This week we held the first session in our Year 12 and 13 lecture series, with Assistant Principal Serena Lawrence speaking to students about how understanding the brain can help improve learning, revision, and exam performance.

Students explored how effective study is not just about what you learn, but how you learn it. The session focused on the importance of moving knowledge from short-term or “working” memory into long-term memory through consistent, deliberate revision strategies.

Key ideas included:

• managing cognitive load so the brain can process information more effectively

• overcoming forgetting through regular review

• breaking learning into manageable chunks

• spreading study across time rather than relying on last-minute cramming

One of the strongest messages for students was that cramming is far less effective than sustained revision over time, as this simply does not align with how the brain learns best.

Research from the University of Auckland also shows that students who gain at least 20 credits through external assessments are significantly more likely to experience success in their first year of university. This lecture series is one of a number of initiatives designed to support students in strengthening their study habits, revision routines, and exam techniques.

A copy of the presentation slides is attached below, and we look forward to sharing resources from next week’s lecture, along with further practical strategies to help students study more effectively.

Attachments

Know your brain – Y12_13 mini lecture    PDF, 2.1 MB