Sixth form essentials - practical items for effective study

This is just a snippet from The Parents' Guide to Homelife and Study. If you’d like the full version, with clear, up-to-date advice, practical tips and actions you can take at home, click below.

Read the full guide: The Parents' Guide to Homelife and Study - sixth form

Sixth form is a big step in a teenager’s development, bridging the transition from child to adult as your teen works towards qualifications that will affect what they do in future. Schools and colleges actively encourage independent study to help prepare students for further education or the workplace, where they'll be expected to take a more proactive approach to finding out information for themselves, instead of relying on being told what to do.

Effective study and revision also includes developing essential life skills, such as good time management, the ability to deal with situations when things go wrong, and finding the right balance between work and play. So sixth form isn't only about getting qualifications; it's about developing personal qualities that will serve them well in the years ahead, whatever path they choose after Year 13.

Help them get off on the right foot by making sure they have all the practical items essential to effective sixth form study, so they can focus on ways of working rather than whether they have the tools to do well.

Laptop or tablet? At least one is essential

Make sure their laptop is appropriate for sixth form study. It doesn't need to be brand new, but it needs to be lightweight enough to carry around, fast enough that they're not constantly left hanging, have enough memory to work on large files (even if they're storing them in the cloud), and have a decent screen size that won't cause eye strain.

Very important, and too often overlooked, they'll need a laptop stand so they're looking at the screen at eye level and not hunching over it. They can get a permanent stand for home and a portable one to carry to school.

Alternatively, they might prefer a tablet. These are lighter and easier to carry around, and just as functional when linked to a wireless keyboard, but the smaller screen can be a disadvantage for subjects that require a lot of time online.

Having both is a luxury rather than a necessity, though it could be useful if cost isn't an issue.

Textbooks

Has your teen found out what textbooks they need for the year ahead? In many cases the school will provide copies, often online. If not, or if your teen prefers a hard copy, they can buy their own, new or second-hand. Make sure they've got the right edition: get both the title and ISBN from the course teacher to avoid mistakes.

It's sometimes easier to understand and learn new subjects by getting the same information in different ways, so your teen might also find the corresponding CGP books for their subjects helpful. These cover the key information (usually with a touch of humour) alongside revision guides, exam practice workbooks and quick tests.

Filing: being effective means being organised

They may be tackling fewer subjects, but they'll be going into much more depth, so there's a lot of information to keep track of, both online and in hard copy.

Make sure they start with a large A4 lever arch file for each subject, so they can store notes and handouts together in one place. This helps them keep track of what they're doing in each subject and makes it much easier to find what they need when it comes to revision.

Over time, they're likely to need more than one file per subject. Organisation is key to feeling in control, so they could opt for different colour files for each subject, so they can spot at a distance which file relates to which subject. Otherwise, each file should be clearly labelled. Within each file they'll need plenty of dividers to separate work into categories, ideally aligned with the syllabus, so they can tick off what's covered. These files are best stored at home (they'd be heavy to carry around), which means they'll also need a smaller folder to carry day to day, let's call it a day file.

A day file wouldn't be as large as a lever arch, but big enough to carry what they're currently working on, and still A4 size. This time they'll need dividers to separate each subject. It's even better if there's a slip folder in the back to store papers until they've been able to punch holes. Once they finish each section, they move it into the appropriate lever arch file for long-term reference. This keeps the day file lighter and means they're only carrying what they need.

At the same time, they'll need an online filing system for work that isn't in hard copy. It's a really good idea to create folders and files that mirror the same system they use on paper. This maintains the link between physical and virtual work, keeps them focused on which area of the syllabus they're addressing, and helps them understand how it all fits together.

Planners

There's a variety of online planners and calendars they can use, or may already be using. That's great, and we'd encourage it, so long as they're not spending all their time organising their time instead of studying.

That said, a physical planner or diary, where they can mark exam dates and when assignments or homework are due, helps them keep focus on what they should be doing and when. It also helps you avoid arranging big family events or holidays when they have important deadlines to meet.

List apps: use their phone to stay on top of things

We're not big fans of large to-do lists; they can become unmanageable and risk students feeling down if they never tick everything off. That said, they still need to keep track of what needs doing so they can prioritise. We recommend smaller to-do lists, separated by day, week, month and term, so they get a clear picture of short- and longer-term goals.

This also helps them make adjustments if they feel short of time. They can look at their lists, spot what they keep pushing aside, work out why, and make changes before it becomes a big issue. Hard-copy versions are fine, but students often work better with lists online; using the notes app on their phone means their lists are always on hand.

Study timers

Talking of phones, these can be a real distraction from studying. It's far too easy to set a timer on the phone, then get waylaid checking social media, messages and notifications. Buy them a study timer so they can put their phone away during study time. There's a wide range available, and it can make allocating study time more fun.

There are simple cubes you turn over to set shorter or longer study bursts (say 5, 10, 15, 20 or 30 minutes), or more sophisticated versions that also give a countdown. Smaller chunks of focused study time are far more effective than long stretches, and they give a sense of achievement that encourages more short bursts of effort.

Earbuds

For many students, some background noise helps concentration, whether they're in a noisy environment or a silent one. If that's the case for your teen, they'll need some quality earbuds so they can tune into playlists while they work.

We'd recommend they make a variety of playlists in advance, so they don't waste study time choosing tunes. Some good examples: quiet, instrumental music to study by; upbeat tunes to lift their mood at the start of the day; and soothing, calming music to listen to ahead of bedtime.

Helping them be more effective in other ways

The Parents’ Guide to Homelife and Study shows how to support your teen in making study and revision time as productive as possible. We’ve included plenty of tips on creating a home life that encourages success and helps them flourish, as well as guiding them towards healthy habits that will be just as useful once they're adults.

We’ve mostly focused on long-term support, but there are also some pointers on how you can help just ahead of exams, when the pressure is especially intense. Get your copy now:

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