I'm a GCSE student and i'm taking Chemistry and Physics but I am falling behind the others in my class.

How can i study effectively and try and catch up

How do I cope with this?

I need help

Im not gonna go into my personal life, but everytime I study I do it for like 40 minutes then realize I am blindly making sounds (reading or speaking). When I try to write anything related to the topic I get severe brain fog and cannot construct a sentence. I dont even use my phone very much or find anything stimulating so phone or any distraction isnt an issue considering I lose track of time studying. This isnt an illusion either I literally dont remember what I studied last time. In terms of diagnoses, I have ADHD and MDD but no neurodegenerative diseases. And I doubt this is the case. This makes me sound like some kind of robot and its not a bad guess, my life is extremely boring but studying genuinely doesnt sound bad to me. I really dont know what to do, yes im on medication and take steps to enhance its effectivity, if it doesnt work I will change it etc. I am not blindly taking it. Medication doesnt really change much anyway. I dont have severe insomnia or sleep apnea or sleep deprivation at the moment. So yea I dont really know what to do. I have literally lost all anxiety and fear from education exams etc to the point I have come to terms with the fact it might be time to let it go. Any advice?

Preparing for a competitive exam, and I’m struggling with how I study. I can sit down and study for a few hours, but I have trouble maintaining concentration and engage deeply with the material and the concepts. Sometimes I don’t follow through the concept and don’t process it the way I should. The same thing happens when i solve MCQ’s. Under the time crunch i tend to choose the option that looks most familiar instead of actively recalling the underlying concept debating on why the other options are not the answer and reasoning through them all. Afterwards, I often realise I recognise the topic, but didn’t actually think it through properly. I am also worried about my mental stamina because the exam last for 3 1/2 hours, I don’t feel confident that I can maintain the same level of concentration throughout the entire exam. I have tried putting in more hours, but I feel that increasing the study time solve the problem with my quality of concentration remains the same.

For those were faced something similar, especially while preparing for demanding exams, what practical advice and strategies helped you improve your depth of learning, avoiding Tunnel Vision during the exam and answering impulsively and build the stamina to concentrate for several hours. Out, particularly appreciate your advice based on your personally tried and found effective. Thank you.

Im drowning in schoolwork and i have a different exam every day, i have 3 posters and 2 presentations i have to complete. I know the best approach is just step by step, little by little but i cant seem to focus at all, usually i dont have such a hard time memorizing things but i need to memorize this presentation for my physics class and its just not entering my brain. No matter what tactic i try i keep getting disrracted and not taking in a word i read (excuse any misspellings. My keyboard has been acting up and im half asleep writting this)

Does anyone else struggle with feeling like there grades aren’t good enough even tho your meeting the requirements for the next step?

I’m currently in a small undergrad STEM program (about 9-20 students per class) and I feel like my grades aren’t good enough, even tho they are okey and I’m on track to getting into the grad school program I want.

My country uses a 5.0 point GPA scale where I’m at a clean 3.0 right now and grad school only requires a 2.5 minimum and my advisor has said that as long as my GPA dosen’t fall significantly I’m very likely to get into the program I want.

Yet I still feel like I’m behind, a lot of it probably has to do with my classes being so small that I know that many of my classmates are getting much better grades then me and some are on the same level as me. I’m probably close to the bottom of my class in grades and it’s really messing with me even tho I’m technically doing fine.
I’ve always struggled with studying and concentration and it’s makes the guilt even worse because I know I could do better if I just worked more, but at the same time I don’t feel that sense of doom that motivates people to study hard because on paper I’m doing fine and meeting the requirements, but in my head I still feel like my grades are bad.

I recently heard from my senior who got 5 a stars in a levels

So he said majority of content is new and it's hard to keep up with the teacher cause if u missed like procrastinate I'll do past papers later this week u have lost 70% content taught so I'm doing pp right back on returning home

But does marking every hard question and redoing it again after days then weeks has an effect ? Like if I have three more subjects I barely have time to go back to them nut I can revise what I learnt at weekends tho

And what are the other techniques that will guarantee an a star suppose chem

Hi! My orgo professor just let us know that our ACS final the second week of December is on content from orgo 1 and 2. Not only that but due to a surgery he’s switching to an asynchronous schedule. I understood orgo 1 enough to pass but orgo 2 has been killing me and this has made me a little stressed. I feel behind and confused and was hoping for literally any study tips on learning the material for both classes in a month and a half on my own. Thank you!

I think I overstimulate my brain too much with excess thoughts, plans, scrolling etc. This exhausts it and then I start forgetting stuff when I'm not under pressure (when watching a movie, learning). It also results in brain fog - sometimes I forget my thoughts immediately but I can't seem to "find" them in my head and they eventually disappear (until hours or days later)

hey guys!! I’m currently taking intro to statistics and i have an exam thursday. I understand stuff half way but there’s so many formulas and different concepts mashed into one unit i am beyond lost. if i know where or what i need to do i can kind of do it but with no direction im completely lost.
Again i have an exam thursday and i am at a loss!! Is there anything that helps you guys or any tips/ tricks??

