When preparing for exam season, study goals are paramount towards success. Learn how to obtain and achieve better results in this article.

Study goals highlight the challenges and achievements that you should prepare for when beginning your revision. Whether aiming to ace exams within months or balancing studies with the high demands of life, establishing the right study goals is crucial. In this article, we’ll delve into effective tips for setting goals that not only improve academic performance but also fit seamlessly into your daily routine, ensuring a structured path to success in your educational journey.

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What Are SMART Study Goals

As you gear up for the exam period or begin your study revision, the significance of defining precise study goals cannot be overstated. SMART goals streamline your focus, minimising distractions and optimising productivity. Here’s how to set SMART study goals:

• Specific: Clarity is key. Detail what you aim to accomplish, such as completing specific modules, rather than a vague objective like “study more.” For instance, stating ‘Finish reading Chapter 3’ is more direct than ‘Do some reading.’
• Measurable: Establish criteria for tracking progress. If your study goal is ‘Complete 50 practice questions by Wednesday,’ you have a tangible measure to verify achievement.
• Achievable: Ensure your goals are feasible within your available time and resources. Setting an attainable target, like reviewing one topic per day, keeps you grounded and realistic.
• Relevant: Align your goals with broader academic objectives to maintain focus and relevance in your study endeavours. For example, concentrate on areas that will directly impact your upcoming exams.
• Time-bound: Assign deadlines to your goals to foster a sense of urgency and commitment. Deciding to complete a project two days before the due date provides a clear timeframe.

SMART Goal Examples

To help you understand further how SMART goals work, here are a couple of examples:

Example 1: Aim to adhere to your course’s study guide weekly

• Specific: Check your study guide every Tuesday to outline the week’s tasks.
• Measurable: Track the chapters or modules you need to review each week.
• Achievable: Ensure the weekly targets are manageable with your schedule.
• Relevant: Tailor your study plan to the syllabus’s requirements.
• Time-bound: Set a weekly checkpoint every Tuesday to assess progress.

Example 2: Set a goal to complete an essay draft before the weekend

• Specific: Outline and commence the essay early in the week.
• Measurable: Divide the essay into sections and aim to finish a part daily.
• Achievable: Allocate specific times each day for essay writing.
• Relevant: Direct your efforts towards fulfilling course assignments.
• Time-bound: Finish the draft by Friday for a weekend review.

Types of Study Goals

There are mainly two forms of study goals that you should be aware of:

Grade-Based Study Goals

Focus on elevating your academic achievements with grade-based study goals. These objectives are directly tied to the results you aspire to achieve, such as improving your GPA or scoring higher on exams. Setting these goals can dramatically enhance your academic portfolio and open doors to future opportunities.

Examples to consider include:

• Attaining a specific GPA, like a 4.0, to bolster your academic standing.
• Aiming for a minimum of 80% in coursework or essays to ensure high-quality submissions.
• Targeting an A grade in end-of-term exams to reflect mastery of the subject.

Habit-Based Study Goals

Transition to effective study habits by identifying and modifying your current practices. These goals are about forming consistent, productive behaviours that lead to long-term success and satisfaction in your educational journey.

Consider adopting goals like:

• Eliminating distractions, such as phone usage, during study sessions to improve focus.
• Beginning essay preparations two weeks in advance to manage time effectively.
• Committing to daily study periods, like 30 minutes each evening, to build a steady study rhythm.
• Reflect on past experiences to pinpoint areas for improvement, setting a mix of grade-based and habit-based goals to align with your broader educational aspirations.

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Strategies for Achieving Study Goals

Here are some useful strategies and tips that will enable you to realistically achieve your study goals when preparing for your exams.

Reflective Preparation

Begin your goal-setting process by reflecting on past achievements and setbacks. Analyse what worked, what didn’t, and how you can adapt these learnings to set more effective study goals. Understanding the ‘why’ behind your goals can provide a clear direction and purpose, motivating you to persevere through the challenges ahead.

Personalised Goals

Vague goals lead to uncertain outcomes. Sharpen your focus by detailing what you want to achieve, how you’ll measure success, and when you plan to accomplish it. This specificity makes your study goals tangible and trackable, paving the way for clear progress and achievements.

Motivational Tactics

Identify what drives you to reach these academic milestones. Whether it’s the desire for personal growth, academic recognition, or career advancement, pinpointing the reasons behind your study goals can sustain your motivation throughout your educational journey.

