As students have settled in after a fresh start, qualified teachers for tuition Teachers To Your Home have explored six common mistakes that children make when preparing for school and exams which can lead to lower results.

Many different factors can affect how well, or badly, you do in your exams. It can even be the contributors you think are helping you prepare that are hindering you from achieving those top-mark results.

Many of us overlook eating in the morning, but there is a reason that breakfast has been hailed as the most important meal of the day. We wake up with lower blood sugar levels, and breakfast helps us balance these out by providing us with glucose. This is a primary source of energy for our bodies, and without it, we can experience fatigue and brain fog.

Fortunately, there are numerous brain foods that will help provide a great start to the day. Blueberries contain antioxidants, some of which can improve communication between brain cells and aid memory, and they are easy to sprinkle over your cereal for a quick boost in the morning.

Another great food for mental power is eggs; they contain B vitamins that support brain health and choline, which helps us regulate mood and memory.

Additionally, salmon can be completely overlooked as a breakfast food but is an excellent choice to go alongside a bagel. It is packed with omega-3 fatty acids which are critical for brain development.

Cramming for an exam, the night before or morning of, is usually due to a lack of revision. Many students will procrastinate when it comes to studying as the process is overwhelming or not enjoyable. However, as well as this, some students mistake being familiar with their notes as having a good understanding of them. Recognising the information can trick you into thinking you have studied the material enough but can also make recalling the information a lot more difficult.

Many different study techniques can be utilised to help you study for your exams. One example is flashcards, as they are convenient and remove unnecessary information from note-taking. When making these, make sure to refer to your exam specification to ensure the flashcards are relevant to you.

Mind maps are an especially good technique for visual learners, although they cater to different thinking styles too. By making sure they have lots of colour and unique shapes, your brain will associate it with something enjoyable, which means you will remember more of the information.

Another highly recommended tip is to have someone else to test you on the knowledge. This is great for motivating you to revise, and seeing a familiar face helps associate revising with fun times.

It is no secret that technology can be distracting. It is easy to believe that we can ignore all the apps and social media, but just one notification can lead to a loss of focus. Shutting off your phone or emails for a while can help you focus on revision, but it is very difficult to do so if you need to type up your notes on a device that is connected to the internet. However, you can handwrite anywhere that you have a pen and paper, meaning you do not need a good internet connection or charging source.

Research has also shown that writing notes by hand helps with memory and recall. Certain topics, such as formulas, are easier to note down by hand than finding the correct icons on a keyboard. The process of writing by hand consolidates learning and sends cues to our brain to retain the information.

Typing notes is faster but can also make it much harder to go back and study our notes; this is because we tend to write the information in more detail instead of just the key points we will need when revising. Writing notes by hand also engages the motor cortex in the brain, which helps with muscle memory, meaning we are more likely to remember the information.

Asking for help can be extremely difficult or completely off-limits for some people and may be due to one or a combination of different factors. In some cases, seeking help is seen as a sign of weakness, which creates a fear of judgement and makes students feel less intelligent for needing help. Another factor is that some students may not know how to access resources or who to ask for assistance as their institution does not widely advertise them.

For some people, these issues can be resolved, and help can be accepted, but for others a different approach may be necessary. Instead of asking for help, group work can be encouraged. Different people bring different perspectives, which can really help with clarifying topics and bouncing ideas around to gain knowledge. Being part of a study group can also help combat procrastination – it can be easier to take advice from peers instead of those with authority and can mimic good time management skills.

Studying without breaks can lead to burnout. This is physical or mental collapse caused by overworking or stress, which can lead to a decrease in confidence. A common misconception is that the longer you can study, then the more you will remember. However, without taking breaks in between, it can lead to decreased productivity and a reduction in memory.

It is useful to be able to recognise the signs of stress, such as an upset stomach or headaches, so that you can practise stress-relieving activities quickly. The Pomodoro Technique is extremely effective at reducing the chances of burnout, stating that you should study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. To do this successfully, you should minimise distractions, such as phones, and set a timer to make sure you stop when necessary.

A bad sleep schedule can consist of many aspects, like fragmented sleep or pulling all-nighters to complete assignments and revision. Whilst it may not seem to affect you at the time, lack of sleep can have significant negative effects on studying and revision. It can also have long term effects, such as mental decline and trouble with everyday tasks.

Having a regular schedule and sleep routine is very important and can be achieved in multiple ways. Minimising the use of electronics around the time you go to bed, especially up to an hour before, has been linked to falling asleep quicker. Also, avoiding alcohol and caffeine helps us drift off faster. Napping in the daytime can be great for a quick energy boost but may hinder us at nighttime, so it is best to avoid these as much as possible too.

CEO of Teachers To Your Home Gillian Dixon commented:

"September was a fresh start for students after some time to reset before the new school year. However, without preparation on how best to balance their workload and make time for their own interests, they may not see the results they hope for next summer.

“Now is the time to consider the long-term plan, get into a routine and stop any bad habits that may have been picked up through time off to ensure success with future exams."