The StudyDork blog
Study smarter, together
Practical guides for high school and uni students on focus, study techniques, studying with friends and exams. Free to read, whether or not you use the app.
All guides
32 guides
Study with friendsApps for Studying With Friends: A Fair Roundup by Use CaseApps for studying with friends, sorted by what you need: shared study rooms, one-to-one accountability, live study communities, phone-free challenges and notes. · 11 min readStudy with friendsForest App Alternatives: Focus Apps for Every NeedForest app alternatives for studying, by need: hard app blocking, studying with friends, Pomodoro timers, study stats, desktop blocking and no-app options. · 11 min readStudy with friendsHow to Start a Study Group (and Keep It Going All Term)How to start a study group step by step: the right size, roles, agenda templates, session formats, online groups and how to keep it going past week three. · 10 min readStudy with friendsHow to Study With Friends Without Getting DistractedHow to study with friends and get work done: ground rules, formats like silent co-study, quiz swaps and teach-back, online options and when to study alone. · 10 min readStudy with friendsVirtual Study Rooms and Body Doubling: Why Studying Alongside Others WorksWhat virtual study rooms and body doubling are, why studying alongside others helps you focus, and how to use video, livestream, Discord or app-based rooms. · 10 min readFocusDoes Having Your Phone Nearby Hurt Your Studying?Does having your phone nearby hurt studying? What the 2017 'brain drain' study found, its limits, and where to put your phone while you study in practice. · 10 min readFocusDopamine Detox for Studying: What Works and What's MythWhat a dopamine detox for studying really is, what's myth and what's useful, and a realistic stimulus-reduction plan to make study feel less boring. · 9 min readFocusHow to Block Apps on iPhone While Studying (Step by Step)How to block apps on iPhone while studying using Screen Time App Limits, Downtime, Focus modes and restrictions, plus why they're easy to bypass and what helps. · 10 min readFocusHow to Focus While Studying: The Complete GuideHow to focus while studying: a complete guide to deep work blocks, single-tasking, your study space, energy, sleep, breaks and beating common distractions. · 12 min readFocusHow to Stop Checking Your Phone While StudyingHow to stop checking your phone while studying: a practical system using distance, friction, notification settings, Focus modes, app blockers and new habits. · 12 min readStudy timersHow Long Can You Study Without a Break?How long you can study without a break, by age and level, the signs of mental fatigue, how long breaks should be and sample study schedules you can copy. · 9 min readStudy timersHow Many Hours a Day Should You Study?How many hours a day should you study? Realistic ranges for high school, final year (HSC, VCE), uni and exam periods, plus how to measure focused hours. · 11 min readStudy timersStudy Timer Methods Compared: Pomodoro, 52/17, 90 Minute Blocks, Flowtime and Time BlockingPomodoro vs 52/17 vs 90 minute blocks vs Flowtime vs time blocking: a clear comparison of study timer methods, who each one suits and how to choose yours. · 10 min readStudy timersThe Pomodoro Technique for Studying: A Complete GuideHow to use the Pomodoro technique for studying: the classic 25/5 method, variants, how to adapt it by subject, common mistakes and sample session plans. · 11 min readStudy timersWhat to Do on Study Breaks (and What to Avoid)What to do on study breaks to come back focused: movement, water, daylight and a no-scroll rule, plus break ideas for 5, 10, 15 and 30 minute breaks. · 9 min readStudy techniquesActive Recall: What It Is and How to Use It to StudyActive recall means testing yourself instead of rereading. Learn why it works, four ways to do it and how to use it in maths, science, English and languages. · 10 min readStudy techniquesDoes Music Help You Study? What the Research Actually SaysDoes music help you study? Lyrics vs instrumental, the irrelevant speech effect, lo-fi, white and brown noise, and when silence works better, by type of task. · 10 min readStudy techniquesHow to Take Notes: 5 Methods Compared, and How to Study From ThemHow to take notes that help you learn: Cornell, outline, mapping, charting and sentence methods compared, handwritten vs laptop, and turning notes into recall. · 10 min readStudy techniquesInterleaving: Why Mixing Topics Beats Blocked PracticeInterleaved vs blocked practice explained: what the research shows, how