Develop An Action Plan

Outline the steps necessary to reach your study goals. For example, to improve your essay writing, you might schedule regular writing sessions, seek feedback from educators, and refine your research skills. Anticipate potential barriers and plan how to navigate them, ensuring a smoother path toward your goals.

Adapt and Adjust 

Be prepared to adjust your strategies if they aren’t yielding the desired results that you are expecting. Flexibility in your approach can make the difference between failure and success. Evaluate your progress regularly and be open to changing your revision tactics to stay aligned with your objectives.

Anticipate Obstacles

Achieving your study goals isn’t without its hurdles. Identifying potential obstacles beforehand allows you to create strategies to overcome them without derailing your progress. If your aim is to dedicate 30 minutes daily to studying, but post-work fatigue is a barrier, consider rescheduling your study time to mornings or lunch hours. This proactive approach keeps your study goal attainable and within reach.

For instance, if you plan to submit assignments a day early but upcoming vacations or work trips may interfere, strategise to complete tasks ahead of schedule. This foresight ensures you stay on track with your study goals, even amidst life’s unpredictabilities.

Your study environment can impact your learning: here is how to stay organised whilst studying.

Be More Flexible

There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to your study goals; in fact, they will often be non-linear. Being rigid in your methods can lead to frustration. Remember, the end goal is what matters, not necessarily the path you take to get there. If certain strategies aren’t showing results, don’t hesitate to pivot and explore new tactics that align better with your objectives.

Consider a scenario outside of academics: if your goal is weight loss and initial methods aren’t effective, it’s wise to adjust your approach, perhaps by integrating different exercises or dietary changes. Similarly, in your studies, if traditional revision techniques aren’t working, switch to alternative learning methods or adjust your study schedule.

Reward Your Achievements

Motivation plays a crucial role in achieving study goals. Setting rewards for meeting your goals can significantly advance your drive. Choose rewards that resonate with the effort and commitment required to reach your goals. For example, after attaining a high mark on an assignment, treat yourself to something meaningful, like a special outing or a desired item.

Further Reflection

Continuous reflection on your progress is essential. If certain aspects of your study plan aren’t working, take the time to reassess and modify your approach. Regularly ask yourself how you are progressing and what adjustments are needed to stay on course. This process not only helps in achieving your current study goals but also in setting and reaching future objectives more effectively.

Do you prefer studying at home? Learn how you can optimise your home for a better learning environment today.

Final Quick Tips

Whilst you should sometimes be strict and lenient towards how you revise in order to meet your study goals, there are still some alternative approaches to follow so that you can get more fulfilment from them.

Discover Your Passion

To transform your study sessions from mundane to engaging, align your study material with personal interests. Delve into topics that spark curiosity, making the learning process more enjoyable and less of a chore. Share your newfound knowledge with friends or family to deepen your understanding and ignite excitement in others about the subject matter.

Effective Note-Taking

Align your notes with the key learning outcomes for each unit to create a thorough resource that aids in exam preparation and assignment writing (e.g., mind maps, post-it notes). 

Work As A Team

Sometimes, working together as a group is better than a one-man team. Collaborative learning allows you to share insights, clarify doubts, and consolidate understanding. Engaging with peers in a study group can create a supportive network, making the educational experience more enriching.

Expand Your Knowledge

When researching for assignments, don’t confine yourself to a single source or viewpoint. Explore the bibliographies and references of your primary sources to uncover a wealth of knowledge. This expanded research approach can broaden your horizons through academic perspective and critical thinking skills.

Follow Our Guidance To Meet Your Study Goals

In conclusion, achieving your study goals requires a blend of strategic planning, dedication, and adaptability. By setting SMART goals, embracing both grade-based and habit-based objectives, and planning for potential obstacles, you can navigate your academic journey with confidence. Remember to find joy in learning, utilise your support network, and continually broaden your research horizons. With these tips and a committed approach, you can excel in your studies and realise your educational aspirations.

With so many topics to focus on, here is how to prioritise what to study during your academics.

FAQs

Sources

The Effortful Educator (2020) Prioritising What to Study. [online] Available at: https://theeffortfuleducator.com/2020/10/15/prioritizing-what-to-study/ [accessed 05/04/24]

Life is all about balance. We all juggle work commitments with family, shoe horning in social engagements and events when we can, along with a healthy dose of rest and relaxation.

