Senior high school can become overwhelming when you have several subjects to study, assignments to complete, class notes to revise and examinations to prepare for at the same time.
Many students respond by studying only when an examination is approaching. Others spend several hours with their books open but struggle to remember what they studied.
A better approach is to build a study routine that you can follow consistently.
For students in Ghana, this is particularly useful because senior high school requires students to manage different subjects while developing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and independent learning.
This guide explains how an SHS student can create a realistic study routine, organise subjects, use past examination questions effectively and avoid common study mistakes.
What Is a Study Routine?
A study routine is a regular plan that tells you:
- What you will study
- When you will study
- How long you will study
- What you want to accomplish
- When you will review what you have already learned
A good routine does not necessarily mean studying for many hours every day.
The goal is to make studying consistent and purposeful.
For example, studying Mathematics for 45 minutes three times a week can be more useful than studying Mathematics for five hours only once every few weeks.
Why SHS Students Should Have a Study Routine
SHS students often have different subjects competing for their attention.
Without a plan, it is easy to spend most of your available study time on the subject you enjoy while neglecting subjects you find difficult.
A routine can help you:
- Give each important subject regular attention.
- Reduce last-minute examination preparation.
- Identify difficult topics earlier.
- Keep track of assignments and revision.
- Make better use of weekends and free periods.
- Build independent learning habits.
- Reduce the temptation to spend your entire study period on your phone.
Your study routine should therefore include activities that make you explain, practise, solve and apply what you have learned.
Step 1: List All Your Subjects
Start by writing down all the subjects you currently study.
Do not create a timetable immediately.
First identify the subjects that require your attention.
You can divide them into three groups.
Group A: Subjects You Find Difficult
These are subjects or topics where you regularly make mistakes or struggle to understand the teacher's explanation.
For example:
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Economics
- Accounting
Your actual difficult subjects will depend on your programme.
Group B: Subjects You Understand but Need to Practise
You may understand the lessons but still need regular practice.
These subjects should appear regularly in your study timetable.
Group C: Subjects You Are Comfortable With
You should not completely ignore these subjects.
However, they may not require as much study time as subjects in Groups A and B.
This simple classification helps you avoid giving every subject exactly the same amount of time.
Step 2: Start With Your School Timetable
Your personal study timetable should work around your school schedule.
Write down:
- School hours
- Prep periods
- Religious activities
- Sports and other activities
- Meal times
- Travel time, if applicable
- Sleeping time
- Household responsibilities
Then identify the realistic periods available for independent study.
Do not create a timetable that gives you six hours of study every evening if you know you will not be able to follow it.
A timetable is useful only when you can actually maintain it.
Step 3: Choose a Realistic Daily Study Target
Instead of saying:
"I will study all evening."
Give yourself a specific target.
For example:
Monday
- Mathematics: practise quadratic equations
- Biology: review cell structure
- English: read and summarise one passage
This is more useful than simply writing "study Mathematics, Biology and English."
Your study session should have a clear purpose.
Step 4: Use Study Blocks Instead of One Long Session
You do not have to sit with a textbook continuously for several hours.
Try breaking your study time into manageable blocks.
For example:
Study Block 1 — 45 minutes
Mathematics practice
Break — 10 minutes
Study Block 2 — 45 minutes
Biology revision
Break — 10 minutes
Study Block 3 — 30 minutes
English reading and summary
The exact duration can be adjusted according to your concentration, school schedule and personal circumstances.
The important thing is to study with a specific task in mind.
Step 5: Do Not Spend the Entire Session Reading
One of the common study mistakes is repeatedly reading the same notes.
Reading has its place, but you should also test whether you can remember and use what you have studied.
After reading a topic, close the book and ask yourself:
- What did I just learn?
- Can I explain it without looking at my notes?
- What are the main concepts?
- Can I give an example?
- Can I solve a question about it?
- Which part do I still not understand?
This changes studying from simply looking at information to actively working with it.
Step 6: Use Active Recall
Active recall means trying to remember information without immediately looking at the answer.