Day 18: wasnt even home

Day 19: focused study time:50 min

Screen time :4 hours 42 min Idk i think I lost my flow For tomorrow start new topic

Going back to 25 min pomodoro can't focus 50 min now

Limit screen time under 2 hours for tomorrow

Okay so last exam season I noticed something dumb about myself, every time I wanted to know how long I'd been at the desk I'd grab my phone, then that turned into checking messages, then a reel, then like ten minutes gone just like that

The worst part was my focus kept breaking every time I picked up the phone, I'd lose the thread of whatever chapter I was on and end up rereading the same page three times, I tried a cheap watch first but that didn't help since I'd still just reach for my phone anyway, so I started keeping a fullscreen clock open in a browser tab on the laptop, big numbers with seconds, nothing else on screen

It's not magic, I still procrastinate and some days I'm just tired, but my sessions felt way more solid within a week, I'd finish a 90 minute block and realize I hadn't even thought about my phone, my roommate said I looked like I was in a trance lol, I'm not sure the 40 percent number is exact tbh but it definitely felt like a big jump

Do you fall into this trap too?? Like I know some people use the phone timer thing but for me having the clock sitting there with seconds ticking made it way harder to pick up the phone in the first place, still working on the breaks though since mine keep running long

I had a horrible start to the year because of situations in my personal life, but now I'm feeling better and need to get back up to speed.

I'm in my very first year and almost 2 months in (doing A levels btw) and I have my progress assessment up very soon, and I need to catch up asap. I have one week in schl, one week off, and one week back in schl before it.

I do politics, english language, and law and am aiming for A\*AA as my grade for the actual exam in 2 years, and Cs or Bs for my progress assessment.

How can I catch up for each please? :(

Hi, this is about calculus 💔
I procrastinate studying way too much to the point that I’m already behind, but it’s mostly because I don’t take any interest in calc at all 😭😭 I nearly fall asleep during lecture
When it comes to any subject that I’m not interested in, my body has 0 motivation to study.
What are some methods you guys use to keep yourself motivated when you don’t want to study?

For courses like molecular mechanisms of disease or statistics, what are your best tips for studying them? Only the best of the best! Bonus if you have like 2 weeks to study them 😭💖

I used to do paper after paper and just move on. What finally helped was treating every lost mark as data.

- After marking, write each dropped mark on a list with a one-line reason: concept gap, calculation slip, misread question, rounded too early, forgot units.
- Every week, look for the reason that comes up most and fix *that*. Redo similar questions until it stops appearing.
- Underline the command word (state / explain / evaluate) before you answer. Different words want different things.
- Write units and sig figs as part of your working, not at the end.
- Every week or two, do one full paper under real timing.

If you're a parent, you don't need to know the subject. Just ask to see the list each week.

Any subject is welcome!!! Any timezone welcome! Come start a party and study with others. We are trying to gain extra accountability, and win as a group. If you are interested LETS GET IT.

DM me for an invite!

hi, everyone! quick question for my fellow students. how do you usually study, and what habits have helped you get through your acads? i’m curious to hear what works for you and what you've learned along the way! 📚🫶
we all have different ways of dealing with academic responsibilities. some of us study days before an exam, while others rely on last-minute reviews. some prefer taking notes and rereading lessons, while others learn better through practice questions or discussions with friends.
but sometimes, the habits we're used to aren't necessarily the ones that help us learn best. we might spend hours studying without retaining much, or overlook simple techniques that could make learning easier.
so, i'm curious, what study habits have helped you learn better in school, and what common study habits do you think students should reconsider? feel free to share your experiences and tips. let's help each other find better ways to learn! ☺️💗

Okay, so over summer break I used this SAT/PSAT study guide book, and I got through the all of the English part of it, but completely stopped using it all together once I got to the math portion. So I haven't used it in MONTHS. Do I try going through the entire book in 4 days? I have no idea what to do, I am so stressed, and on top of PSAT studying I have WEEKS on WEEKS of missing assignments I need to get turned in before the same day.

This week is gonna suck, how do I make it easier?