to interleave in maths, science, languages and essays, and when blocking is still fine. · 10 min readStudy techniquesSpaced Repetition: How It Works and a Revision Schedule You Can UseSpaced repetition explained: the forgetting curve, the research on spacing, the Leitner box system and a sample 1, 3, 7, 14 and 30 day revision schedule. · 10 min readStudy techniquesThe Feynman Technique: Step by Step, With Worked ExamplesHow to use the Feynman technique to study: the four steps, why explaining simply works, and worked examples from biology, economics and maths you can copy. · 11 min readMotivationHow to Build a Study Habit That SticksHow to build a study habit that sticks: pick a tiny routine, tie it to a cue, use habit stacking and streaks, and follow the never miss twice rule. · 10 min readMotivationHow to Gamify Studying: Points, Streaks and Rewards That WorkHow to gamify studying with points, streaks, levels, quests and rewards, the risks to watch for, and how to build your own system on paper or with an app. · 11 min readMotivationHow to Stop Procrastinating on Studying: Why It Happens and What WorksHow to stop procrastinating on studying: why students put it off, plus a toolkit of 2 minute starts, if-then plans, friction and temptation bundling. · 12 min readMotivationHow to Study When You Have Zero MotivationHow to study when you have zero motivation: start before you feel ready, run a minimum viable session, fix your space and energy, and spot burnout early. · 10 min readMotivationHow to Use a Study Accountability Partner (With Templates)How to use a study accountability partner or group: what to check in on, copy and paste check-in templates, stakes that work and how to choose a partner. · 10 min readExamsFirst-Year Uni Study Tips: How to Study at UniversityStudy tips for first-year uni students: lectures vs tutorials, how many hours to study, a weekly routine, assessments, the library, study groups and wellbeing. · 10 min readExamsHow to Cram for an Exam When You've Run Out of TimeHow to cram for an exam the night before: triage topics, do past questions, use active recall, sleep instead of pulling an all-nighter and plan exam morning. · 10 min readExamsHow to Make a Study Timetable You'll Actually FollowHow to make a study timetable that you'll actually follow: audit your week, block fixed commitments, prioritise subjects, pick block sizes and review weekly. · 11 min readExamsHow to Study for Exams: The Complete GuideHow to study for exams: a timeline from 8 weeks out to exam morning, with active recall, past papers, spaced repetition, sleep and an exam-week plan. · 13 min readExamsHSC Study Tips: How to Study Smarter in Year 12HSC study tips for NSW Year 12: a term-by-term plan, the syllabus dot point method, NESA past papers, trials, English, Maths and Science tips and wellbeing. · 11 min readExamsVCE Study Tips: How to Study Smarter in Year 11 and 12VCE study tips for Victorian students: a term-by-term plan, study design key knowledge, SAC prep, VCAA past exams and reports, subject tips and wellbeing. · 10 min read
Inside StudyDork
- Study with friendsStudyDork is a study app built for studying with friends: join a study clan, see who's focusing live, chat with your group and study in shared rooms.
- Pomodoro timerThe StudyDork study app has a study timer and Pomodoro sessions that block distracting apps, track hours by subject and keep running when your phone is locked.
- App blockerStudyDork blocks the distracting apps you choose until your study session ends, using Apple's Screen Time. Unlocking early takes real effort.
- RewardsIn the StudyDork study app, focused study earns XP and gems, builds streaks, levels you from 1 to 100 and ranks you on a weekly leaderboard.
- Study spaceCreate your Dorkling and decorate your own study room in the StudyDork app with skins, furniture and themes you earn by studying.
- ProgressStudyDork tracks your study time, sessions, subjects and streaks, so small daily wins add up to habits you can see.
- PricingStudyDork is free to download and play. StudyDork Pro is an optional subscription at A$7.99 a month or A$49.99 a year.
For HSC, VCE and uni
- HSCHow HSC students use the StudyDork study app: study clans with classmates, Pomodoro sessions, app blocking and hours tracked by subject.
- VCEHow VCE students use the StudyDork study app: study clans with classmates, Pomodoro sessions, app blocking and hours tracked by subject.
- UniHow university students use the StudyDork study app: clans with classmates, calendar sync with your timetable and app blocking during study blocks.