My Favorite Study Hacks That Actually Work for Teens
By: Charlotte Anderson
Practical Strategies for Tests and Big Projects
Why Most Teens Struggle to Study Effectively
We have all been there, sitting at a desk, staring at notes for hours, convinced that we're studying, only to realize nothing is sticking. You reread the same paragraph five times, check your phone for a second, and somehow end up watching TikTok videos. Sound familiar? Maybe you’re a parent who comes into your teen’s room at midnight only to find out they’ve been “studying” for hours and have barely made any progress on their study guide. You blame the phone, and then everything erupts into an argument.
As a senior in high school, I can relate to this situation. I get what it’s like to juggle a packed schedule, long nights, and the constant pressure to perform. Balancing multiple sports, an academic extracurricular, clubs, leadership, AP, and honors classes is exhausting. At times, the pressure feels impossible. Finding study strategies that actually work has made all the difference.
Why Study Hacks Matter
I used to think it was just about “finding the time” or having enough caffeine to be able to focus. I tried re-reading the entire chapter the night before a quiz. That didn’t work. I even color-coded all my notes, thinking that making them aesthetically pleasing would help me to remember them better, but I realized I was spending more time choosing highlighters than actually learning anything. Another time, I copied whole paragraphs from the textbook because I thought writing everything down would help, but I wasn't actually processing any of it.
All of those things felt productive in the moment, but none of them helped me remember the material when it mattered most.
The brain isn't a storage unit where you just dump information and hope that it stays. It works more like a three-step process: first, your brain has to take in the information (encoding), then organize and keep it (storage), and later pull it back out when you need it (retrieval). Each step has to happen for learning to stick.
When you cram, your brain doesn’t get the chance to move past that first step. It’s like trying to save a file on your laptop but closing the computer before it finishes loading; the information never actually gets stored. That's why something you “memorized” at midnight can completely disappear by the next morning. Your brain didn't have time to save it properly, so there's nothing to retrieve when the test starts.
According to Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel in Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning, real learning happens through effortful retrieval rather than repetition. The harder your brain works to recall something, the stronger that memory becomes. Just glancing over your notes again and again does not force your brain to recall anything. Unfortunately, our brains need us to put a bit more effort into information to actually get stored.
With teen life, the process gets harder. Phones constantly interrupt focus, sleep is often cut short, and stress hijacks the brain's working memory. The National Sleep Foundation explains that sleep helps your brain lock in what you learned during the day, so those late-night, caffeine-fueled study sessions aren't doing as much as you’d hope. Add in the myth of multitasking, which research shows actually lowers retention and productivity, and it's clear: if we want better results, we have to study smarter.
My Favorite Study Hacks & Why They Work
Active recall: Test yourself, don’t just reread
Instead of re-reading your notes, close them and try to explain the concept from memory, ask yourself questions, quiz with flashcards, or teach the topic out loud to a family member or in a mirror. This process forces your brain to retrieve information, which is what you'll need to do during the test anyway. I learned this the hard way at first. A friend and I would “study together,” but we mostly read our notes side by side and talked about everything except the actual material. When I took the quiz later, none of it stuck because I hadn't practiced recalling anything; I had only skimmed. Once I started testing myself instead, the information finally stayed in my head.
After reviewing psychology terms, I'll write out the definitions from memory on note cards and explain them to myself in a mirror. If I get stuck, I review that section again. Research consistently shows this is the most powerful method for long-term learning.
Spaced Repetition: Don't study everything at once
Spread out study sessions over multiple days rather than cramming everything into one long session. Tools such as Quizlet use spaced repetition algorithms to show you information right before you're likely to forget it. If you're not familiar with it, Quizlet simply shows you the flashcards you struggle with more often and the ones you know less often. Over time, it spaces the reviews out so you see each card right before you’re likely to forget it. This timing strengthens your long-term memory and follows what researchers call the “forgetting curve”. The forgetting curve is a concept by psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus that shows how our brains quickly forget new information unless we review it at the right intervals. Each time you revisit the material, the curve resets and you remember it for longer. It’s especially helpful for vocabulary, formulas, or anything you need to review repeatedly.
