Complete Guide to Self-Study Discipline

The transition from GCSE to Year 12 and starting Key Stage 5 is significant, to say the least! For many students, it is the first time they are expected to independently manage their workload; from homework, to self-study, to wider reading. Although this freedom is often an enjoyable change, it requires a lot of self-discipline, organisation, and effective time-management strategies. 

In this article, we will discuss some key tips to help you develop strong self-study habits that will strengthen your approach to A-levels. Whether you're feeling excited, overwhelmed, or somewhere in between, keep these tips in mind to help you stay focused and always remember to just try your best. 

Tip #1 - Understand the Expectation Evolution

As you have probably noticed by now, A-levels are a considerable step-up from GCSEs. While GCSEs involve a lot of teacher guidance and regular homework, A-levels are designed to promote independence and self-motivation through independent learning.

Teachers will still provide guidance in lessons (and homework), but there is an expectation now that you will read around your subjects, consolidate your learning chapter by chapter, and come to lessons prepared. You must recognise this as early as possible and start giving it a go.

I realise this probably sounds like a lot of work and responsibility, and in some ways it is just that, but due to your reduced number of subjects it is definitely more of an opportunity to take ownership of your education and explore your chosen subjects more deeply. 

Anecdote: one of my A-levels was History - British and Russian to be specific. We were set, on average, one essay a fortnight, plus lesson preparation, plus self-study. 

Lesson preparation could vary, sometimes it was just to read ahead in the textbook, and other times it would be a few questions or a bit of research to set the lesson up. So I would do this, and then watch documentaries, listen to podcasts, and complete any extra questions in each chapter to top up my knowledge, all whilst gradually writing my essay. 

This may sound like a lot, but it was only a few hours a week and it put me in a really strong position for exams. I would definitely recommend listening to podcasts and watching programs as a way to passively revise when you’re doing other things such as travelling, or if you’re too tired for active revision (such as essay questions). 

Tip #2 - Define Your Goals

When you transition to Year 12, take some time to reflect and set clear academic goals. You can do this right at the start, or after a few weeks when you have settled in, but either way it can really help with motivation. 

Think about: 

• What grades you would like to achieve by the end of Year 13? 
• What skills do you need to develop to succeed in each subject? (for me, with History, it was essay technique)
• How much time can you realistically dedicate to each subject each week? (whilst maintaining a healthy social life) 

These overall goals will hopefully give you a more tangible idea of what you would like to accomplish to motivate yourself. I would definitely recommend further breaking these down into smaller goals and manageable tasks as well though. 

For example, to continue with the History anecdote, I wanted an A, so my smaller goal was to achieve relatively consistent Bs by the end of Year 12, and to achieve that, my manageable task would be to complete chapter review questions every week, and to be active with essay feedback*. 

*This meant that, say if I got a target to be more evaluative in my paragraphs, I would highlight this, and write it at the top of my next homework essay, so that I was constantly aware of it, and my teacher knew I was trying my hardest and I needed him to feedback on the target action too. This is one of many active self-study techniques you can do. 

Tip #3 - Establish a Study Routine!

The dreaded two words, likely unspoken since the depths of GCSEs… but don’t worry!

Again, A-levels are different and a study routine is a very powerful habit to develop as it relies on consistency rather than random bursts of often-wasted energy and motivation. This helps the relationship between your short-term and long-term memory grow stronger, which is what we want!

Key Points: 

• PLAN. Invest in a calendar or planner with a weekly to-do list section, this is essential for deadlines to be reached and stress to be reduced. Write any assignments due that week on the date they’re due, and write it in your to-do list for you to check off when complete (this is psychologically beneficial as we can physically see something being checked off our mental load, it can make a big difference in stressful periods). 
• Be realistic. We are aiming to spread out the workload, we do not need a day with 5 hours blocked out for study, we need manageable time chunks with regular breaks that create an easy-to-follow routine for the months to come.
• Stay flexible. Yes, it is ideal to always be able to follow your timetable and routines however sometimes things will get in the way, this is completely okay just adjust your timetable as needed and get back on track when you can. The odd routine mishap will not make you fail your exams, I promise. 

Alternative Idea - if you are someone who struggles with the rigidity of a revision timetable or you’re going through a time where you are finding it difficult to self-motivate, try instead thinking: “Today, I am going to do at least an hour of subject A and at least finish my homework in subject B”. 

This way, you have set yourself an easily reachable goal, and at the very least you will be successful in achieving it, or it may motivate you to work a bit longer which creates an even bigger sense of achievement. It’s a win/win.

Tip #4 - Use School Contact Time Wisely

You may notice that your new school timetable has a few free periods, this is because A-levels have fewer contact hours than GCSE to aid in the promotion of independence. However, despite the name, these free periods aren’t always meant to be ‘free’. 

They are for you to use to review class notes, ask your teachers questions, or for your independent study. When used this way, free periods are really beneficial and can make an impact in reducing your workload when you get home. 

Tip #5 - Wider Reading!

One of the main A-level expectations is that students will ‘read around’ their subjects. This means you are going beyond what your teachers or exam boards have provided for you to explore further resources such as academic articles, research, books, and even documentaries that relate to your studies. 

