What Are the Best Study Strategies for High School Exams?
By Julie Diamond, Founder & CEO Diamond Teachers Group
For more ideas to help your teen prepare for exams, check out a previous blog ‘How Can I Help My High Schooler Prepare for Exams’
As a teacher and the founder of Diamond Teachers Group, I have worked with hundreds of students preparing for tests, exams, and culminating tasks.
One thing I stress to students is that success is not just about how much they study. It is about how effectively they study.
We are also hearing more conversations about technology, AI, and whether students should be studying on screens at all. Recent research suggests that the issue is not technology itself, but HOW it is used. Students often mistake passive activities such as rereading digital notes, highlighting slides, watching videos, or asking AI for answers as studying. Effective studying requires active thinking, retrieval, problem-solving, and application of knowledge. Throughout this article, I will share practical strategies that help students learn more effectively, whether they are studying independently, with pencil and paper, or working with a tutor.
Many teens spend hours rereading notes or staring at a screen, only to feel frustrated when they cannot remember the information later. The good news is that there are simple, research-informed strategies that can make studying more effective and less overwhelming.
Here are practical ways parents can support their teens during exam season.
Start with a Study Plan
One of the biggest mistakes students make is waiting until the last minute and trying to study everything at once.
Help your teen create a realistic study plan by listing:
Each exam and its date
Topics that will be covered
Areas of strength
Areas that need extra attention
Once everything is organized, break the material into manageable chunks.
For example, instead of writing “Study Science,” a student should list more specific tasks such as:
Review cell biology notes
Complete practice questions on ecosystems
Create flashcards for key vocabulary
Smaller tasks feel more achievable and help students build momentum.
A clear study schedule helps reduce overwhelm and prevents cramming, which often leads to surface-level learning rather than long-term understanding.
Encourage Active Studying
One of the biggest misconceptions students have is that studying means reading notes repeatedly until the material feels familiar. Unfortunately, familiarity is not the same as learning.
Educational research consistently shows that students learn more effectively when they retrieve information from memory rather than simply reread it.
Instead of passive studying, encourage active learning strategies such as:
Teaching the material to someone else
Answering practice questions without looking at notes
Completing practice tests
Creating flashcards
Summarizing concepts from memory
One powerful strategy is the “blank page method”:
Have your teen put away their notes and write down everything they can remember about a topic. Afterward, they can compare it to their notes and identify their gaps in understanding.
This type of retrieval practice strengthens memory and highlights what still needs work.
Create Effective Study Notes
Many students spend hours copying information without truly engaging with it.
I am a big advocate of handwriting notes which better supports learning because it forces students to slow down, summarize information, and process concepts in their own words.
When students type notes, they are more likely to copy word for word without deeper thinking.
This does not mean every student must avoid technology. However, creating handwritten study tools can significantly improve understanding.
Helpful formats include:
One-page summaries
Mind maps
Concept maps
Charts and graphic organizers
Formula sheets
Vocabulary lists
Encourage your teen to create a one-page study guide for each unit. The process of deciding what is important often builds understanding more than reviewing the notes afterward.
Use Timers to Improve Focus
Many teens struggle to stay focused for long periods of time.
This is where structured study intervals can help.
One popular method is the Pomodoro Technique:
Study for 25 minutes
Take a 5-minute break
Repeat
Take a longer break after four cycles
Older students may benefit from 45-minute study blocks followed by 10-minute breaks.
Technology can be helpful here, but it can also be a major distraction. Phones, notifications, and multiple tabs can interrupt focus and reduce learning. Even short interruptions can make it harder for the brain to stay in deep thinking mode.
During focused study time, encourage your teen to:
Silence notifications
Close unnecessary tabs
Place their phone in another room
Focused studying for 30 minutes is often more effective than distracted studying for two hours.
Should My Teen Study on Paper or on a Screen?
This is one of the most common questions parents ask us.
The answer is that learning depends less on the tool being used and more on how actively the student is thinking.
Pencil and paper can be especially helpful for:
Math problem solving
Writing summaries
Creating diagrams
Making cue cards
Writing by hand slows thinking down in a productive way and encourages students to process information more deeply.
However, technology can also be valuable when used intentionally. Digital calendars can help students stay organized. Online practice tests provide feedback. Educational videos can clarify difficult concepts. Study apps can support scheduling and repetition.
The key question is not paper versus technology.
The key question is: Is the student actively thinking or passively consuming information?
If a student spends an hour watching review videos without practicing or applying the material, learning is unlikely to stick. If they spend that same hour solving problems, explaining concepts, and testing themselves, retention improves significantly.
Match Study Strategies to the Subject
Not every subject should be studied the same way.
Math
Complete different kinds of practice questions
Review worked examples
Focus on steps and problem-solving processes
Correct mistakes and redo difficult questions
Science
Draw diagrams
Explain processes aloud
Apply concepts to new scenarios
Create flashcards for key terms
English
Review themes and literary devices
Practice writing responses
Build evidence banks for possible essay questions
Recall class discussions for common themes or questions
History and Social Sciences
Create timelines
Use flashcards for key terms
Practice cause-and-effect explanations
Students often spend too much time reviewing and not enough time applying their knowledge. Application is what builds confidence for exams.
Can Online Tutoring Help with Exam Preparation?
Some parents wonder whether online tutoring is as effective as in-person support.
Research suggests that the effectiveness of tutoring depends far more on the quality of instruction than the location where learning occurs.
Unlike passive screen time, live tutoring is interactive.
A skilled tutor (such as our tutors who are also certified teachers):
Asks questions
Checks understanding
Provides immediate feedback
Corrects misconceptions
Adjusts instruction in real time
Encourages students to explain their thinking
Gives written feedback after each session
These are all active learning strategies that support deep understanding.
In many online tutoring sessions, students can still use pencil and paper to solve problems, take notes, and complete practice questions. The screen simply becomes a tool for connection and instruction.
At Diamond Teachers Group, we often encourage students to keep a notebook beside them during online sessions so they are actively engaged rather than passively watching.
The combination of live feedback and active practice is what makes tutoring effective, not the physical location of the session.
Teach Time Management Without Micromanaging
Parents often want to help, but teens also need independence.
Instead of constant reminders, try asking:
What is your plan for tonight?
What is your top priority?
How can I support you?
Encouraging ownership helps students build executive functioning skills they will need long term.
Don’t Forget Sleep, Nutrition, and Movement
Students often underestimate how much physical health impacts academic performance.
Encourage your teen to:
Sleep consistently
Eat balanced meals
Stay hydrated
Take movement breaks
Even short breaks can improve focus and memory.
The most successful students are not necessarily those who study the longest. They are the ones who study with intention, use effective strategies, and take care of their well-being.
As family members, your role is not to provide all the answers. It is to support structure, encourage healthy habits, and help your teen build confidence in their ability to learn.
When students learn how to study effectively, they carry those skills far beyond exam season. They become more independent, more resilient, and more confident learners.
And that is the real goal.
To connect your teen with a tutor to help them prepare for their upcoming exams, check out our tutors and schedule a Free Meet and Greet today!