Published: March 2026 | Category: Study Tips, Parent Resources | 6 min read
5 Study Habits That Actually Improve Marks
As a parent, few things are more frustrating than watching your child put in hours at the desk and still come home with disappointing results. You see the effort. You know the late nights. Yet somehow, the marks do not reflect any of it.
The truth is that studying hard and studying well are not the same thing. Research consistently shows that how a student studies matters far more than how long they study. The good news is that the right habits can be learned at any point, and the improvement in results can be significant.
At Online Edge Tutors, we work with high school students across South Africa and see the same patterns repeatedly. Students who perform well share specific habits. Students who struggle often share different ones. Here are the five habits that make the biggest difference.
Habit 1: Active Recall Over Passive Re-Reading
Most students revise by reading through their notes again and again. It feels productive. It is comfortable. Research shows it is one of the least effective study methods available.
Active recall means testing yourself on the material rather than just reading it. Close the textbook, put the notes face down, and try to write down everything you remember. Then check what you missed. Repeat.
This approach forces the brain to retrieve information rather than simply recognise it. Retrieval is what happens in an exam. Practising retrieval during study therefore prepares the brain far more effectively than passive reading ever can.
After your child reads a section, ask them to explain it back to you without looking at the notes. If they can explain it clearly, they know it. If they struggle, they need to go back. This takes five minutes and is more valuable than an hour of re-reading.
Habit 2: Spaced Repetition Instead of Last-Minute Cramming
Cramming the night before an exam is a trap almost every student falls into at some point. It can work for very short-term recall, but the information disappears almost as quickly as it arrived.
Spaced repetition works differently. Instead of reviewing everything in one long session, students review material at increasing intervals over time. Review it today, then again in two days, then again in five days, then again in ten. Each review strengthens the memory further.
This is not a complicated system. It simply means starting revision earlier and returning to material regularly rather than saving it all for the last week before exams.
Help your child set up a simple revision calendar six weeks before exams. Identify the topics for each subject and schedule short revision sessions throughout the weeks rather than leaving everything for the final few days. Thirty minutes three times a week is more effective than three hours the night before.
Habit 3: Specific Goals for Every Study Session
Sitting down to study without a clear goal is one of the most common reasons students waste time. “I am going to study Maths” is not a goal. It is a vague intention that leads to unfocused, low-quality sessions.
High-performing students set specific, measurable goals for each session. “I am going to complete ten practice questions on quadratic equations” is a goal. “I am going to summarise Chapter 4 of the textbook in my own words” is a goal. These are achievable, trackable, and motivating in a way that vague intentions never are.
Before your child sits down to study, ask them one question: what specifically are you going to accomplish in this session? If they cannot answer clearly, help them define it. A focused thirty-minute session with a clear goal will outperform a two-hour session without one.
Habit 4: Regular Breaks and Physical Movement
The brain is not designed to focus for hours without rest. Research is clear that cognitive performance drops significantly after extended periods of sustained concentration. Pushing through this fatigue does not improve learning. It reduces it.
The most effective students work in focused blocks with deliberate breaks in between. A popular approach is 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break, repeated across a session. During breaks, movement helps. A short walk, some stretching, or even just stepping away from the desk allows the brain to consolidate what it has been processing.
Sleep is equally important. A well-rested brain retains information far better than a tired one. Late-night cramming at the cost of sleep is counterproductive, particularly in the days leading up to an exam.
Encourage your child to take proper breaks during study sessions rather than sitting at the desk for hours without moving. Ensure they are getting enough sleep in the weeks leading up to exams. These are not indulgences. They are essential for the brain to function at its best.
Habit 5: Practice with Real Exam Papers
Understanding the work is only part of what exams require. Students also need to be comfortable with the format, the timing, and the pressure of answering questions under exam conditions. The only way to develop that comfort is to practise under those exact conditions.
Past exam papers and mock tests are the most direct preparation available. They expose gaps in knowledge, build familiarity with question styles, and develop the time management skills needed to complete an exam within the allocated time. Students who regularly practise with past papers consistently outperform those who only revise from notes.
Help your child source past exam papers for their subjects and schedule timed practice sessions in the weeks before exams. Sit the paper under proper conditions: no notes, no phone, time limited. Mark it honestly afterwards and focus revision on the areas where marks were lost.
Distraction is the single biggest threat to effective studying. Research shows that students are distracted for roughly 20% of their study time on average. A phone on the desk, a TV in the background, or an open social media tab can cut the effectiveness of a study session in half. A distraction-free environment is not optional. It is the foundation everything else is built on.
How Online Tutoring Supports Better Study Habits
Building these habits is easier when a student has structured, expert support. At Online Edge Tutors, our live sessions and pre-recorded courses are designed to reinforce active learning, provide real exam practice, and give students the guided structure that makes independent study more effective.
Our tutors do not just teach content. They teach students how to engage with that content in ways that actually stick. The result is not just better marks in the short term. It is a student who knows how to learn for the long term.
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A Final Word for Parents
The habits covered in this article are not complicated. They do not require expensive resources or hours of extra time. What they require is consistency and a willingness to change the way studying happens at home.
Small changes to how your child studies can produce results that feel disproportionately large. Start with one habit. Build from there. The marks will follow.
Questions about how Online Edge Tutors can support your child? We are available at info@edgetutors.co.za. We are here to help.