GCSE Maths – 9 Top Tips For Increasing Focus

When you revise GCSE Maths – or any other subject for that matter, the biggest challenges are social media, time management, procrastination, or a combination of all three.

During the exams, students struggle to maintain their concentration. They fail to focus for long periods of time. Moreover, with technology at your fingertips, it is easier than ever to get distracted and many find it harder to focus with all of these distractions around. However, there are some super effective tips that will help you to stay focused:

1. Look for a Suitable Place to Study

Find a hang-out. This is crucial to a successful study session. Some people like it quiet, while others prefer a little background noise. Regardless of your preference, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

• You need to have a clear, flat surface with enough space to hold your books and other study materials. 

• When you choose a place to study, it is critical to choose a place you have everything you need in terms of toilet, sustenance, and atmosphere. A good example would be a dining room table – a bad example would be… a rave?

2. Get a Good Night’s Sleep… especially to revise GCSE Maths

If you are staying up to revise GCSE Maths until the early hours of the morning, you should perhaps think about switching it up. To increase your focus and your ability to learn new things, sleep needs to be a priority.

Lack of sleep can affect your focus and your mood. It can also impair your motivation and judgment. Hence, you need to ensure that you are getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night. When you do so, you will notice a significant difference in your concentration levels. 

 

3. Follow a Study Ritual

In order to stay focused when you revise GCSE Maths, it is necessary to create a routine. This will enable you to find your flow and will let you focus. Start by maintaining a pre-study ritual.

It involves tasks like clearing the task, getting all the things you need, closing the door, and making a to-do list. Take 5 minutes to set up the study desk. Not only will it help you to focus but it will also train the brain to transition into a solid-state of focus without much effort.

4. Get Rid of Distractions

Often, students tend to underestimate how distractions can prevent them from concentrating on the work they have at hand. These intrusions might come in the form of songs blaring from the music system or some mischievous siblings. 

Minimizing these distractions might not always be easy. While it might be as simple as turning off the music system, you might find it harder to deal with an interrupting sibling.

One of the ways to handle this is to set aside a certain place and time when you can request your family members to leave you alone for that period. Another great way to revise GCSE Maths is to look for a calm location where you will be able to work without being disturbed – such a library!

5. Make a Plan

Don’t simply sit down with all of your subject books and try working from top to bottom. This will overwhelm you and make you procrastinate. So, you need to make a plan.

Think about the exams that you have next and the subject that you have to work on the most. Make sure you have a schedule you mind and when you decide on a schedule, you have to ensure that it is realistic enough and includes regular breaks.

For instance, if you are planning to revise GCSE Maths for 8 hours, you will risk spending 7 of those working up to it. Set an hour-long goal and then add a 15-minute break to make a drink, take a walk, check your texts, etc. Then you can get back to your studies.

6. Get Yourself a Maths Study Partner 

After you bury your head in the book for several hours, it might become monotonous for you to keep up with the study flow. So, it is crucial that you take a break, not just from the studies but from the stress of preparing for an exam.

If you find yourself a study partner with whom you can clarify your doubts and share the study techniques, it will help in improving your concentration. Moreover, when you get a focused partner, it will boost your confidence and will motivate you to study better. Obviously, social distancing is rife but this is still possible over applications like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

 

7. Focus on Effort and Not on Grades

Experts say that one of the most common mistakes that students tend to make is that they focus on the end-goal… their final grades, instead of learning skills such as revision and good study discipline.

Although this won’t directly help with focus, it will definitely help with de-stressing which will have an impact on how you feel and therefore focus. Understanding that grades are not everything and that if you put the maximum amount of effort into your studies as you can, then what will be, will be.

 

8. Exercise

Research has shown that exercising regularly will benefit not just the body but also the brain. Short-term exercise will improve your focus by up to 2-3 hours by increasing blood flow to the brain. In fact, it has been seen that regular exercise can improve sleep and mood whilst reducing anxiety and stress. Additionally, exercising can slow the process of brain aging over the longer term. 

To experience the benefits of exercise, experts recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity throughout the week. 

9. Keep the Blood Flowing

If you are sitting at the desk for long hours, gravity might cause blood to pull in towards the lower half of the body. So, it will not provide as much oxygen as required by the brain to improve concentration. Hence, you need to take regular breaks to stand up or walk around. This will keep your blood flowing and will rejuvenate your focus. 

Bottom Line

By implementing these tips, you can start working towards an optimal place to study, reduced distractions, and better overall wellbeing. As well as this, you’ll find your focus goes through the roof and most likely your grades too!