Whilst the October half term break may not seem that long ago, chances are the upcoming Christmas holiday is going to feel very welcome by the time it arrives. This time of year really can feel exhausting and the chance to have a few weeks off isn’t something to be sniffed at.
For many students, they tend to start the Christmas holidays with the very best of intentions; however, the desire to study and get ahead often falls by the wayside, and they start the New Year no further on than when they left the old one. If you want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you, then we’ve pulled together our top tips on how to get ahead of your studies before the Christmas break as well as how to maximise on the break itself.
These last few weeks before the Christmas break officially starts is a fantastic opportunity to get organised. Take the time to make sure all of your notes are up to date and you have all the relevant handouts from your classes. If you’ve missed any lessons, or worry you may have misplaced a particular worksheet, now is the perfect time to speak to your tutor and ask for duplicates. It may seem like quite a tedious thing to do, but you’ll be thankful of it when you get your head down for a study session over Christmas and are confident you have all the information you need.
To really maximise your studying potential, you need to have a strong understanding of where you currently are with your studying. Are you excelling in maths, or do you need some additional time on certain topics? Which areas could you do with some concentrated effort?
Take the time to really think about how much time you’ve already spent studying and whether you’re making much progress. It may be the case that you’re putting a lot of time into studying and are trying really hard, but never seem to be getting anywhere in terms of the marks you’re achieving. If this is the case, then it may be a sign you need some additional support, perhaps in the
form of a tutor. Maybe a GCSE tutor, such as a maths tutor or a science tutor or subject specific A Level tutors, like a physics tutor or a physics and maths tutor if you are studying A Level maths as well as Physics.
It can also be worth speaking to your class teachers to ask them what’s coming up in the New Year in terms of new content. Asking them if they can make any recommendations on areas you may need to focus on can also be a huge benefit to allow you to focus your studies in the areas you need to.
If you really want to get ahead with your studying, whether that’s before the Christmas break or
during the festive period itself, then it’s important you set a timetable. Creating one is often the
easy part – what actually takes some skill is designing one you can actually stick to. It’s all very well saying you’ll study for 7 hours per day – but are you going to do that when there are family dropping in or shopping trips that need to made?
It is far better to simply commit to doing one or two hours per day, at a time that’s realistic (perhaps 10am until 12pm) and sticking to that every day than feeling like you’ve fallen at the first hurdle. Working with online tutors, for instance, an online science tutor, online biology tutor or further maths tutor may provide you with just the level of focus you need when it comes to your study timetable.
The benefit of working with an online tutor is the fact you do not have to go anywhere – you can study from the comfort of your bedroom, dining table or front room (assuming you have the space to avoid distractions from other family members, of course). This means there are far fewer demands on your time, so scheduling a one-hour online tutoring additional session with your biology tutor, science tutor or maths tutor for instance, feels less demanding and invasive than having to travel to the other side of town, during Christmas shopping traffic, whilst lugging all your text books around. This means there’s far more chance of you actually scheduling the time, and ensuring you put the work in that’s required – rather than resenting it and wanting to give up.
Even the most dedicated of students need to take time off occasionally. Whether you celebrate a traditional Christmas with all the trimmings, or you have a far quieter affair with close family, the Christmas break is a great opportunity to unwind.
Whilst studying is important, and shouldn’t be completely forgotten about over those few weeks, it’s also key to ensure you are having a rest and making the most of some down time. Working flat out all the time is exhausting and will actually hamper your ability to study new information and retain old pieces of content.
Whatever subject you’re looking for help with, here at Tutorspot we have everything you could possibly need for online tutoring, from online physics tutors, online maths tutors and chemistry tutors to English tutors and more. Hiring a tutor couldn’t be easier, all you need to do is use our handy search tool to find the right tutor for you – remember, with an online tutor location is irrelevant – it’s all about finding the person with the right skill set and experience for your needs.
This means that your learning journey can be tailored specifically to you – whether you’re studying for mock exams or thinking ahead to GCSE or A Level study. Even if you’re just in the place where you want to get organised, and hope to start using a personal online tutor in the New Year, now is the time to start having those discussions and finding the right tutor for you. This way, you can start the New Year with a renewed energy, having enjoyed some of the break over the Christmas period.
Find the right tutor for you with Tutorspot. You can find a tutor by emailing us at info@tutorspot.co.uk or giving us a call or text on 07480637128.