With such a fine balance achieved on a day to day basis, it doesn’t take much to upset the apple cart. Adding another important commitment can seem like sheer madness.

And yet we do it! And we invariably reach our goal, in some shape or form, and usually with success, but it can be tough.

So how do you balance work, life, family and a part-time course? How do you thrive in this challenging atmosphere and avoid being swamped by deadlines, goals and pressure?

Is there a secret to success, or is it a ‘take it every day as it comes’ approach that works best, battling problems and issues as they arise?

Firefighting or Strategy – Which is Best?
Living a busy and fulfilling life is just as much about having a plan as it is about dealing with problems. If you are one step behind all the time you will constantly feel like you are catching up, leaving you exhausted.

The solution then becomes ’something has to give.’ This often means ditching something you enjoy. Taking on another big commitment, such as home study courses, almost seems like a step too far.

So, how do you strike a balance between current commitments and home study? Here’s what our students told us worked for them.

1. Have a plan… but be prepared to deviate

Home study courses will normally give you a rough guide to the number of hours expected to complete the course. Some qualifications will also go on to suggest a time frame, e.g. 360 hours over 12 months of study.

You can also set the time frame yourself. Hence, if you plan on completing the HLTA level 4 diploma, the expectation is that it will take you 240 hours. You will likely plan to complete the course within the 12-month time frame with tutor support. Divide 240 hours by 12 months and that gives you a monthly total of 20 hours, or roughly 5 hours of study a week.

Great! That’s doable, you think, and plough headlong into it. But then life happens.

Christmas creeps up, and then birthday events and holidays, alongside juggling childcare and extra commitments at work. Don’t forget, these 5 hours study a week are nominal – there may be some concepts of the home study course you fly through with ease, and others that take you a lot more time.

You need a plan. From what our students tell us, this is one of the best ways to get to grips with and commit to any home study course, no matter what level the qualification.

THE BALANCE – Be prepared to deviate. This means looking forward and understanding what commitments you have and when, and working around them. If you ‘give’ study hours to something, where can you recoup this time in future weeks?

2. Stay organised

Another tip that our students give us is to get organised and – more importantly – stay organised!

There are many ways of doing this, including:

• • Study calendars – Many of our students balance work, family and life with their home study courses. They tell us that having a study calendar for everyone in the family to see works well for them.There is no getting away from the fact that you will need to create dedicated study times for your course, and studying when it suits you is important. Some of our hardworking students are also parents, and they found that when they clearly posted their study times they could negotiate an hour or two of uninterrupted study time before they did something fun with their family.

 

• • Study planners/diaries – Take a look online or visit your local stationers and for a few pounds, you will find that you can acquire a student or academic year planner diary. These diaries are created with students specifically in mind (and tutors and teachers too!), as they can help to organise your time into pockets to get certain tasks completed.For example, although we don’t impose deadlines, in order for you to complete your courses in your desired timeframe, YOU have to create your own deadlines so that you can reach key milestones in your course. These student planners can be excellent in helping you organise your study time from one month to the next.

 

• • Online programs and apps – if you need some extra motivation, take a look online to see what digital platforms and apps can help you along. We are all so fond of our smart phones, so why not make better use of them?

 

THE BALANCE – Being organised means that you pay attention not just to your study but to other aspects of your life, too. Unfortunately, there will be times that your studies will take a back seat but equally, there will need to be times that you push your study obligations to the fore.

3. Time to Play

Unfortunately, our sights can be so firmly set on reaching our goals that our vision becomes clouded. It is also true to say that becoming too consumed by working and studying means that we lose focus of the bigger picture.

You may think that studying for hours on end is productive, but research shows that long periods of time knee-deep in books and study can lower our productivity levels. Not only that, it can also diminish the quality of our work.

So, what’s the answer?

Our students tell us that factoring in time to relax and ‘switch off’ is a great way to make sure that productivity levels stay high and that the quality of the work stays high, too.Our students came up with all kinds of ideas:

 

• Study holidays – These suggestions ranged from a weekend away from ‘the books’ to allowing yourself a whole week of ‘free’ evenings where you did anything but study. Watch some films, read a novel, enjoy an evening walk, do anything but hit the books. BUT, many students also mentioned that when they did this, they have a detailed study plan for the following week so that they can get back into the swing of things.

