
Use online quiz platforms or educational
apps that provide interactive quizzes
tailored to specific subjects to help test
your knowledge.

32. reflection
Remember, the key is to experiment with different
study activities and techniques to find what works
best for your individual learning style. Focus on
active learning over passive learning and don’t be
afraid to mix it up from time to time!
These strategies, when tailored to suit your
learning style, can contribute to effective studying,
improved understanding, and ultimately, academic
success.

33. Lastly, recognising and actively improving our physical and
mental well-being is the key to not just surviving but thriving
through the ups and downs of senior school. A healthy body
and a resilient mind go hand in hand.
Regular exercise, good nutrition, and ample rest not only
sharpen our cognitive abilities but also prep us for the
challenges of a demanding academic routine. At the same
time, practicing mindfulness, stress-relief techniques and
emotional self-care can equip us with the resilience needed to
navigate challenges. Let’s start by looking at a few simple
techniques to promote mindfulness.
physical & mental wellbeing

34. MINDFULNESS
EXERCISES
Inhale deeply for four counts, hold for four
counts, and exhale for four counts. Repeat
several times to calm the nervous system.
Close your eyes and mentally scan your
body from head to toe, noticing any areas
of tension and consciously releasing it.
DEEP BREATHING BODY SCAN MEDITATION
Tense and then relax each muscle group,
starting from toes and working up to the
head. This relieves physical tension.
Name five things you can see, four things
you can touch, three things you can hear,
two things you can smell, and one thing
you can taste.
PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE RELAXATION 5-4-3-2-1 GROUNDING TECHNIQUE

35. Activity 3
Choose one of the four mindfulness
exercises and practice it quietly on your
own for the next 3 minutes.

36. small group
brainstorm
What are some other strategies for managing
stress and anxiety? What types of activities do
you use to manage your emotions when you
feel the pressure?
Be prepared to share some of your answers if
you feel comfortable doing so.

37. Sport or exercise releases
endorphins, the body's
natural mood lifters, to
alleviate tension.
A few minutes of stretches
or simple yoga poses can
release physical tension
helping you feel calmer.
Writing down thoughts and
feelings helps process
emotions and gain clarity
on challenging situations.
Spending time with friends or
family can provide emotional
support and a sense of
connection, reducing stress.
SPORT OR EXERCISE STRETCHING OR YOGA
JOURNALLING
SOCIAL SUPPORT LAUGHTER BREAK
Watch a funny video or TV
show or laugh with a friend.
Laughter is an excellent
stress-reliever.
did you identify some of these?
A balanced and nutritious diet
supports both physical and
mental health, contributing to
stress reduction.
HEALTHY EATING

38. support & resources
Remember, there are a host of support services and resources to assist you with any issues
you might face, be it for academic challenges or personal well-being.
Don't hesitate to engage with your teachers if you have questions about
coursework or need clarification — they are there to guide and support you.
Explore the wealth of academic resources at your disposal — libraries offer a
treasure trove of knowledge, online tools provide interactive learning
experiences, and tutoring services can provide personalised assistance.
Your year coordinators, school psychologist and school chaplain are also
there to assist if you have issues related to personal wellbeing.
teachers
support services
resources

39. Good Luck!