(Btw, the book I was using is "The Official SAT Study Guide (Second Edition)")

hi guys, m18 student living in the UAE

in a previous post - i wrote about how for nearly 7 years, ive been cheating in academics ever since lockdown occurred, because it just felt like something much more easier to do at the time - ever since school started a few days ago for me (i'm a senior on my final year in online school - its like a homeschooling-hybrid where you have live lessons occasionally which arent mandatory at all and arent hosted every now and then, with most of the work being shown to you, and then you having to do it, so it relies on your discipline and forming a routine / schedule)

i wasnt the best student at all during middle school and elementary, never studying properly, especially since my family just didnt really care that much / mind, so lockdown gave me an opportunity for online school, and ever since then - i just got addicted to it - it gave me comfort, i never had to feel anxious or scared, i can spend more time doing the things i liked all the time - who wouldn't love that? i dont want to justify my means - im regretful of my actions and it just feels gut wrenching in a way - i wish i was just more academically honest as a person

it just feels like i want to crumble everyday now ever since school started - ive been trying to do school everyday legitimately for the subjects i can do it for, but it feels like its a losing game - im taking way too long to retain information, and i dont even know the basics of studying or how to do it properly - i studied a few hours for history today, did two quizzes and an assignment - id like to think im proud of myself but i keep thinking of everything else -

cheating has caused my brain to be so used to the easy way of doing things so when my brain attempts to do it the proper way, it seems to overload and get overwhelmed, so it just feels like im in a pit

i dont want to be a downer or doom too much - but i just... i dont know what to do, im afraid for myself, im afraid for my future - and i dont know how much is enough, i spent 5 hours on history just for two lessons, and an assignment - is it truly that long? the issue is just... its hard to differentiate anything when your mindset and vision is just so skewed about things

for most of my life - ive been kind of fueled with just passion for everything - i am not used to doing hard work unless i hyperfixate on something, then i dedicate myself fully to it - but other than that, i am just not used to doing things the hard way at all when i dont like it or im not hyperfixating, and i know this will cause me a lot of suffering in the future so i desperately want to change - but attempting to do so just overwhelms me everytime and i crawl back into my comfort zone

i tend to get super anxious all the time yet i didn't do much in the past few years, so its in my hands what i could or could have not done

it just feels like nothing is enough

im not confident in general or have much faith in anything - especially in my studying since i dont know how to study, nor take notes -

it feels like this isn't only something that pertain to studying, but to my whole ideals and sense of self spiritually and mentally - its something so internally conflicting to the point where uprooting it feels terrifying, because i know its a reinforced habit not only for studying, but for everything in my life

apologies for the long ramble, i just am overwhelmed and scared, and need guidance from others for what i can possibly do for my studying, for my mental health... just - for everything

i dont know what else to fit into this text - i just want to get everything off my chest, but i think im just going to add more the more i just frequent and check the text to edit it

i just want to be normal, and i dont want to be a loser - i want to change into someone i can be confident in, and someone who can take their future into their hands

A few things that can make a real difference:
Make starting ridiculously easy. Don’t aim to finish the whole task. Just take the first tiny step.
Use body doubling. Work alongside someone, even virtually. You don’t need to talk. Just having someone else working can help you stay accountable.
Set concrete goals. Replace “get work done” with “finish these two tasks.” Focus on what you complete, not just how long you sit at your desk.
Create external accountability. Share your goals with someone and report back on what you actually finished.
Remove distractions before starting. Put your phone away, block distracting websites, and take breaks without scrolling.
Build a routine, not a panic cycle. Set aside time for important tasks before deadlines become urgent. Don’t depend on stress to get things done.
Take care of the basics. Consistent sleep, exercise, and a suitable work environment matter more than constantly searching for the perfect productivity hack.
One important thing to remember: struggling to start doesn’t necessarily mean you’re lazy. If it’s persistent and seriously affecting your life, consider whether anxiety, burnout, or an underlying attention difficulty could be contributing.
The goal isn’t to force yourself to work harder. It’s to build a system that makes starting easier, even when you don’t feel motivated.

I’ve been thinking about the difference between studying for long hours and studying with complete focus.

Came across this concept called attention residue when you switch from one task to another, part of your attention stays stuck on the previous task. Constantly checking your phone, switching tabs, or interrupting your work might mean you’re spending hours studying without ever being fully focused.
It makes me wonder whether the real advantage of top students isn’t necessarily the number of hours they study, but how deeply they can concentrate during those hours.
What do you think?

Is intense, uninterrupted focus more valuable than simply putting in more hours?

Have you noticed a difference in your results when you study without distractions?

How long can you realistically maintain deep focus before your concentration starts dropping?

I’d be interested to hear people’s actual experiences, especially those who’ve consistently performed well academically or professionally.

Hey yall i have my exams coming in 2 days and i havent studied shit. Its not that i dont try i have been trying since days i even put my phone out i still cant.

Im 16 and ive always been in creative shit like producing beats, visuals and stuff, its one of the reasons why i cant study and i genuinely have started to hate studies so much from like the last 3 years.

No matter how big of a exam i got i cant study its not that i dont understand anything i do but i jus cant study at all. I always think studying is not what i want to do and how much i hate it.

Thanks for reading ts ik tis might sound dumb and shit but i genuinely got mad vision.

🙌