 

• Know when it isn’t working – You may have set aside key times in your week to complete assignments or read through course material, but there are just times when this doesn’t work. It may be because you are tired, or there is a change of plans. Rather than ‘ploughing on regardless’, many of our students suggested writing that session off, returning to your studies at your next ‘study time slot’ and continuing on from that point. They found the hard way that ‘ploughing on regardless’ meant poor work that needed to be rewritten, thus time was wasted.

 

• Exercise – it is amazing the number of our students who said that when things were not going to plan and stress started to creep in, they took part in some kind of physical activity. This could be anything from going for a run or a walk, or playing an impromptu game with the children, to vacuuming the whole house!

 

THE BALANCE – time to kick back and relax is not just about your studying endeavours but about work and across life in general. Having a short break from your work helps your mind to re-focus on what needs to be done to not only reach the next milestone but reach it in the best way possible.

4. Commit, but Be Kind to Yourself!

Finally, many of our students talked a lot about not just committing to home study courses, but also being kind to yourself.

On one hand, we realise that to get the promotion we have always wanted or to take our career paths to higher heights, you need to commit to getting the right qualifications. Students all over the world tell the same story. To get the job they want, they need the skills, and that means choosing and applying for a place on an accredited course.
It does take determination, commitment and a certain amount of tunnel vision to get the qualifications you want. It will mean switching off your favourite TV programme or swapping the latest bestseller for course materials. It will also mean sacrificing social time for an hour or two with your ‘head in the books’.

These challenges and opportunities are a part and parcel of reaching your goals, because just as your course will equip you with new skills, so will the process of studying.

But, there are times when we ‘weaken’. We do read the novel or watch the TV, and we don’t complete the work or tasks we set ourselves for that evening or that chunk of time.

This doesn’t mean you have to punish or berate yourself. If you had a vase of beautiful flowers and you noticed one wilting flower, you wouldn’t throw the whole bunch away, would you? You would remove that one flower and keep the rest to admire.

THE BALANCE – Your study is that vase of flowers. If you miss one session of your study calendar, don’t throw the rest of the week or your timetable away. Start your next session by picking up where you left off.
Enjoy your course and the opportunities it will bring during and after you successfully complete it!

Getting yourself organised before you start any home learning courses is an essential study skill. Being methodical in your study approach helps to keep procrastination at bay, but also helps to keep stress levels low and the end in sight.

So, what do you need to know to stay organised?

A Place to Study
Finding a suitable place to work and study is a challenge for most people. You may find you just can’t work with the background noise of the radio, catchy cartoon jingles, or your kids arguing with each other.

We can all become rigid in the ‘right’ places to study, probably as a result of many years of sitting at the same desk in the same classroom at the same school. However, in recent years, the art of studying has become more relaxed with a wider understanding that sometimes, being seated at a desk for hours on end is not the right place for some students.

You need to understand what works best for you. There may be a quiet space at work you enjoy in which could grab an hour or two every now and then. Public spaces such as libraries are also great for quiet study. Even snatching 20 minutes reading an article or surfing the web for research on your daily commute will help you fit in your studies.

IMPORTANT – maintain a flexibility to your approach to your place of study and recognise that no matter where you study, you are still working hard and gaining a valuable qualification.

3 Key Questions

• Where will your main place of study be?
• Do you have a choice in where you can study, or do personal circumstances dictate the ‘where’ of your study time?
• What kind of study place suits you best? For example, do you need a peaceful and quiet setting, free from distractions and interruptions, or can you work with family life happening around you?

The Study Environment – The Practicalities

The ‘where’ of studying has many practical and personal considerations, but it is important that you have space to spend time on your studies. At times in your course, you will need to submit assignments or coursework for marking. With a looming deadline, you will need to get your head down in order to complete the work.

But there are some practical considerations;

• Space – you need space to be able to spread out your work, textbooks and papers.
• Lighting – you want adequate lighting that doesn’t cause you to strain your eyes.
• Distractions – distractions are annoying, causing you to lose focus.
• Equipment – you may need access to the internet, or other materials to help you complete your work.

3 Key Questions

• How will you minimise distractions?
• Do you need to invest in certain kinds of equipment, such as a PC or laptop?
• Where will you keep your study materials so that they are accessible?

