In this article, Auburn Girls High and Matrix student shares how she aced her subjects through time management and staying motivated.
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Auburn Girls and Matrix student, Amal, shares her best management and motivation tips that helped her ace her Year 10 subjects.
In this article, I will share the methods I used to stay motivated and organised, especially during remote learning.
Amal Khan
Auburn Girls High School
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies/ Bachelor of Information Systems
With my passions being Mathematics, finance, and programming, I have always seen myself working as a Business analyst or financial analyst.
I performed the best in Mathematics especially my Extension 1 Entry test.
This was due to my time management. I maximised the amount of practice I did, as well as rewarding myself at every step to stay motivated.
I also made sure that I went through difficult questions and questions I previously answered incorrectly. This ensured that I do not repeat the same mistake again.
I performed the worst in Science, especially in Chemistry.
At the time of my Chemistry assessment, I didn’t have a timetable and proper study routine. This impacted my performance.
However, since then, I have improved immensely and continue to excel in Chemistry.
The main problem I faced in year 10 was to stay motivated and organised, especially during remote learning.
I always used to complete my tasks at the last moment and not to my best ability due to the lack of motivation and unorganised time.
I tried several techniques but mostly they did not motivate me. For the past 6 months, I have been using the following steps to overcome this problem…
I found it very helpful to write down my goals to figure out what I was actually working towards.
This may sound a bit cliche, but it definitely worked for me. Either that be long term or short term, it gave me a motif.
Writing my goals helped me remember the tasks and physically see what I need to do in order to achieve it.
If the task is long term or requires multiple steps, I made sure to identify them under my goal as well.
This is an example of my current goals.
Even though I continue to add more day by day, it still allows me to see what I am working towards; my ultimate goal of 95+ ATAR.
I find it more convenient to review my goals by every 6 months, instead of working towards the same set of small goals for a year
This does not have to be anything fancy or complicated. A simple diary or planner can be a great tool for time management, motivation, and organisation.
For the past 6 months, I have been utilising this and have seen various positive results. This not only includes increased organisation, motivation, and productivity but it also too off a lot of pressure.
I realised that once I write everything down, my mind worries less and is able to focus on how I can achieve those tasks.
Another great advantage of using a planner is completing tasks on time.
Before this tool, I used to complete my tasks the night before or the morning of the due date. However, now I have it completed at least a couple days before and done to my best ability.
I like to divide my planner by each day and carry it around with me. A small book would work for this, too.
This allows me to stay organised as well as remember any important days or events coming up.
After I reach an important milestone or a specific goal, I reward myself.
Having something to look forward to makes it easier for me to complete the tasks and stay motivated.
The rewards can be as simple as a chocolate bar, to something as big as a day out. This usually depends on my achievements and the number of tasks I have to still complete.
What I found difficult at the start was either rewarding myself too much or too little. For everyone, this can be different but make sure you don’t overdo them, so you can stay motivated.
It can be difficult sometimes to decide which exact Matrix courses you might want to enrol in.
My advice is to choose the subjects you need help with to improve.
If you are passionate enough, try the holiday courses so you have less pressure during school time.
Also, try to fit all your classes in one day rather than different days, but if it is difficult, then spread them out.
I personally really like the Maths courses as they allow me to better understand my content for school.
If you believe that it may be difficult for you to attend group classes, then one-on-one tutoring is another option.
My most effective strategy to study or prepare for an exam is to watch videos or study through visuals.
For instance, to prepare for my Mathematics exam I watch all the videos of my teacher explaining the content to refresh the memory.
I also utilise other resources such as YouTube, as well as images that explain certain concepts. This simply leaves an image in my mind and is easier to remember.
For example, this diagram is a visual explanation of a scientific concept. Instead of memorising the concept from word to word, understanding it through an image allows me to remember this for the long term.
My biggest regret was not studying during my non-exam weeks and having to cram all the content within two weeks.
If I had to restart my year, I would start writing notes topic by topic for all my subjects.
This will ensure that I don’t waste my time memorising content and writing notes right before an assessment. Instead, I could focus on studying and doing more practice questions.
Especially for English, I suggest writing an extra essay every week (or fortnight) so your exam week isn’t crammed.
A piece of important advice I can give to future and current Year 10 student is to always stay motivated and organised, and don’t feel overwhelmed if things get difficult.
Try to find your study style, whether it be visual learning, learning through past papers, or group learning.
1. Be prepared:
Instead of cramming your content, divide it over a long time for a better understanding.
2. Ask for help
If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to ask teachers, parents, siblings, or other fellow students for help and advice.
This does not only give you new and different perspectives but also allows you to understand any mistakes or improvements you need to consider.
3. Reward yourself:
The last thing you want to do is to not appreciate yourself for all the hard work.
By rewarding yourself, you will stay motivated and look forward to actually completing the tasks.
1. Give up:
This may sound like an obvious one, but it is important to always try your best, even during the hardest times.
2. Focus only on certain subjects:
We all have subjects we like and dislike. However, it’s important that you don’t disregard those subjects.
Instead, always try your best.
3. Compare yourself with others:
As long as you believe that you are trying your best, there is no need to compare yourself with other individuals.
Written by Guest Author
We have regular contributions to our blog from our Tutor Team and high performing Matrix Students. Come back regularly for these guest posts to learn their study hacks and insights!
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