How Top Students Study During The Holidays Without Burning Out

Let’s be real – no student wants to study during their holidays. Most students are looking forward to putting away their textbooks and doing all their favourite activities instead, like playing games or watching shows. However, keeping up with a study routine during the holiday can be very helpful for students who want to pick themselves up after a year of poor performances, or those who are entering a year with a major exam like the PSLE or O Levels.

Studying during the holidays can also keep the momentum going for students who find it hard to get back into ‘study mode’ after a long holiday. The good thing is that studying during the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful. You can take it at a slower pace and learn through activities that you find more exciting.

So, for those who intend to do some studying this year-end holidays, here are some tips on how to do so – practically and realistically!

Pick a few things to focus on

If you haven’t done so, review your exam papers to figure out which areas you need to work on. Identify the topics or skills that you are weak in, and rank the most important ones you should be working on.

Knowing what to focus on will help you choose the right resources and methods for your study sessions. This reduces the pressure of thinking that you have to try and cover everything during the holidays. It’s also easier to keep track of your progress when you know exactly what improvements you are aiming for.

Consistency over quantity

Instead of allocating long study sessions to cover a lot of material, plan for short, daily sessions. Short sessions are more manageable and you are more likely to stick with it for the whole holiday instead of burning out.

After all, the holidays are meant for resting. Make sure to set aside time to rest and enjoy the things you enjoy as well!

Get the right resources to help you

Since you want to be doing targeted practices, you need the right resources to help you. Choose assessment books that are sorted according to topics or skills, or you could ask your tutor for worksheets tailored to your needs.

An excellent resource for secondary school math is Future Academy’s Advanced Math assessment book, which is a great companion for those who are studying independently. You can review key concepts and problem-solving techniques using the nifty summaries and worked examples, then build confidence using the topical practices and mixed practices.

Engage a tutor to guide you

If you are not too sure where to begin, engaging a tutor is probably your best solution. An experienced tutor is able to evaluate what you need and provide the right kind of guidance for your specific issues. For example, they could curate suitable worksheets that target the skill that you need more practice in.

Excellent tutors in Singapore will also be able to break down complex concepts into simpler explanations, and provide structure to ensure that you are on track to cover what you need during the holidays or before your next exam.

Vary the activities

Who says studying has to be doing worksheets or reading the textbook? The holidays are a great time to embark on more diverse activities, which can look like a visit to the Science Centre, doing your own home science experiments, making your own set of aesthetically-pleasing flashcards, or watching educational videos.

For subjects like English and General Paper, you can catch-up on current affairs and hot topics through podcasts, watching documentaries, or reading non-fiction books like biographies.

Conclusion

Studying during the holidays doesn’t have to be dreary and stressful. The key is to make it focused and sustainable – something that our tutors at Future Academy can help you with!

To add structure to your holiday study routine, you could also join us at our holiday programmes, designed to help students close their knowledge gaps from the current year, and get a headstart on topics for their next year of study.

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