Tips for Effective Time Management and Study Habits | Study with New Zealand

Since New Zealand’s education system is probably different to what you are used to, here are some things to keep in mind when preparing for exams in New Zealand.

In New Zealand, teaching styles differ between primary, secondary, and tertiary schools, but all are based around creating a more relaxed and inclusive environment.

Students are supported to solve problems, process information, work with others, create and innovate. You’ll find that teachers in New Zealand are happy to answer extra questions you might have or take extra time in lessons if it means you understand everything better.

In secondary school, you can also have ‘study periods’ on your class schedule where you work (often in the school library) to complete work without direct teacher supervision. There may be a teacher present in the room, but it is up to the students to organise their time in the most effective way. This can be good practise for tertiary study later in life.

Learn about New Zealand’s education system here.

Education providers across New Zealand offer a variety of resources to students who need help; most of which are completely free and are available to those who apply for it.

These can range from after-class tutoring with a teacher or specialist tutor, to extra resources for students with physical and learning disabilities. There are options available for both physical and mental health support as well, and most schools and universities will assist with any paperwork or applications you need to complete.

If you become sick or get injured during the study or exam period, make sure to let your teachers and tutors know as soon as possible. In some cases, you could even sit your exams at a later date – your tutors and teachers want you to sit your exams when you aren’t badly affected by injury or illness.

While asking for this assistance can seem scary, it’s worth it! All of the resources and support systems are there to help you achieve as much as possible, and you shouldn’t feel anxious or nervous about asking for it.

When studying on campus, you might choose to either study alone or as part of a small ‘study group’. For this, working from the library or other part of the campus could be right for you.

Dedicated to silent reading and coursework as well as quiet and respectful discussions in study rooms, libraries are also full of helpful resources like books, computers and the internet, as well as librarians who can help you find what you need.

If you choose to study in the library, there are some important things to remember:

Keep noise to a minimum. Other people in the library don’t want to be distracted by loud discussions, playing music out loud, or hearing your phone ring. If you make too much noise, you may be asked to leave the library.

No eating or drinking in the library. Some libraries let you bring in a drink bottle with a lid on it, but you can’t bring in food or other drinks.

Study rooms. You can book a study room for your group to work in and have discussions, but you will only have it for a certain amount of time. After that, there may be others waiting to use it. Don’t go beyond your booking time, and make sure to leave the room tidy.

Be respectful of the library. When you use anything in the library, take good care of it! No one wants to find that the book they need is ripped, or the computer they are working on is broken. If you find anything in the library that is damaged, report it to a librarian.

There are other places on campus that you should also make use of. If it’s sunny, consider sitting outside in a courtyard or quad with your work and enjoy the weather. Don’t forget to slip, slop, slap and wrap!

Check to see if your school or campus has a food court, cafeteria or canteen – these can be great places to have lunch while chatting socially with friends, discussing upcoming assignments, or enjoying time away from your work.

By occasionally changing your surroundings, you might find yourself having more productive study sessions and getting more work done.

If you choose to study from home, it’s important to create the best study environment possible. You’ll have more control over conditions like lighting and noise than in the library or around campus, but you might find it easy to get distracted by social media, family, or flatmates.

Take the time to get comfortable in your study space. The better you feel, the more productive you are. Don’t forget to take regular breaks either – the popular Pomodoro study technique recommends 25 minutes of hard work before taking a five minute break. Doing that 5-6 times in a session could help you boost your productivity while not exhausting or stressing yourself out.

Struggling to stay off social media or other websites? Websites blockers can temporarily remove your access to specific websites on your phone or computer. If you know that you will work better without these distractions, set them up before you start studying and don’t lose any time to procrastinating!

If you study from home, you’ll still have to stay on top of all your other responsibilities like cleaning, cooking and shopping. Use any time away from studying as an opportunity to let your mind relax and recover – you can’t be studying 24/7!

You should also remember that your flatmates might also be studying at the same time as you. Sometimes in these situations, tempers can flare due to exhaustion. Don’t let exam stresses make things awkward in your flat – make sure that everyone in your flat is respectful and understanding of each other’s situations.

Students in New Zealand are supported to solve problems, work with others, create and innovate. New Zealand gives you a high-quality education that will enable you to achieve your goals, but you still need to put the work in to see great results.

There are lots of ways you can set yourself up for success when it comes to your coursework. No matter where you choose to work from, make sure to pace yourself, take regular breaks, and don’t forget to eat and drink!

When you’re studying in New Zealand, you’ve got a lot of people supporting you and trying to help you succeed. Be sure to make use of all the support options you have and see how it can impact your study and overall grades.