Study Tips
NEW: THIS ISSUE
How much should you study in high school?
Seven warning signs you’re trying to do too much with your study
You can find previous study tips information in these issues:
Issue 9
Master your reading with the SQ3R technique
How much homework should you be doing at high school?
Mid-year study strategies to stay on track
Issue 7
Homework help for parents
Issue 5
Balancing academic and extracurricular activities: A guide for high school students
7 smart study tips for high school students
6 alternative study tips
Issue 1
How to boost your study motivation (even when you really don't feel like it).
How much should you study in high school?
If you've ever wondered whether you're studying too much, too little, or just the right amount, you're definitely not alone. It's one of the most common questions we hear from high school students, and honestly, it's not surprising why. Between trying to keep up with coursework, maintaining friendships, possibly working a part-time job, and figuring out what you want to do after school, it can feel overwhelming.
Here's the thing though: there's no magic number that works for everyone. The "right" amount of study time depends on your goals, abilities, other commitments, and even what stage of high school you're in. What works brilliantly for your friend who seems to ace everything with minimal effort might leave you feeling stressed and underprepared...or conversely, might be complete overkill for what you're trying to achieve.
The key is finding an approach that helps you reach your goals whilst still maintaining your wellbeing and leaving room for the other important parts of teenage life. Because let's be honest - high school is about more than just grades, and burning yourself out isn't going to serve you well in the long run.
What influences your study time
Before we dive into specific recommendations, it's worth understanding the factors that influence how much time you spend hitting the books. Your study schedule isn't just about what year you're in, it's about your entire situation.
Your academic goals
These, of course, play a huge role. If you're aiming for competitive university courses or specific career pathways that require high marks, you'll naturally need to invest more time than someone who's focused on meeting graduation requirements while pursuing other interests. Neither approach is wrong – they're just different paths with different time investments.
Your natural learning style and pace
Some students grasp concepts quickly and retain information easily, while others need more time to process and practise material. To make the most of your studies, it's important to be honest with yourself about your capabilities and needs.
Your current performance
If you're consistently achieving the grades you want with your current routine, you might not need to dramatically increase your study time. However, if there's a gap between where you are and where you want to be, some adjustments are probably in order.
External factors
Sometimes things outside of school can significantly impact your available study time. If you're working a part-time job, caring for family members, dealing with health challenges, or heavily involved in sports or other activities, you'll need to factor these into your planning. But rather than eliminate everything else from your life, you should find a sustainable balance.
Example study schedules
We've provided some examples for different ages and stages to help you build your own study schedule. Remember, these are just guidelines - you should adjust them to suit your individual needs and preferences.
Just starting high school: Building your foundation
If you're in Years 7 or 8, congratulations on thinking ahead! This is actually the perfect time to establish good study habits without the pressure of high-stakes assessments.
At this stage, you should be aiming for about 30 minutes to 1 hour of study per day during the week, plus 1-2 hours over the weekend. This might sound like a lot if you're coming from primary school, but remember that "study" at this level includes homework, reading, and light revision, not intensive cramming sessions.
The real focus during these early high school years should be on learning how you learn best. Are you someone who needs to rewrite notes to remember them? Do you prefer studying in short bursts or longer sessions? Do you work better with background music or in complete silence? These early years are your chance to experiment and figure out what works without the pressure of major consequences if something doesn't go to plan.
You should also be using this time to develop good organisational habits. This means keeping track of assignment due dates, creating a basic study timetable, and learning to break larger projects into manageable chunks. These skills will be absolutely crucial as your workload increases in later years.
Most importantly, make sure your study routine feels sustainable. If you're constantly stressed or have no time for friends, hobbies, or relaxation, you're probably doing too much. The goal is to stay on top of your work whilst still enjoying this stage of your education.
Years 9 and 10: Stepping up your game
Once you hit Years 9 and 10, things start to get a bit more serious. Your grades during these years might contribute to your final results in some way, and you're also making important decisions about which subjects to continue with in your senior years.
During this phase, you should be looking at up to 1 hour of study per day during the week, plus 2-3 hours over the weekend. This includes homework, revision, and preparation for upcoming assessments. You might find that some weeks require more time, especially when you have major assignments due or exams approaching.
This is also when many students start taking on additional responsibilities like part-time work, so learning to balance competing priorities becomes crucial. If you're working a few shifts per week, you might need to be more strategic about when and how you study. Perhaps you do lighter tasks like reading or reviewing notes on days when you're working, and save more intensive study sessions for your days off.
Preparation for senior years should also be on your radar during Years 9 and 10. This doesn't mean you need to start studying senior-level content, but you should be consolidating your understanding of foundational concepts and identifying any areas where you might need extra support. It's much easier to address knowledge gaps now than when you're in the middle of your final years.