Pomodoro Method: Study in Focused Burts
The Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo, breaks work into 25-minute focused intervals with 5-minute breaks. After four rounds, take a longer break. It keeps your focus sharp, reduces burnout, and creates a sense of progress.
I have found this especially helpful when writing essays or completing research notes because it makes big tasks feel smaller and more doable. When I know I only need to focus for 25 minutes, I don’t feel the same pressure or procrastination.
Chunking and Prioritizing: Tackle Big Projects Strategically
When faced with a big project, the key is chunking, breaking tasks into smaller, organized steps. Create a timeline using Google Calendar, Notion, or even a physical planner. Then, label what needs to be done daily. This connects to Executive function, the brain’s system for planning and managing time. It also helps prevent the familiar feeling of ¨I don't even know where to start¨.
For a lot of teens, that feeling is very real. Sometimes, you stare at an assignment, and your brain just freezes. Even if you understand the instructions, choosing a starting point can feel overwhelming because every step seems important. Parents often see this as procrastination, but for us, it can feel like our mind is just stuck.
One strategy that helps is choosing the smallest possible starting task. For example, if I have a research paper, my first step isn't “write the paper”. It might be something tiny like finding one source, writing one sentence of the introduction, or even just opening a new document and typing the title. Once I get that first step done, the rest feels more doable
Teaching Others: Learn by Explaining
One of the fastest ways to learn is to teach. When you explain a topic to someone else, your brain processes the material more deeply. Try summarizing a concept out loud or pretending to a tutor or a friend. It may feel awkward at first, but it is surprisingly effective. This goes hand in hand with the active recall method, and it is one of my favorites.
Common Study Mistakes Teens Should Avoid
These mistakes are simple but can sabotage even the best intentions:
Cramming
It leads to short-term recall and long-term burnout.
Multitasking
Switching between your phone and work reduces memory by nearly 40%.
Caffeine overuse
It’s a temporary fix that takes away sleep and focus later.
Passive learning
Highlighting or rereading without testing yourself creates the illusion of learning, but not the reality.
Best Study Tools and Resources for Teens:
Quizlet / Anki
For active recall and spaced repetition
Forest
Keeps you off your phone while you work
Notion or Google Calendar
For organizing projects and setting deadlines
Studying Smarter, Not Harder
The most effective study hacks are honestly the simplest ones. They’re backed by research, realistic to use, and they actually work with how your brain learns. Strategies like active recall, spaced repetition, chunking, and focused work sessions don’t require you to be “perfect” or motivated all the time—they just ask you to study smarter, not longer.
You don’t need to overhaul your entire routine overnight. Start small. Pick one strategy this week and try it consistently. Over time, those small changes build confidence, reduce stress, and make studying feel more manageable. Instead of feeling like you’re just pushing through assignments, you begin to actually understand and remember what you’re learning.
If studying still feels overwhelming—especially when it comes to planning, getting started, managing time, or staying focused—it may not be about effort at all. These challenges are often tied to executive functioning skills, which many teens struggle with, especially those with ADHD, anxiety, or learning differences.
Support can make a real difference. At Child Psychology Center (CPC), we help teens strengthen executive functioning skills like organization, time management, task initiation, and follow-through. With the right tools and guidance, studying doesn’t have to feel like a constant uphill battle—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Our Services
Child Psychology Center offers neuro-affirming, culturally competent, evidence-based therapy for children (ages 0+), teens and caregivers. We offer virtual therapy for people throughout all of California, and we offer in-person therapy near San Diego (in Carlsbad, CA) and Sacramento. Our services are available in both English and Mandarin. Our licensed psychologists offer psychological assessments. While our therapists specialize in treating children, we also treat adults. We specialize in treating anxiety, child behavioral problems, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), ADHD, Autism, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We offer parent coaching and consultation. We would love to support you along your journey. Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation today!
Works cited
Brown, P. C., Roediger, H. L., & McDaniel, M. A. (2014). Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning.
Cirillo, Francesco. The Pomodoro Technique.
Ebbinghaus, Hermann. Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. Teachers College, Columbia University, 1913.
National Sleep Foundation. “How Sleep Affects Learning and Memory.”
Harvard Health Publishing. “Exercise, Sleep, and Brain Function.”