For example, after studying a topic in Biology, close your textbook and write down everything you remember about the topic.
Then compare your answer with your notes.
For History or Social Studies, you can write questions such as:
- What happened?
- Why did it happen?
- Who was involved?
- What were the consequences?
- Can I explain the topic in my own words?
For Science subjects, ask yourself:
- What is the concept?
- How does it work?
- What formula is involved?
- What happens if a condition changes?
- Can I solve a related problem?
This can reveal gaps in your understanding much faster than simply rereading the same page.
Step 7: Practise Mathematics and Other Problem-Solving Subjects
Some subjects require regular problem-solving practice.
If you are studying Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Accounting or another subject involving calculations, reading worked examples alone is not enough.
After studying an example, try solving a similar question without looking at the solution.
When you make a mistake, do not simply erase it and move on.
Ask:
Where exactly did I go wrong?
Keep a small "mistake list" containing things such as:
- Formula mistakes
- Calculation mistakes
- Unit mistakes
- Misreading questions
- Skipping steps
- Using the wrong method
Review this list regularly.
Your mistakes can show you which areas require additional practice.
Step 8: Use Past Examination Questions Properly
Past examination questions can be useful for understanding how questions are presented and for practising what you have learned.
However, do not turn past papers into a memorisation exercise.
A better approach is:
First, learn the topic
Understand your class notes, textbook and teacher's explanations.
Second, attempt questions without looking at the answer
Give yourself enough time to work through the question.
Third, check your work
Compare your answer with the marking guidance or reliable solution available to you.
Fourth, identify the mistake
Ask why you lost the mark.
Fifth, revisit the topic
If you repeatedly miss questions on the same concept, return to that topic before attempting more questions.
The purpose is to improve your understanding, not simply to memorise answers.
Step 9: Keep a Weekly Revision Day
Your routine should include time for reviewing material from the previous week.
For example, on Saturday you could spend part of your study time reviewing:
- Mathematics topics covered during the week
- Science concepts taught in class
- Important English vocabulary
- Difficult areas from your other subjects
- Assignments you struggled with
This prevents old topics from disappearing from your memory while you move on to new ones.
Step 10: Use Sunday to Prepare for the Week
Sunday does not necessarily have to become another full day of studying.
Use some time to prepare.
Check:
- What subjects will you have during the week?
- Which assignments are due?
- Which topics do you need to revise?
- Are there tests or quizzes coming up?
- Which subjects require extra attention?
Then adjust your study plan.
A few minutes of planning can make the following week much easier to manage.
A Simple Weekly Study Timetable for an SHS Student
| Day | Study Focus |
|---|---|
| Monday | Mathematics + English |
| Tuesday | Science subject + revision |
| Wednesday | Mathematics + second major subject |
| Thursday | Science + English |
| Friday | Review difficult topics from the week |
| Saturday | Longer practice session + past questions |
| Sunday | Weekly review + plan for the new week |
This is only an example.
Your actual timetable should depend on your programme, school timetable, subjects, responsibilities and examination schedule.
What If You Have Very Little Time?
You do not need to wait until you have several free hours.
If you only have 30 minutes, use the 30 minutes deliberately.
For example:
10 minutes: Review notes.
10 minutes: Answer questions from memory.
10 minutes: Correct mistakes.
A short focused session is still useful.
If you have one hour, you can increase the amount of practice.
The important thing is consistency.
What to Do When You Miss a Study Session
Do not abandon your entire timetable because you missed one session.
If you planned to study Mathematics on Tuesday but could not, move the task to another realistic time.
Avoid trying to "punish" yourself by adding several extra hours of studying the next day.
The purpose of a routine is to make learning sustainable.
Missing one session does not mean the routine has failed.
How to Reduce Phone Distractions While Studying
Your phone can make a 45-minute study session much longer if you repeatedly check messages and social media.
Before starting:
- Put the phone on silent.
- Turn off unnecessary notifications.
- Place it away from your immediate study area.
- Use it only when it is genuinely needed for learning.
