1. Believe that you will succeed
Use positive words and choose positive thoughts. Imagining your success in detail immediately increases your energy levels and performance. So does a positive change in the way you think of or talk about yourself.

2. Build on your own best study strategies
Take stock of your studying habits. What is your best time of day for working? Where do you work best? How long can you work for before losing concentration? What study strategies have brought you success in the past? Keep what works, lose the rest and develop your own personalised game plan. Be open to adding new strategies for studying that help you to store and retrieve information more efficiently.

3. Set goals
The human brain always wants to complete things. When we set a goal we create a task for our brain to complete as well giving ourselves a reason to work. Set clear and specific goals for your life, for this year, for each exam that lies ahead and for each study time. Work to achieve your goals and celebrate each success.

4. Plan for success
Draw up a plan that helps you to manage your time effectively. A realistic study schedule gives you time to fulfil your commitments, get through your work and still have time to relax with your friends.

5. Be calm, alert and actively involved
We all learn best when we are relaxed but alert and interested. We also need to be actively engaged with what we are learning. When you start a study session, make a quick mind map showing everything you already know about the topic. This will focus your mind on relevant information. Decide what questions you want answered as you work and focus on finding answers.

6. Read with a purpose
First get an overview of the material you will study. Scan the text for headings, summaries, conclusions, diagrams, graphs – anything that stands out from regular body text. Pay particular attention to beginnings and endings of paragraphs and sections. You don’t need to read every word – scan for the important information.

7. Make notes that work for you
When you make notes, focus your attention on what’s important. Visual tools like mind maps help you to activate memory and integrate information, making revision easier. Mind maps are particularly effective because they integrate left and right brain functions. They do this best when they are colourful, funky and fun. Invest some time in learning and practicing the skill of mind map making.

8. Maximise memory
Structure your study time to support your memory. We remember best what we learn first and last. Work in twenty to fifty minute bursts with short breaks in between to get more firsts and lasts. Imagination, association and repetition all help the process of remembering. At the beginning of each study time, review what you have just learnt and preview what you are about to learn. And don’t just memorise – practice recalling what you have learntby working through exercises and past papers.

9. Regular reviews
Reviewing is essential or you will lose 80% of what you have learnt within one day! Your first review needs to happen within half an hour, then review again a day later, a week later, a month later and three months later. By then the material will be stored in your long-term memory.

10. Take care of your brain
Only healthy brains give star performances. Drink loads of water, eat good food, exercise, avoid sugar and caffeine, and get enough sleep!