How to Study Smarter: A Simple 20-Minute Routine

Have you ever read a page of notes, felt that it made sense, and then struggled to answer a question without looking? A useful study session gives you a chance to find out what you can remember, what you can explain and where you need help.

This guide turns those ideas into a manageable routine for school students. Younger children can work alongside an adult; older students can use the same steps independently. Choose material that matches what you are learning at school.

1. Choose one clear goal

Before opening a book or a website, write down what you want to be able to do by the end of the session. Make the task small enough to attempt and check.

• Maths: “I will find three-quarters of a whole-number quantity and explain my steps.”
• English: “I will identify a character’s motivation and support my answer with a detail from the text.”
• Science: “I will describe the stages of the water cycle without looking at the diagram.”

Put the relevant materials within reach and turn off notifications you do not need. If the task feels too large, choose just one part to begin with.

2. Try to recall before you check

For something you have already learnt, close your notes and answer two or three questions. You might write a definition, sketch a labelled diagram or solve a familiar problem. Then check your answers and correct any errors.

This is called retrieval practice. AERO’s research guidance supports using recall and feedback to help students retain learning. Keep it low pressure: the purpose is to discover what needs attention. Read AERO’s spacing and retrieval guidance.

If the topic is new or you cannot get started, ask for an explanation or use a worked example first. You do not need to struggle through unfamiliar material alone.

3. Study one worked example, then try your own

A worked example shows the reasoning as well as the answer. Read each step and ask, “Why does this step make sense?” As you become more confident, cover the solution and complete more of the work yourself. This follows AERO’s guidance on moving from clear demonstrations towards independent problem-solving. Read AERO’s explicit instruction guide.

Worked maths example: find three-quarters of 20

1. Find one quarter: 20 ÷ 4 = 5. Dividing by four makes four equal groups.
2. Find three quarters: 5 × 3 = 15. We need three of those groups.
3. Check: the remaining quarter is 5, and 15 + 5 = 20.

Now try three-quarters of 28 without looking back. Explain why you divide by four before multiplying by three.

When you check, compare the steps as well as the final number. If you used a different valid method, explain why it works.

4. Turn a mistake into a useful next step

When an answer is incorrect, find the first step that needs attention. Use a short record with three parts: what happened, what to change, and what to try next.

For example, suppose you wrote that a 5 cm by 3 cm rectangle has an area of 16 cm²:

• What happened: I added 5 + 3 + 5 + 3, which measures the distance around the rectangle.
• What to change: area measures the surface covered. There are 5 × 3 = 15 unit squares, so the area is 15 cm². The perimeter is 16 cm.
• What to try next: draw a 4 cm by 3 cm rectangle and find both measurements.

For the new rectangle, the area is 12 cm² and the perimeter is 14 cm. Include the units and say what each measurement describes. If the distinction is still unclear, ask a teacher or adult to help you draw and count the squares.

5. Revisit learning on another day

Spread review across separate sessions. For a topic studied on Monday, you could try a few questions on Wednesday and return to it the following week. Attempt the questions before checking the notes.

These dates are an example, not a fixed formula. Adjust the gaps and support to suit the topic and learner. AERO’s spacing guidance supports revisiting learning over time rather than concentrating all review in one sitting.

6. Practise choosing a method

Once you can use two methods separately, try a small mix of questions. For example, alternate area and perimeter problems. Before calculating, say which measurement is needed and why. Keep the diagram and the question together.

The Institute of Education Sciences recommends combining worked examples with problem-solving and asking questions that prompt explanations. Read its guide to organising instruction and study. When a mixed question exposes a gap, return to a clear example of that skill.

A flexible 20-minute study routine

This is Pi Leo Academy’s suggested way to put the ideas into action. Twenty minutes is a starting point, not a scientifically established ideal. Shorten the session, take a break or add adult support when needed.

1. Minutes 0–2 — Choose: write one goal and gather the materials.
2. Minutes 2–5 — Recall: try two questions about something already learnt.
3. Minutes 5–10 — Learn: check your answers and talk through one worked example.
4. Minutes 10–16 — Apply: solve a few related questions and explain your reasoning.
5. Minutes 16–19 — Review: check the steps, correct a mistake and note what still needs help.
6. Minutes 19–20 — Plan: choose one question to revisit and write down a day to return.

For a new topic, replace the initial recall questions with a teacher’s explanation or a guided example. If you finish early, explain one answer in a second way; there is no need to fill every minute.

How parents can help

Sit beside your child for the first question and use prompts that leave the thinking with them:

• “What is the question asking you to find?”
• “Which part can you do already?”
• “Can you show that with a drawing or an example?”
• “Which step would you like us to look at together?”

Notice a specific action: “You checked the units and corrected your answer.” If the same difficulty keeps appearing, bring an example to the teacher and ask what to work on next. Leave room in the week for rest, play and other interests.

Try one small session today

Choose a topic from your schoolwork or the year-level learning map, then try a free maths sample. Finish by writing one sentence: “Next time, I will revisit…”

If your family would like more structured resources, explore Pi Leo Academy’s current plans and choose what suits your needs.