★ Find your own study space

You will have your own idea about the best place to study. So, find a space that works for you and stick with it.

Do you:

• prefer a quiet area or listening to music?
• study better alone or with other people?
• like to study at home or at work? 

★ Be organised

Make sure you have all the resources you need in your study space before you start. That way, you will be able to devote all of your time to the study process instead of wasting time finding and collecting items.

★ Clear your mind

Before you start your study, ensure that you have cleared your head so you remain focused. A good way to do this is simply grab a piece of paper and write it all down. Also, keep a piece of paper beside you, so if something does pop up you can write it down and deal with it later.

★ Get motivated

You need to think about what is motivating you to complete the study. Write it down and throughout your study keep referring to it so you remain focused.

★ Plan your time (and use it well)

It helps to plan when you will study and how you can make the most of your study time:

• Use a calendar, a list of dates or a wall planner to keep track of assessment dates. Plan ahead. Space out your study time each week for the whole training programme.
• Do the hardest work when you’re feeling your best. Save the easy stuff for when you’re tired.
• Set yourself a time limit for each task and stick to it.

★ Take detailed notes and use them

Taking detailed notes while learning will save you heaps of time later. Re-writing and adding to your notes is a great way to revise what you’ve learned.

★ Test yourself

Don’t wait for an assessment to test your knowledge – test yourself first. Get a friend or family member to quiz you on key concepts, or offer to help other trainees with their work. It’s a great way to get confident with what you do know and find out what you still need to learn.

★ Take time out

You study better when you're feeling good, so make sure you eat well and get enough sleep. Exercise is great but don’t overdo it. It’s also a good idea to schedule regular breaks when you’re studying and have a drink whenever you’re thirsty. You’ll study better if you take care of yourself. Have a think and come up with a strategy that works for you.

★ Know your learning style

Everyone has their own way of learning, so before you start to study, familiarise yourself with yours:

• Auditory learners learn by listening. If you’re an auditory learner you could try reading your notes aloud and discussing them with other people. You might like to record key points and play them back.
• Visual learners learn by seeing. If you’re a visual learner you could use colours in your notes and draw diagrams to help represent key points. You could try to remember some ideas as images.
• Tactile/kinaesthetic learners learn by doing. If you’re a tactile/kinaesthetic learner you could use methods like role-playing or building models to revise key points.