Transitioning to High School: Mastering Organisational Skills
High school brings its own set of challenges — not just academic ones, but organisational as well. Learning how to manage your time, stay organised, and study effectively is key to success in school and beyond. Here are some simple, proven strategies to make life easier and reduce that sense of overwhelm.
For many students, organisation is one of the first hurdles they face when starting high school. With new subjects, multiple teachers, and a greater expectation to take responsibility for their own schedules, it’s easy to feel lost at first.
There’s a direct link between good organisational skills and academic performance. Being organised not only helps students meet deadlines for assignments and assessments, but also clears the mental clutter that can get in the way of learning.
Dr Selina Samuels, resident education expert at Aussie Edu Hub, shares strategies she has successfully used with students to help them become more organised and learn more efficiently.
Time Management
Time management looks different for every student — especially for those with specific learning needs like ADHD. While there are countless time-management techniques out there, one of the most important things to remember is that focus has limits. Neuroscience tells us that adults can concentrate for about 90 minutes at a time, and for high school students, that window is even shorter.
For example, if a student has one hour of homework, it’s better to split it into two 30-minute sessions, each followed by physical movement. Movement not only boosts energy after sitting still, but it also helps to embed what’s been learned. Even unusual movements — like balancing on one leg or hanging upside down — can help consolidate learning, though any activity is beneficial.
When breaking tasks into smaller chunks, it’s best to be specific about the goal. Instead of writing “Do Maths”, aim for “Complete exercises A to C and redo any incorrect answers”. This makes it easier to measure progress and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Organisational Tools
The “perfect” organisational tool doesn’t really exist — and searching for it can take more time than using it. A simple diary, whether digital or paper, works best when used consistently. Students should record deadlines as soon as they’re given, then work backwards to schedule time for planning, drafting, and revising.
One highly effective method is colour coding. Assign a colour to each subject and gradually increase the colour’s intensity as the assessment date approaches. For example, if English is blue, “plan essay” two weeks out might be light blue, “draft essay” the following week could be cobalt, and submission week would be the darkest blue. This visual cue helps students prioritise tasks across multiple subjects.
Study Habits
Many students finish high school saying they were never really taught how to study. The key is to make learning active, not passive. Simply re-reading notes has limited value, and rote memorisation should be reserved for specific needs like learning formulas or quotations.
Active learning means applying knowledge to see if it’s truly understood — doing timed practice papers for Maths, writing sample essays for English, or summarising History notes. Another excellent habit is to “teach” the material to someone else, such as a parent, sibling, or friend. Teaching forces students to recall and explain concepts, reinforcing understanding and highlighting areas that need more attention.
A Final Note
For all students — especially those adjusting to a new school environment — adequate sleep is critical. Sleep is when learning is processed and stored, making it arguably the most important study habit of all.
At Aussie Edu Hub, we help students not only master subject content but also develop the organisational, time-management, and study skills that set them up for long-term success in high school and beyond.
