Study Strategies That Helped Me Rank Top 5 in Year 11

Hi, I’m Dishita. A few years ago, I was just like many other high school students, trying to stay on top of assessments and make sense of subjects like Advanced Maths and Science. I knew I had the potential to do better, but I needed good study strategies and the right support.

From early on, my goals were clear:

• Stay ahead of my cohort
• Deepen my understanding of challenging topics
• Develop effective study techniques to perform well in school and beyond. 

I’ve developed a handful of effective study strategies that completely changed how I learn. They’ve stayed with me all the way up to now, in senior years.

Do these strategies work? 

In Science, I went from scoring 70-80% to consistently achieving 95% and above. I moved from the mid-20s in class ranking to the top 5!

More than the marks, I gained confidence. I stopped doubting myself and started walking into tests prepared and calm. That sense of clarity and control over my studies was what I’d always wanted.

Here are the 5 study strategies that helped me improve my marks:

• Study strategy 1: Find a way to stay engaged
• Study strategy 2: Visualise complex topics
• Study strategy 3: Break big ideas down
• Study strategy 4: Make practice questions a habit
• Study strategy 5: See one, do one, teach one
• My biggest recommendation for Year 11-12

Study strategy 1: Find a way to stay engaged

Studying is a lot easier when you are genuinely motivated. One of the ways I stay engaged is by learning with others. 

That includes being in a class with passionate teachers who make even difficult topics feel exciting and motivate me to strive for excellence. It also includes collaborating with peers who share similar goals.

We help each other overcome challenges, share resources, and celebrate wins together. 

At Matrix, I found a learning community that made a big difference to my learning:

• The students were all driven
• The environment was focused but friendly
• The structure helped me stay on track and made learning feel a little less like a chore, and a lot more rewarding.

If you’re finding it hard to stay motivated, build a study group with friends who take their goals seriously. Having that support makes a huge difference and can make studying fun.

Study strategy 2: Visualise complex topics

I remember struggling significantly with the topic of electricity and how it moves through circuits. Concepts like current, voltage, and resistance, and how they interact within a circuit, felt overwhelming and confusing to me at first. At school, I couldn’t quite grasp the relationships.

But in my Matrix Physics class, the teacher used clear, labelled diagrams and real-life examples to break everything down.

It helped me visualise each concept step-by-step. Since then, I’ve made visual learning a core part of my study sessions. 

Try creating your own visual notes. Flowcharts, mind maps, labelled diagrams – whatever suits the subject.

Don’t worry if they’re messy; what matters is that they make sense to you. Over time, this habit can really strengthen your understanding, especially for subjects with layered or abstract content like Science and Maths.

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Study strategy 3: Break big ideas down

Don’t try to learn everything at once. Start small: Master one idea, then build on it. And if something still isn’t clicking, talk to a teacher, tutor, or even a friend who understands it well. 

Having someone guide you through those tricky spots can be the turning point.

It may also help to get one-to-one support. In personal tutoring sessions, the tutor can work with you at your own pace, addressing specific areas where I struggled and providing targeted practice problems. 

Study strategy 4: Make practice questions a habit

Doing practice questions consistently has helped me test my knowledge, reinforce learning, and spot weak areas early.

I use multiple checkpoints when exam time is approaching: Matrix theory book questions, workbook drills, weekly quizzes, and topic tests.

These helped check if I truly understood what I’d learned in class.

I also kept a folder of questions I struggled with the most, which I revisited regularly. This helped me track my progress and made revision more focused and effective.

The Matrix Theory Books also became my go-to for revision. For example, when preparing for my Year 11 Maths Extension 1 exam, I used them to revise key functions and transformations. 

They summarised complex content in a way that made it easy to review quickly but thoroughly.

Don’t wait until exam week to start doing practice questions. Build it into your weekly routine. Even doing a few targeted questions each day can help you stay sharp and reduce stress later.

Read this guide on how to survive Year 11 for more information on maximising your school year.

Study strategy 5: See one, do one, teach one

This is the technique that has stuck with me since my Year 7 Matrix Maths teacher introduced it. The idea is simple but incredibly effective. 

1. Learn – This is where I go over new material. Observe how a problem is solved or how a concept works.
   
2. Test – Attempt to apply that knowledge by solving similar problems or answering questions related to the concept.
   
3. Teach – Once you feel confident, teach the concept to someone else, preferably someone who is unfamiliar with it. 

Teaching someone else helps you check your understanding and can highlight areas you may have overlooked. It also helps you retain information more effectively.

My biggest recommendation for Year 11-12

If you’re thinking about getting extra support, I recommend Matrix. 

• The teachers are genuinely invested in your success and are excellent at breaking down difficult topics
• The lessons are always engaging, and the resources are designed for actual learning (not just rote memorisation)
• You make really good friends who you can study with, share ideas and gain support.

That said, no program can work without your effort. Put your all into every lesson, ask questions, and take advantage of the practice materials. If you commit, the results will follow.

Final thoughts

You don’t need to be a “top student” to start improving. You just need a goal, a plan, and the right strategies. These five worked for me, and I hope they help you too!