Use this time to refine your study techniques. By now, you should have a good sense of what works for you, but don't be afraid to try new approaches. Maybe you discover that study groups really help with certain subjects, or that active recall techniques work better than just re-reading notes.
Senior years: The rounded approach
If you're in Year 11 or 12 and aiming for a balanced approach (perhaps because you're working, heavily involved in extracurricular activities, or simply because you want to maintain your wellbeing alongside your studies) you'll want to aim for up to 1 hour of study per day during the week, plus 2-3 hours over the weekend.
The key word is to be strategic about your studies. With limited time available, every study session needs to count. This means prioritising the most important topics, using active study techniques rather than passive reading, and regularly reviewing your approach to ensure you're getting the best return on your time investment.
Quality becomes more important than quantity when you're following a rounded approach. Two hours of focused, purposeful study will always be more effective than four hours of distracted, unfocused work. Make sure you're creating the right environment, eliminating distractions, and using techniques that actively engage your brain.
You'll also need to be flexible and adaptable. Some weeks might require more intensive study due to upcoming exams or assignment deadlines, while others might allow for a slightly lighter load. The key is maintaining consistency without burning yourself out.
Don't forget that taking care of yourself is part of academic success, not separate from it. Regular breaks, adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and time for relaxation aren't luxuries – they're essential for sustainable academic performance.
Senior years: The academic achievement focus
If you're aiming for top marks (maybe you're targeting competitive university courses or simply because academic achievement is a personal priority) you'll need to step up your commitment significantly. This typically means 1-3 hours of study per day during the week, plus 4-6 hours over the weekend.
At this level of commitment, efficiency becomes absolutely crucial. You can't afford to waste time on ineffective study methods or become caught up in perfectionist tendencies that don't actually improve your results. Every technique you use should be evidence-based and personally tested to ensure it's genuinely helping you learn and retain information.
Detailed planning is also essential when you're operating at this intensity. You'll need detailed study schedules that account for all your subjects, upcoming assessments, and revision requirements. You don't need to micromanage every minute, but ensure you're allocating appropriate time to each area based on its importance and your current understanding.
You'll also need to be particularly mindful of burnout when studying at this level. The symptoms can be subtle at first, like finding it harder to concentrate or feeling unusually irritable or anxious. Regular check-ins with yourself, and possibly with family or friends, can help you spot these warning signs early.
Remember that sustainable high performance is different from short-term cramming. You're aiming to maintain this level of study for an extended period, which means you need to build in adequate rest, maintain your physical health, and preserve your motivation.
Adjusting your approach
Regardless of which category you fall into, remember that these are starting points, not rigid rules. You might find that you need to adjust your study time based on how you're performing, what feedback you're receiving from teachers, or how sustainable your current approach feels.
Pay attention to your results
If you're consistently achieving your target grades with time to spare, you might be able to reduce your study time or redirect some of that effort towards developing other skills. Conversely, if you're putting in the recommended hours but not seeing the results you want, it might be time to look at your study techniques rather than simply adding more time.
Be honest about your circumstances
If you're dealing with additional challenges – whether that's family responsibilities, health issues, financial pressures, or anything else – you might need to adjust these recommendations accordingly. The goal is always to find an approach that works for your specific situation.
Quality matters more than quantity
An hour of focused, active study will always be more valuable than two hours of distracted, passive work. If you find yourself struggling to maintain concentration during your scheduled study time, it might be worth reducing the duration but increasing the intensity.
Build a routine that works for you
The best study routine is the one you can actually stick to while still maintaining your wellbeing and enjoying your high school experience. Whether you're aiming for academic excellence or simply wanting to stay on top of your coursework, the key is finding an approach that serves your goals without overwhelming your life.
Seven warning signs you’re trying to do too much with your study
Balancing study with everything else in your life can be tricky, and sometimes you might find yourself pushing a bit too hard without realising it. Just like training for a sport, there's a sweet spot for studying between working hard enough to improve and working so hard that you actually get worse results.
The good news is that feeling overwhelmed or out of balance isn't a personal failing – it's just a normal part of learning how to manage everything on your plate. Most successful students go through periods where they need to adjust their approach, and recognising when this happens is actually a really valuable skill.
The key is catching these signals early and making small adjustments before things become more challenging. A few tweaks to your routine now can save you from much bigger problems later, and learning to recognise your limits actually makes you more effective, not less.
Signs you might need to dial things back a bit
These warning signs are your body and mind's way of letting you know that your current approach might need some fine-tuning. You don't need to be experiencing all of these to benefit from making some adjustments – even one or two can be worth paying attention to.
Feeling constantly tired or run down
If you're consistently waking up feeling exhausted even after a full night's sleep or finding that you need multiple coffees just to get through the day, your current routine might be asking more of you than you can handle. This kind of tiredness is different from the normal fatigue you feel after a busy day – it's more like your energy reserves are running on empty.