When to Study
Part of being organised is knowing when to take advantage of time, and that means working at a time that suits you, but that also allows you access to the place where you study best.

Some students draw up a timetable. This can be a monthly timetable or a schedule that lasts for the duration of a module or course unit.

It identifies the core times that you know you can work without distraction and that fits with work, life and family commitments.

By organising your time and schedule, you also organise your workload. This means you prevent the stockpiling of work before a key date or deadline, spreading your work and studies out across a wider timeframe.

When the volume of work becomes too much, it can seem like an unconquerable mountain. This leads to procrastination, and this can lead to you not completing your studies. By organising the place you study and organising your time, you can manage your studies more effectively.

3 Key Questions

• Looking at your week as a whole, how many study slots can you identify?
• Do you have a work, study and life balance in your study timetable?
• Have you left some study slots ‘free’ later in the week to accommodate any tasks that you have not completed earlier in the week?

Support Network

Studying is a challenge, but when you get your certificate through the post, earn the promotion or start the first day of your new job, the rewards are worth it.

With our range of home learning courses, all students get 12 months of expert tutor support. Our best tip is this: tap into this support and use the expert knowledge of your tutor to enhance not only your studies, but your organisation of your work.

It sounds an ideal solution – studying at home whilst still working, ferrying the kids to school and after school activities, cooking tea, the shopping… the list goes on.

The truth is, we are all busy people and it can seem like there is little or no capacity for extra commitments such as studying. But many people have begun successfully studying at home and you can too.

There does need to be a dose of realism however, and that means understanding that in order for your home learning to be a success, there needs to be a few changes.

Here are five tips that our students tell us work and have been contributing factors in successfully studying from home.

#1 Distractions

Top of the list are all the distractions that you face.

Think of a household chore you hate doing – unblocking the hair trap in the shower, vacuuming, cleaning the drains etc. – and now imagine you have a choice: write the tutor-mark assignment for the module you have just studied or unblock the drains. Which would you choose?

Surprisingly, you would rather do anything, like clean drains, than sit at your laptop or PC typing out your assignment!

Distractions are everywhere. Despite our best intentions, they can and do get the better of us. But what do our students suggest?

Overwhelmingly, the answer was to identify what potential distractions there are, that could prevent you from completing your home learning course.

They are different for everyone but a few of our students mentioned: switching off mobile phones and not checking emails when working online. They also talked about how limited time can be the driving force behind getting work completed.

#2 Time

It has a habit of slipping away with us or, when we are doing something we least enjoy – like sitting in an exam – the minute hand seems to tick very slowly.

But you can use it to your advantage when studying at home. There is one tool that may be of help to you: a stopwatch. Some people are happy to read, study, write and so on for hours on end but others find this unappealing. They use a stopwatch or timer.

Try this: set 20 minutes on a timer – use your phone or a kitchen timer – aim to get as much done in that time as you can. Take a break for five minutes once the time has elapsed and then start again for another 20 minutes.

Many people find this a great way of getting the most from their study time, as well as a fantastic study habit that helps them in the future.

#3 Support

Starting something new and as important as furthering your skill set and education requires support. And this can come from various sources;

• Family – work out a schedule or a timetable for when you study, uninterrupted and make a rule that unless it is a real emergency, you are left to work during this time.
• Friends – a great source of enthusiasm and support, friends can provide a load of support from kind, supportive words to ‘favours’, such as looking after the kids for an hour or so etc.
• Other students – although you may prefer to study and learn in the comfort of your own home, there is nothing like the support of other students when it comes to study and how difficult it can be sometimes.

#4 Space

For anyone considering home learning, this fourth tip also comes direct from our students. You must have space for your work too.

You may enjoy reading on the sofa, making notes on course materials and so on, but there does come a time when you need to have space to complete your work. This means sitting at the kitchen table, or investing a desk and a lamp for late night essays.

Your studies are important; give it the space that it deserves.

#5 Commitment and Determination

It takes time and determination, as well as establishing a routine to be able to commit to your course when studying at home.

This means ‘making’ time and space to work. It can also means forgoing some things, such as instead of the latest best seller, you read a text book or academic journals instead.

But the commitment, the dogged determination and the struggle – there will be moments of struggle, as well as great triumph – will result in success and an enormous feeling of achievement.