Study skills

Secondary school can be a wonderful in many ways, but there can also be challenges. Nobody wants to have to face bullying, for example, but schools and teachers are in your corner to help you through tricky times. Part of the school journey is learning to deal with challenges in positive ways and, as always, Bitesize is here to support you every step of the way.If you're going through bullying, or wondering what to do if it happens, don't worry. Content creator Lee Hinchcliffe has been talking to our friendly teacher Chloe about the things he went through at school, as well as asking your questions to find out the best way to approach things. For more tips, keep scrolling.

You've hit the study wall and, no matter how hard you try, you can't focus on your History revision – anything is more interesting than King John and the Magna Carta right now… that bird in the tree, your nan's old knitting magazines, you'd even consider volunteering to do the ironing…Fortunately, learning scientist Dr Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel knows a thing or two about staying focused whilst studying and she's shared her pearls of wisdom in the short video below. Give it a watch and then read the main takeaways below. We know you've got studying to get on with, so we've kept it brief!

Studying and exam season can be like a rollercoaster for your emotions – you have ups and downs. There are times when you feel like you're going round in circles – the loop-the-loops – and times when you feel like you're at a standstill – the dreaded queue! But there are a couple of things you can do to help boost your confidence and build resilience to get you through to the other side.This video sees developmental psychologist, Dr Heather Branigan, guide you through the nuts and bolts of resilience, so that the wheels don't fall off your study-coaster this school year… Okay… enough with the rollercoaster analogies! Tap play on the video, then read our highlights below.

We all know that school is about learning things like algebra, grammar rules, and physics concepts. But have you ever stopped to think about another crucial aspect of school life? Yep, you guessed it – friendships!Watch this short video featuring content creator Lee Hinchcliffe and teacher Chloe. They're here to answer some questions you might have about friendships, including 'how do I make friends?' and 'do people tend to stay with the same group of friends throughout school?'. After that, scroll down for some extra tips about how you can make, keep and even move on from some friends at secondary school.

We feel you. Your teacher has given you a piece of homework, and it's well hard! You've tried everything we recommended on our page for what to do if you can't do your homework, and you're still stuck. But don't worry – we've got some advice on how to ask for help when you need it.Watch this short video and then read our expert tips and you'll soon feel more confident about asking for help when you need it.

We're guessing there are loads of things you'd like to do once you get in from school. Watching a must-see series that's just dropped on iPlayer? Yes please. Hanging out with your mates? Yes please. Doing your latest piece of homework? No thank you.But what if we told you that by forming good habits with your homework, you'll make it feel like less of a chore? Spend two minutes watching this short video from our Homework Helpline heroes and then scroll down to see some expert tips on creating a good homework routine.

Choosing your Nationals options is a great opportunity to think about what you'd like to do in the future. Watch the video below for five things you need to know when you choose your options in Scotland.

This article was first published in 2018.The subjects you choose to study for your GCSEs or Nationals are the first stepping stones to your goals in life. Here's some advice from life coach Mark Anderson on how to pick the right subjects for you.

You've hit a homework-sized brick wall, and no matter how hard you try, you just can't break through it! There may be LOADS of times when you'll feel stuck with your homework, but have no fear – we can help you learn some tools and techniques to help break down that wall and be able to complete your homework.Watch the video below for some tips to help when you simply can't do your homework and then scroll down for a recap of the top tips.

You may identify as an auditory, visual or kinaesthetic learner, but what if we told you that it might be better to use a variety of methods in your studies?In this informative video, learning scientist Dr Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel explains why it's a good idea to interact with what you're learning in lots of different ways and tells us why variety might just be the key to study success.