You might notice you're falling asleep during study sessions, struggling to stay alert in class, or feeling like you just can't "switch on" even when you really try to. This is a classic sign that your body is telling you it needs more recovery time.
Finding it hard to stay motivated
When your usual study routine starts feeling overwhelming or pointless, it's often a sign that you've been pushing too hard for too long. You might find yourself procrastinating more than usual, struggling to start study sessions, or feeling like there's no point trying because you're too far behind.
This isn't laziness – it's usually your brain protecting you from overload. When motivation drops significantly across multiple subjects or activities you used to enjoy, it's worth taking a step back and reassessing your approach.
Having trouble concentrating
If you're spending hours at your desk but very little actual learning is happening, this could indicate that your brain needs a break. You might notice you're re-reading the same information multiple times without it sinking in, forgetting things shortly after learning them, or finding your mind wandering constantly during study sessions.
Concentration problems can also show up in other areas too, like losing track of conversations, forgetting what you were doing mid-task, or struggling to follow movies or books you'd normally enjoy.
Feeling more stressed or anxious than usual
While some stress is normal and can even be helpful for performance, chronic worry that interferes with your daily life is less than ideal. This can manifest as constant concern about your performance, panicking about deadlines even when you're prepared, or even physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat or difficulty breathing when thinking about schoolwork.
You might also notice your stress response becoming disproportionate to actual challenges – you might become overwhelmed by minor setbacks or unable to switch off from academic concerns during break times.
Neglecting other important things
When study takes over your life completely, other important areas often suffer. You might find yourself skipping meals, avoiding friends, putting off basic self-care, or becoming short-tempered with people you care about. While some temporary sacrifices are normal during busy periods, consistently neglecting these areas usually makes academic performance worse rather than better.
Pay attention to whether you're maintaining the relationships and activities that normally help you feel balanced and happy.
Experiencing unexplained headaches or physical symptoms
Frequent headaches, muscle tension, stomach problems, or other physical symptoms without obvious causes can sometimes be your body responding to ongoing stress. These often improve when you reduce pressure and create more balance in your routine.
Notice whether these symptoms follow patterns, like becoming worse during assessment periods then improving during holidays, or coinciding with particularly intense study schedules.
Not enjoying things that usually make you happy
If hobbies, social activities, entertainment, or other interests that normally bring you joy start feeling boring or like too much effort, this can be a sign that your overall stress levels are affecting your ability to feel good about anything.
This is particularly worth paying attention to because losing these positive experiences makes it much harder to cope with academic pressure and can create a cycle where everything feels more difficult than it should.
Simple adjustments that can help you feel more balanced
If you're recognising some of these signs, don't panic – they're actually quite common and can typically be managed with some straightforward changes. The goal isn't to completely overhaul your life, but to make some tweaks that help you feel more sustainable and effective.
Get back to basics
Before trying to optimise your study techniques, make sure you're covering the fundamentals. Your brain needs adequate sleep, regular meals, hydration, and some physical movement to function well.
These aren't luxuries you can skip when you're busy – they're the foundation that everything else builds on. Even small improvements in these areas can make a significant difference to how you feel and how effectively you can study.
Scale back temporarily
If you're showing several warning signs, this is probably a good time to temporarily reduce some pressure rather than trying to push through. This might mean asking for extensions on less critical assignments, reducing work hours for a few weeks, or focusing on your most important subjects while maintaining basic requirements elsewhere.
Reconnect with your support network
When we're overwhelmed, we often withdraw from the people who could help us feel better. Make an effort to spend time with friends, family, or other supportive people, even if you don't feel particularly social. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your academic performance is remind yourself that there's more to life than grades.
Review your expectations
Take an honest look at whether your current goals match what's realistically possible given your circumstances. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is adjust your timeline or approach so you can achieve your aims more sustainably.
Build regular breaks into your routine
Instead of treating rest as something you earn after completing work, schedule it as essential maintenance. Plan complete rest days, social activities you enjoy, and hobbies that energise rather than drain you.
Get support when you need it
If these feelings persist for more than a few weeks or are significantly affecting your daily life, it's worth talking to someone. This might be a school counsellor, family member, doctor, or accessing mental health resources.
Be You offers excellent, evidence-based information and tools for supporting mental health and wellbeing in educational settings. They have practical resources for students and families about managing stress and building resilience.
Remember that seeking support shows you're taking your wellbeing seriously and want to develop sustainable strategies – many successful people have learned valuable skills from navigating challenging periods.
Moving forward
The most important thing to understand is that feeling overwhelmed sometimes is completely normal, and learning to recognise and respond to these signals is actually a really valuable life skill. You're not failing if you need to make adjustments – you're learning to work with your natural rhythms and limits, which will serve you well throughout your education and beyond.