This wider reading and research allows you to draw from a broader knowledge base, providing a deeper understanding of your subjects which examiners love because it shows passion and agency. It is essential and here are a few ideas to get you started: 

• Ask your teachers for recommendations related to your subject.
• Use online resources such as Google Scholar, JSTOR, and other trustworthy academic and subject-specific websites and blogs. 
• Visit your school library- you would be surprised how much your school librarian will know about your subject and which books to direct you to, they may even be able to direct you to ones that you personally may find more interesting which would make your studies even easier. 
• Stay organised. When you read something you think is useful, write it down! Including exactly where you got it from. Reference sites such as MyBib are useful for this as you can copy and paste titles and links and it will create a bibliography for you to revisit for each subject. 

Anecdote: one of my other A-levels was English Literature which I loved and wanted to achieve an A* in. To aid my goal, my wider reading and research consisted of:

• Reading other texts by my A-level authors (such as Carol Ann Duffy) and also other texts in that genre (i.e, Ibsen’s A Doll’s House was critically associated with other texts such as Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf, so I read them, and many others, too)
• Watching film adaptations of my texts (I think I have watched every version of Twelfth Night ever filmed). 
• Reading journals and articles by literary critics (I just googled my text’s title on Google Scholar, sometimes with a specific theme as well such as ‘A Doll’s House and feminism’ and read the articles that came up, noting anything I found interesting to quote and reference in essays later on). 

Tip #6 - A Suitable Study Space

This may seem obvious, but I cannot stress the importance of the right study space enough. You need to be comfortable, with as little distraction as possible. 

Consider these things: 

• Minimise Distractions (put your phone on silent and/or in black and white for your study sessions, or give it to someone to look after for however long this block is. Aim for a room away from busy people and noise if you can; the kitchen table is not always the best place to revise). 
• Stay organised - keep your desk/table tidy, with only the essentials on it. Clutter can sometimes end up as a procrastination tool so try and reduce it! It may seem like the least important thing to do when time is short, but doing small tasks like making your bed and tidying your desk consistently will subconsciously improve your focus and mental health along the way. Soon enough you will be doing it without thinking.
• Be comfortable. Try and find a chair that you can happily sit in for a few hours a day and a desk that supports a good posture. I know this probably sounds quite obvious but again, pins and needles in your legs from an uncomfortable chair will not make you want to plan an essay question on The Storming of the Winter Palace. 

Tip #7 - Be Organised

All I mean by this is to start organising your notes at the start of Year 12 and retain that organisation throughout. 

If you prefer paper notes, then invest in some good folders to store your notes in chapter by chapter, but consider waterproof wallets for the paper you take to school. The last thing you want is a downpour ruining a whole year of notes because you’ve been taking the whole folder to school (take it from me, British weather is cruel).

Alternatively, apps such as Evernote or OneNote are fantastic if you have a laptop or tablet. I still use OneNote for Uni and it has been fantastic, I can’t recommend it enough. 

Tip #8 - Practice Reflection and Adaptation 

Similarly to when you decided your goals, remember to keep taking time to reflect throughout your A-level journey and ask yourself questions such as:

• Are my study methods working? 
• Is there anything I can do to improve my methods or understanding? 
• Am I making the most of my free periods or study time? 

Don’t be afraid to change your study methods if you feel something isn’t working. Consider mind maps, flash cards, practice questions, or detailed notes. I would recommend trying all of them and seeing which ones you find most effective. 

Remember: you don’t need to answer every essay question in full, a detailed plan can be just as effective to revise and it is far more time efficient.

Tip #9 - Seek Support 

Independent study doesn’t mean that there isn’t help if you need it. Please don’t be afraid to ask your teachers, family, friends, or consider online tutoring if you feel you need a bit of extra clarification or support. 

Many students find A-levels to be stressful but feel they need to keep their confusion and anxiety inside which can lead to feeling overwhelmed and falling behind.

Try to be as proactive as possible, and ask questions as early and as often as you can so you don’t have any gaps in your knowledge when it comes to revision. It doesn’t hurt to have a free introduction with an online tutor on sites like Sherpa.

Once you find someone you get on with, it’s really easy to chat with someone experienced and trustworthy in a pinch and get expert help when you're stuck.

Check out the links below to contact a qualified tutor with no obligation:

• GCSE English Tutor
• GCSE Maths Tutor
• GCSE Biology Tutor
• GCSE Physics Tutor
• GCSE Chemistry Tutor

Furthermore, support doesn’t just come from school, I know it's been a while since parents have been in this position but their knowledge of work-life balance, coping with stress, and balancing responsibilities will be invaluable and I really recommend telling a parent or family member about any concerns you have, and asking for help if you are struggling.

Tip #10 - Maintain a Healthy Balance

At the risk of stating the obvious (again), A-levels take dedication, but it is crucial to maintain a balance between your academic life and social and emotional well-being. Overloading yourself with study can lead to burnout, which is seriously counterproductive in the long run.

Here are some things to consider: 

• Take regular breaks - the Pomodoro technique (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break) can help you maintain focus, you can always adjust the times slightly depending on your needs.
• Exercise - this is a fantastic way to clear your head if you’ve been studying for a while or are feeling stressed. A quick walk around the block or further with your family or friends can make what starts as an unproductive day, a really productive one. Don’t underestimate the power of fresh air!
• Relax and recharge - make sure to schedule some time to relax in your week. Having rules such as ‘no studying past 9 pm’ and establishing a rest day where you do a reduced amount of academic work (i.e you only do essential catch-up for the next week), are really important to set you up for a strong week of studying. 

In Conclusion… 

Starting Year 12 is exciting but challenging at the same time. Embrace the freedom whilst taking ownership of the discipline required, and you will find yourself well-prepared for the demands of A-levels and later life.