Knowledge has everything to do with your memory and here are some basic facts about how your memory works. Essentially there are three types of memory: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Sensory memory includes the sounds, smells or sight that you encounter and don’t really pay heed to. When you are sitting in geography class and thinking of the video game you have ready on your PlayStation at home, the teacher’s voice and all that she is saying is just sound to you.

When you do pay attention to the information coming in from the environment it shifts to your short-term memory. Most people think that paying attention in class is enough to grasp concepts and facts but this isn’t true, because without repetition and active participation the information will not be processed and shifted to the long-term memory. Thus practice plays a crucial role in ensuring that you truly remember concepts and information that is important for academic success.

• You should practice Math and English daily - ideally at a time when you are calm and relaxed. You may consider doing math exercises early in the morning before school and English in the evening after you have had a short break after school.
  
  
• You need to decide the amount of time you want to spend on each subject. If you have homework in that subject, you can allocate the time based on the type of assignment that has been given. Nonetheless it is a good idea to spend at least 20 minutes on each subject, reviewing the day’s work and perhaps what is to be introduced the next day.
  
  
• Be realistic: It is easy to create a practice time schedule, but the important point is to make it practical. Create a schedule that you can stick to and then adhere to it.
  
  
• Take breaks in schedule: Give your mind adequate breaks between subjects, ideally every 40-45 minutes.
  
  
• Be flexible: There may be occasions when your practice time schedule is disturbed; take it in your stride and try to cover it up at another time slot in the day. Of course the idea of a practice time schedule is to ensure that these instances are kept minimal.
  

A practice time schedule at home is an excellent way of reviewing the work done in class and provides an honest picture of your understanding and comprehension of the subjects. It provides a second look at points that you may have overlooked in class or those which required more elaboration. Often it is possible that you may not have connected two concepts that your teacher discussed, and are crucial to the understanding of the topic. You can reach an “aha” moment only when you are clear about what you learnt in class.

A practice schedule ensures that you follow a disciplined approach towards your studies and fosters confidence in your study skills.