How to Successfully Study
There are a few key elements every successful student needs to include in a study plan.
- Time-Management - It is not the amount of time you spend studying that matters, it's what you can accomplish during that time. Develop a study plan and learn how to manage your time effectively to maximise your results. If you simply learn continuously your retention of the information you are trying to learn drops steadily. However, just before and just after you take a short break your memory for an item is much better. Therefore, if you take short breaks, at either 30 to 60 minute intervals, you will find you will remember more. So, if you take time out while studying the amount you will actually learn increases!
- Motivation - If you are not motivated and have a poor attitude, your study session will not be very productive. You have just one opportunity to pass that exam. Think about what is the motivation for you to study for an exam and focus on that.
- Concentration - The ability to concentrate is one of the more important study skills you need to develop. You won't always be able to study in absolute silence or be able to spend as much time as you would like on a particular project. Learn how to overcome distractions so you can focus all your attention on your studies.
- When in doubt, ask - If you aren't sure about a particular area, don't be shy. Ask your teacher, family, or friends for help. It is important to address the problem area as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may end up spending too much time trying to figure it out by yourself.
One student's perspective on preparing for the Business Studies Junior Certificate Exam
"Business is split into theory and accounting. For the theory part, I wrote down all the key definitions and learned them. It helps to split things up and make them more manageable. The theory isn’t bad, though –a lot of it is everyday stuff. There’s a set way of doing accounting. There are a lot of guaranteed questions so if you understand how it works and you practise it, it’s actually fine. A lot of my class found business to be their best subject."