- Avoid opening social media during short study breaks if it makes it difficult to return to your books.
If you need your phone for research or educational resources, decide what you need before opening it.
For example:
"I am going online to find the definition of this term."
Complete that task and return to your study.
How to Know Whether Your Study Routine Is Working
Do not measure your routine only by the number of hours you spend studying.
Look at your results.
Ask yourself:
- Am I understanding lessons better?
- Am I making fewer repeated mistakes?
- Can I explain topics without looking at my notes?
- Can I answer practice questions?
- Am I completing assignments on time?
- Am I remembering topics studied several weeks ago?
- Am I becoming more confident in difficult subjects?
If the answer is no, change the method rather than simply adding more hours.
You may need more practice, better explanations, more revision or help from a teacher or colleague.
When You Do Not Understand a Topic
Do not allow one difficult topic to remain unresolved for weeks.
Write it down.
Then try one or more of these:
- Review the class notes.
- Read another explanation in a reliable textbook.
- Ask your teacher for clarification.
- Study with a serious classmate.
- Work through an example step by step.
- Attempt a simpler question before returning to the difficult one.
Asking for help is part of learning.
Create a "Difficult Topics" List
Keep one page in your notebook specifically for topics you do not fully understand.
For example:
Mathematics
- Quadratic equations
- Trigonometric identities
Chemistry
- Mole calculations
- Organic reactions
English
- Summary writing
- Argumentative essays
When you have free study time, use this list to decide what needs attention.
This prevents you from repeatedly studying topics you already understand while avoiding the difficult ones.
Do Not Compare Your Study Routine With Another Student
Your friend's routine may not work for you.
One student may concentrate better in the morning.
Another may study better after evening prep.
Someone else may need more time for a particular subject.
What matters is whether your routine fits your circumstances and helps you learn.
Focus on improving your own consistency.
Protect Your Sleep
Studying late into the night every day is not a good substitute for proper planning.
If you regularly sacrifice sleep because you started studying too late, the problem may be your schedule rather than the amount of material.
Plan your study sessions earlier where possible and leave enough time for rest.
A Five-Question Study Check
Before ending each study session, ask yourself:
- What did I learn?
- What can I explain without looking at my notes?
- What questions did I answer correctly?
- What mistakes did I make?
- What should I study next?
Write down the answer to question five.
This gives you a clear starting point for your next session.
A Simple Routine You Can Start This Week
If you currently have no study routine, do not try to create a complicated timetable immediately.
Start with this:
Monday to Thursday
Choose two subjects each day.
Give each subject a focused study block.
Friday
Review difficult topics from the week.
Saturday
Practise questions and revisit subjects that need more attention.
Sunday
Review the week's work and prepare your study plan for the following week.
After two or three weeks, examine what is working and adjust the routine.
Common Study Mistakes SHS Students Should Avoid
Studying Only Before Examinations
Last-minute studying can leave too much material to cover in too little time.
Reading Without Testing Yourself
You may recognise information when you see it without actually being able to recall it independently.
Ignoring Difficult Subjects
Avoiding a difficult subject does not make the problem disappear.
Memorising Answers Without Understanding
Questions can be presented differently. Understanding the underlying concept is more useful than memorising one answer.
Studying With Constant Phone Interruptions
Frequent interruptions reduce the amount of focused work you can complete.
Creating an Unrealistic Timetable
A timetable that looks impressive but cannot be followed is not a useful timetable.
Never Reviewing Old Topics
Moving from one topic to another without revisiting previous work can make earlier learning easier to forget.
Final Takeaway
A strong study routine is not about spending every free minute with a textbook.
It is about studying consistently, knowing what you want to accomplish, practising what you have learned and identifying areas where you need help.
For an SHS student in Ghana, a practical routine can include regular subject revision, active recall, problem-solving, past-question practice and weekly review.
Start small.
Choose realistic study periods, focus on one task at a time and adjust your routine when you discover what works best for you.
The goal is not simply to study more.
The goal is to learn more effectively and consistently.
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