10 Study Hacks Every Student Must Know in 2025

: 10 study hacks every student must know in 2025, these study hacks are scientific, practical advice, modern tools, and smart strategies, you'll have more focus, save time, and academically achieve better results.

Studying is much different in 2025 than it was a decade ago! Technology has changed our classrooms, online learning has increased, and students are dealing with more distractions than ever. The good news is, with the right strategies, you can study smarter, save time, and get better results in your education too.

Having taught students for several years and tried out alternative ways for students to learn, I have come up with a list of 10 effective study hacks that work no matter your material, skills, or time. These hacks are not just about studying for exams, they are about learning so you actually remember it!

1. The Pomodoro Technique - With a Modern Twist!

The Pomodoro Technique - Womodoro Technique is probably the most common vocabulary when we talk about productivity. Following the Pomodoro Technique, we study for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. But in 2025 we can do better! Using focus apps like Forest, and Focus To-Do, we can track our study time, and gamify our breaks, allowing us to help keep motivation.

I've applied this to my own life during high work weeks. Segmenting study time to be shorter in duration helped me take in more information and avoid burnout.

focus apps for students

2. Ask Questions while Learning – Don't just PassivelyRead

One of the biggest mistakes students make is repeating their notes over and over. Active recall turns the 'repeat' reading style on its head - instead of rereading, you'll be testing yourself.

Example: After you study a chapter, close your book and try to write everything down you remember. Then, compare what you wrote to your notes and see what you missed. Not only does this method help you learn faster, it also increases the rate of memorization a lot more than passive reading.

active recall study method

3. Power yourself through education with AI Tools

AI tools such as ChatGPT, Quillbot and Grammarly have fundamentally changed the way we learn. But I do want to point out - don't let AI do the work for you. Use it to help with:

Summarizing large texts

Creating practice questions

Making grammar and clarity checks

I once used AI to create a practice quiz for a history exam - and it allowed me to see where my knowledge gaps were before taking the real thing.

AI studying tools

4. Create Mind Maps for Your Lessons

With mind mapping, you can convert very complicated lessons into visual representations that show how topics are linked or relate to each other. Using free programs such as XMind or the old-fashioned pen and paper can help you effectively mind map lessons.

In the case of a biology class, you could create a mind map showing how the respiratory system is related to the circulatory system. Using this visual representation can help you recall the information much faster during a test.

mind mapping for students

5. Teach What You Learn

When you take on an additional task of teaching, you force yourself to truly understand a topic. At the end of a study session, try teaching the topic to a friend or family member, or teaching it to yourself in the mirror.

For example, when I was studying economics, I’d "teach" the topic to my younger cousin. If I could not simply explain or understand the topic, I knew I needed to review the material one more time.

learn by teaching

6. Use Spaced Repetition method for Long-Term Memory

Cramming can help you get past the test tomorrow- but you won’t be able to even think about the information next week. Spaced repetition is a method of reviewing material with timed intervals, so just before you forget the material you can fully remember the information.

Spaced-repetition apps like Anki or Quizlet are fantastic for compressing information. I used Anki to learn a new language, and it was no where close to the effectiveness of crowdsourcing everything I had to learn!

7. Improve Your Study Space

Your study space can hinder or help your productivity. In 2025, you do not need to have the best home office – use these tricks:

Headphones with noise-cancelling features.

A desk that is as clutter-free as possible.

Lighting, including the use of a lamp, that prevents eye strain.

Once I made the transition from studying in bed to a desk , my concentration was set !

best study environment

8. Use a Combination of Digital and Paper Notes

Many students only take digital notes. Research has shown that writing by hand promotes memory retention. My suggestion? Use a combination -- take quick notes on a laptop during class, then rewrite the important notes on a piece of paper.

This simple habit has increased my retention in certain subjects with uptick as high as doubling my retention rate.

digital vs paper notes

9. Use the 80/20 Study Method

The 80/20 rule is a version of the Pareto principle, which says that 80% of the output comes from 20% of the input. When it comes to studying, this represents realizing the majority of the important topics before the exam and focusing your efforts on those at the front end of the process.

I think in my final year I was putting way too much effort into very trivial non exam issues and my exam grades considerably increased once I changed my methodology.

80/20 study method

10. Don't Neglect Your Health

It's easy to say "I'll sleep after finals" but if you're not sleeping, eating well, and exercising as you should be, then everything will just be harder to focus on. A tired brain learns less effectively.

Get 7-8 hours of sleep

Drink enough water.

Eat foods that help your brain such as nuts and berries.

There was a time where I pulled 2 all nighters before a test and still ended up forgetting half of what I studied for it. Lesson learned - health comes first.

healthy study habits

Extra Personal Tip - Make Learning Relaxed

When I first started university, I studied and treated it like I was getting punished. However, after turning it into a challenge: using timers, quizzes, and study playlists. It is now something I actually enjoy.

Education is not inherently boring. The more enjoyable you make it then the easier it will be to stay with it.