Smart Study Skills

1. The 2–7–30 Repetition Method

This method is based on how the brain remembers best. The idea is simple: review the same content on Day 2, Day 7, and Day 30 after first learning it. Each time your child revisits the material, it strengthens the memory pathway.
You can do this with:

Flashcards
Re-reading summaries
Brief self-tests
Talking about the content aloud

It helps to mark these revision days on a calendar or planner. This way, your child doesn’t leave everything to the night before the test—and actually remembers it long after the test is over.

2. Explain It Like You’re Talking to a 5-Year-Old

If your child can **explain a tricky concept in their own words—clearly and simply—**they probably understand it well. This technique is useful across subjects: from explaining fractions to defining democracy.
Encourage your child to:

Teach the content to a younger sibling, a pet, or even a teddy bear
Use drawings, examples, or simple stories
Avoid using the textbook’s words—use their own

This works because it forces your child to process the information deeply , not just memorise it.

3. Watch One – Do One – Teach One

This method builds mastery in three steps:

Watch One – observe how it’s done (e.g., a maths example or a comprehension answer)
Do One – practise it themselves
Teach One – explain or show it to someone else

It combines visual, practical and verbal learning , which helps students of all types. It’s especially useful for things like maths methods, science experiments, language editing, or even essay planning.

4. Test Yourself – Often

Many learners fear testing—but it’s actually one of the best ways to learn . Instead of rereading notes passively, children should test themselves often:

Use past papers or mock exams
Cover their notes and try to recall key points
Use apps or flashcards to practise under time pressure

This helps the brain retrieve information , making it easier to recall during real assessments.

Final Thoughts

The best study skills are simple, repeatable, and powerful. They help children move from just ‘reading through’ their notes to actively engaging with their learning.
At StudyChamp, we design our resources to support these techniques, so your child isn’t just studying harder, but smarter. Our summaries, worksheets, and practice tests are tools that fit easily into methods like 2–7–30 revision, self-testing, and active recall .
Learning how to study well is a skill for life. Start small, practise often, and your child will build habits that last well beyond exam season.

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Woman writing math equations on a chalkboard, holding a notebook, with a thought bubble of the pi symbol.

Preparing for Maths Assessments

By Estelle Barnard • October 22, 2025

Mathematics rewards practice with purpose: spaced revision, plenty of self-testing, making notes, checking with feedback, and calm, consistent routines. Below you’ll find exactly how to do this at different stages of school. The Big Three for All Learners Space it out Short, regular sessions beat last-minute marathons. Plan 20–40 minute slots across the week and revisit topics before you forget them. This is known as the spacing effect (Cepeda et al., 2008). Retrieve, don’t just reread Close the book and try to solve or recall from memory. Use past questions, quick quizzes, and “write-from-memory” summaries. Retrieval practice strengthens long-term learning, especially when you check your answers (Roediger & Butler, 2011). Think about your thinking Teach learners to plan, monitor, and evaluate how they study. Simple questions like, “What will I practise today? How will I know I’ve improved?” turn revision from passive to purposeful (EEF, 2018). Primary School (Grades 4–7) Goals Build number sense and fluency (times tables, fractions, decimals). Understand why methods work, not just how to perform them. Study Rhythm Mon/Wed/Fri: 20 min mixed practice (across old and new topics). Tue/Thu: 20 min facts fluency (typically something like time tables or fractions) Weekend: 25–30 min “Teach-Back” session: learner explains one concept aloud (e.g. “How do we find a common denominator?”). High School (Grades 8–12) Goals Strengthen algebraic fluency, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus. Build exam stamina and the ability to select appropriate methods. Exam Preparation Plan Weeks –4 to –3: Cover all topics and create a spaced schedule. Weeks –3 to –2: Attempt past-paper sections; very important to check with detailed memos. Prepare an error log of frequent mistakes. Weeks –2 to –1: Interleave topics and focus more on challenging topics (e.g., trig, functions, geometry). Final Week: Short, focused recall sessions from your “error log.” The Value of Writing Your Own Notes and Step-by-Step Summaries One of the most effective yet overlooked study habits is summarising key procedures in your own words . Mathematics is full of repeatable processes: simplifying fractions, expanding algebraic expressions, finding derivatives using first principles, or completing the square in a quadratic equation. Writing out the steps helps learners form mental blueprints they can rely on in tests. Why this works Research shows that encoding information through writing and explaining strengthens understanding and recall (Dunlosky et al., 2013; MIT Teaching + Learning Lab, 2020). When learners create their own step-by-step summaries: They engage in sense-making, not just copying. They uncover misconceptions early. They connect formulas with reasoning (“why does this step come next?”). They create a quick reference guide for revision. Examples: Simplifying fractions: Find common factors → Divide numerator and denominator → Check if it can simplify further. Completing the square: Divide so that x squared stands on its own →Take the constant term to the right-hand side →Add half of the coefficient of x squared to both sides → Factorise the left-hand side to form a perfect square → Simplify and solve for x. Visualisation and Trigonometry Trigonometry can be tricky until you visualise how angles behave on the Cartesian plane . Remember: in trigonometry, angles are measured from the positive x-axis , moving anticlockwise for positive angles and clockwise for negative ones. (See the labelled diagram above, showing where each trigonometric ratio is positive or negative, including the reduction formulae.) Using StudyChamp Resources Effectively StudyChamp’s detailed memos and step-by-step worked examples make maths study easier: Compare your solution to the memo. Highlight key reasoning steps. Add the process to your “Maths Procedures Notebook”. By exam time, that notebook becomes your own personalised study guide: practical, and written in your own words. References Cepeda, N. J., et al. (2008). Spacing effects in learning: A temporal ridgeline of optimal retention. Psychological Science, 19(11). Dunlosky, J., et al. (2013). Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest. Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning Guidance Report. Roediger, H. L., & Butler, A. C. (2011). The critical role of retrieval practice in long-term retention. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 15(1). MIT Teaching + Learning Lab. (2020). Note-Taking and Sense-Making Strategies. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.