How to Successfully Study for Exams: Sam’s Steps to Get High 90s

Meet Sam, a Year 11 student from Barker College, who turned exam stress into effective study habits. Wondering how to study successfully? Read on for his step-by-step routine to feel confident in every exam.

Table of contents:

• Step 1: Really understand the content first 
• Step 2: Consolidate with practice questions
• Step 3: Plan revision ahead of time
• Step 4: Stick to a weekly review schedule
• Step 5: Use school holidays to get ahead
• Step 6: Practice exam papers

Let’s be real, exam season can feel like a pressure cooker. You’re juggling multiple subjects, assessments, co-curriculars, and the pressure to perform. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Over the past few years, I’ve built a reliable exam study system that taught me how to study successfully in high school. I went from stressing to scoring high 90s in Maths Extension and Maths Advanced. Even Chemistry is now easier when it was once one of the toughest subjects for me.

If you’re struggling to get started on studying, here’s exactly how I study for exams, stay ahead, and keep calm.

How to study successfully: 6-step routine

Step 1: Really understand the content first 

Before diving into past papers or writing essay plans, I make sure I actually understand the content. Start by making sure you’ve covered every syllabus dot point in detail. Look for explanations that simplify complex ideas without skipping the depth you’ll need for exams. 

Create your own summaries, diagrams, or concept maps to make sense of the material.

Try the Feynman technique

I firmly live by the philosophy that if you can teach a concept simply, then you truly understand it. Try explaining the topic aloud as if you’re teaching it to a child. This will help you organise knowledge in your brain to its simplest, most understandable form.

Use “why” resources

It helps to use resources that explain the “why” behind the concepts, not just the “what”. The Matrix Theory Books are great at this. They’ve helped me build a strong foundation in Chemistry. I now feel more confident solving problems I used to find difficult, like stoichiometry and mole calculations.

Whether it be Physics or English, Matrix breaks down concepts with clear diagrams or relevant explanations, with practice examples after each concept.

Step 2: Consolidate with practice questions

Once I’ve finished reviewing a topic, I jump straight into practice questions. 

Here’s how to approach practice questions:

• Start with the basics to check you understood the theory.
• Move on to intermediate questions to test your application.
• Finish with the exam-style questions to simulate real pressure.

By the end, you should have tackled the concept in every way it might appear on a test. 

In the Matrix Workbooks, specifically, the questions are way more effective as their focused and syllabus-specific, rather than random textbook questions.

Step 3: Plan revision ahead of time

I start each term by creating a study schedule. I map out my assessment schedule and pinpoint topics I need extra support with. Then, I set reminders to revise these weeks in advance, not days.

Revising weeks in advance also means you have time to ask questions if you ever hit a wall. I’ve found Matrix teachers help a lot with this, as they genuinely care and provide helpful, clear explanations.

A game-changer has been the Matrix one-to-one workshops with tutors. For example, in my last English assessment (a creative writing hand-in), I had my draft reviewed over three workshop sessions. That extra feedback helped me polish the story, and I ended up getting full marks.

I always have to book these study sessions 3-4 weeks in advance because they fill up fast. But, I treat them like essential appointments in my calendar. 

If you’re serious about learning how to study successfully, start early and treat revision sessions like appointments you can’t miss.

Step 4: Stick to a weekly review schedule

Every Sunday afternoon, I set aside time for a weekly review.  It’s a low-pressure way to keep the momentum going so I don’t fall behind.

What my weekly review looks like:

• Revisit theory I didn’t fully understand.
• Mark and correct my Work Book answers (Matrix provides detailed solutions).
• Create summary notes or flashcards if needed.
• Do one timed question or writing task from a Matrix resource bank or workshop handout.

Step 5: Use school holidays to get ahead

Instead of taking a full break during the holidays, I use that time to cover the upcoming term’s content. This means I learn content during the holidays, so I can just revise during the school term. It makes term time a whole lot easier. 

Of course, it’s hard to sit down and study by myself. Enrolling in a structured holiday course has really helped, especially for content-heavy subjects like Chemistry and English. 

Why holiday courses work for me:

• It covers the next term’s content in a focused, distraction-free environment.
• The fast-paced structure pushes me to stay sharp during the holidays.
• I return to school already confident in the next topic while everyone else is just starting.

Step 6: Practice exam papers (but only after mastering everything)

A big mistake I used to make when I was learning how to study successfully was diving into past papers too early, before I actually understood the content. Now, it doesn’t make sense to me. 

I make sure I’ve fully understood the content before attempting past papers. 

How I use exam past papers:

• One question at a time: I focus on improving accuracy before speed.
• Timed sections: I gradually introduce timing to simulate exam pressure.
• Mark strictly: I mark stringently according to sample or exemplar responses or marking criteria to keep standards high.

Bonus: Take smart breaks!

Study marathons can backfire if you’re not mentally refreshed. Between my study blocks, I make sure to:

• Go for a walk or short run.
• Do something creative or social.

This balance is what helps me maintain focus when it is time to study.

If you’re just starting out…

I’d say learning how to study successfully starts with routine. Each step in this system helps reduce stress and boost confidence.

When I look back on how much stress I used to feel before exam time, I’m honestly surprised. Since refining this study routine, my marks have been consistently high, and my stress levels are way lower. Now, exam prep feels structured and doable. 

In essence, start your exam prep weeks in advance to limit stress in the days leading up to assessments.

And of course, it helps a lot to use the various Matrix resources available at your fingertips. Everything fits together into a complete system. The Theory Books, Work Books, workshops, and holiday courses all support each other. They’ve taught me not just what to study, but how to study. 

Before long, you’ll have a solid rhythm, and you’ll be heading into exams not with fear, but with confidence. It’s simple to transform the way you study for the better.

Want results like Sam’s?

Discover more effective study habits that helped him achieve high 90s with Matrix.