As athletes train relentlessly before a championship game, students must also equip themselves with effective study strategies to achieve academic success. Inspired by sports-related exhibition, Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation, we’ve compiled a list of study tips with a sporting twist to help you in the educational arena. Now let’s kick some goals!

Before doing physical exercise, you should warm up your body and the mind is no different. Start your study session by warming up your mind. An effective warm-up can be a review of your earlier study material to refresh your understanding. This warm-up routine primes your brain, activating prior knowledge and setting the stage for effective learning.

Over time we forget the things we learn. The most effective way to remember new knowledge and tackle the notorious forgetting curve is to practice active recall.

Try quizzing yourself. Transform your notes into questions that cover the key concepts, definitions, and vital facts. Then, practice answering them without referring to your materials. This process actively challenges your memory and helps you retrieve information from your mind. Flashcards can be a useful tool for this.

By studying a topic over the course of multiple study sessions (a technique called space repetition), we can also interrupt the forgetting curve and build up muscle memory for the topic.

Just as historians analyse primary documents to uncover truths, students should dive into primary sources for a deeper understanding of their subjects. Seek out original texts, primary research articles, and firsthand accounts. By immersing yourself in primary sources, you gain a richer and more nuanced perspective, enabling you to connect the dots and make meaningful connections.

We offer a wealth of educational resources to enrich your study experience. From home or from the National Library building, explore:

• digital collections through our Catalogue and Trove
• online scholarly articles and resources through eResources
• Digital Classroom learning modules

Join your National Library and learn how to get started.

Explaining concepts to others is an excellent way to test your understanding and engage in active recall. Try teaching the topic to a friend, study buddy or family member. By verbalising the information and conveying it in your own words, you reinforce your memory and solidify your grasp of the subject matter.

Working alongside a study buddy or team can also be a terrific way to keep you motivated, exchange ideas and foster a supportive learning community. Our bookable meeting rooms or our affectionately dubbed “Study Hall” on LG1 are great places to go for a team training session.

To track your progress and reinforce your learning, keep a record of your study journey. Take comprehensive notes, summarize key concepts, and create study guides that consolidate your knowledge. Organize your materials using effective note-taking strategies, ensuring that you have a valuable resource to refer back to when needed.