5 productivity tools and note-taking apps to up your study game

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Junior reporter Amina Seyd
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From Goodnotes to Trello and Forest, these tools can keep your notes organised and streamline learning and exam preparation.

Junior reporter Amina Seyd |
Published: 
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Organise your notes and revise more efficiently with these tech tools. Photo: Shutterstock

Fast-approaching exams feel like a tidal wave in the distance, ready to crash down on you at any moment. But it does not have to feel so daunting. With the right tech help, your study sessions can become organised and efficient rather than overwhelming and stressful. These five essential tech tools will help you study smarter as you prepare for those all-important tests. Let’s ace those papers!

5 note-taking tips to help you organise your thoughts and study more effectively

Goodnotes

One of the best apps out there for students, Goodnotes can help you create, organise and annotate your notes, which can be handwritten on a tablet with its “digital ink”. Goodnotes is ideal for directly marking PDFs of lecture slides and readings, making it perfect for exam preparation. The tech tool allows you to classify your notes easily by subject so that it is easy to search through when you need something quick. It also has a handy handwriting recognition feature.

Combine text typing and handwriting for easy-to-read, smarter notes on Goodnotes. Photo: Goodnotes

Quizlet

This interactive platform is the ultimate revising tool. Quizlet is a cleverly designed app where you can make great virtual flashcards and study sets on any subject you wish to learn about. What sets it apart is how it integrates educational games and quizzes and its massive community that shares resources and learning materials. The amount of user-created content in its enormous library is staggering, making it easy to find simple but effective study aids that will help you understand difficult-to-grasp topics without breaking a sweat.

Create flashcards and study sets using your own images and designs or the app’s templates. Photo: Quizlet

Evernote

Evernote is another great option to keep notes organised and stay on top of your academic game. Not just for note-taking, this app features a powerful task-management system that helps you track assignments, lecture notes, research materials and even “clip” and bookmark web content. You can add photos and audio to your virtual notebooks and tag, annotate, edit, search and export. With Evernote, your notes are synced on all your devices, allowing you to access them anytime and any place.

Plan your week, grab information from the internet and track projects on Evernote. Photo: Evernote

Master your studies with three methods to help you learn effectively

Forest

Stay focused on studying with Forest, a unique productivity app that stops you from constantly checking your phone. Forest plants a virtual tree that grows as you read and study. Whenever you leave the app – to look at social media or the internet – your tree dies! It’s great motivation to study and an engaging way to keep track of your improvement.

The more you focus on studying, the more trees you’ll plant, eventually growing your own forest. Photo: Forest App

Trello

Trello is a fantastic project management tool that allows you to design a study timetable and map assignment deadlines efficiently. With the help of visual boards and lists, create a personalised plan with all your tasks and due dates, checking everything off one by one as you go. It’s a great feeling to experience when you complete an item, and it makes managing your workload simpler and more rewarding.

Visual boards and lists help you create the perfect study plan for exams and learning. Photo: Trello
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