Lesson 9: Studying Together: Smart or Stupid?

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• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)
• BTEC, GCSE

Introduction

The exam period is an exciting yet often stressful time for students. They struggle with planning, concentration, exam anxiety, and balancing study with relaxation. The lesson series Exam Boost supports students in preparing for their exams in a structured and calm way. These lessons are light-hearted, interactive, and immediately applicable, helping students to study effectively without feeling overwhelmed. The focus is on practical strategies they can use right away, such as smart planning, managing stress, building healthy habits, and studying more efficiently. Each lesson includes: A short introduction presenting a relatable scenario. Interactive elements like polls, quiz questions, and practical tasks to actively engage students. Concrete tips and exercises to help students take immediate action. A closing reflection where students share what they’re taking away from the lesson and how they’ll apply it. The lessons can be delivered individually or as a complete series. The goal is not only to help students succeed, but also to teach them how to do so with a healthy mindset and without unnecessary stress.

Instructions

Short introduction for the teacher:

Studying together can be very useful, but it can also cause a lot of distraction. In this lesson, students learn how to study effectively in a group without wasting time.

Studying Together: 

Smart or Stupid?

Lesson: 9

Have you ever studied with someone else?

A

Yes

B

No

Quiz

Explain why smaller goals help to stay motivated.

1

We get distracted too easily.

2

One person does all the work, while the others do nothing.

3

It goes much slower than studying alone.

4

It actually works well for me!

5

Other...

What is the biggest problem with studying together?

Poll

Bespreek hoe samenwerking nuttig kan zijn als je duidelijke afspraken maakt.

What is the best way to learn in a group?

A

Everyone just does their own thing.

B

Divide clear tasks and test each other.

C

Only listen to the person who is best at the subject.

D

Reading together without taking further action.

Quiz

Question: Explain why structure and task distribution are essential for effective teamwork.

Planning an effective study group

1

Prepare a short section and present it to the group.

2

Test each other with questions.

3

Form groups and divide a topic into subtopics.

Plan an Effective Group Study Session

Form groups and divide a topic into subtopics.

Prepare a short section and present it to the group.

Test each other with questions.

Step: 1

Step: 2

Step: 3

Practical assignment

Have students experiment with a new study method and reflect on the result.

Students form groups and divide a topic into subtopics.

Each student briefly prepares a section and presents it to the group. The group tests each other with questions.

Encourage students to try this and see if learning together works for them.

They apply this active method and compare it to how they normally study.

Learning together = smart approach

🤝

Make clear agreements about focus and distractions.

✅

Divide tasks and teach each other something new.

👨‍🔬

Use group sessions to test each other.

💪

My most important tip is…

Closure

Have students reflect: Does learning together help them or not?

#check

Learning together = 

a smart approach

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