Teenagers Deserve Better: They Aren't Taught How to Study and I Think That Really Sucks

The world expects teenagers to get good results at school, but without teaching them study skills... anyone else think that blows?

Clare McIlwraith

Jun 03, 2023

Rory Gilmore encapsulates what it means to be ‘successful’ at high school and uni, but did Chilton teach her study skills or was she lucky enough to know how to study on her own? Image credit bustle.com

High School Needs a Shake Up

It actually boggles my mind that teens aren’t taught how to study.

Just like riding a bike, learning to read, learning to swim, learning at instrument, studying is a learnt skill too.

So why is it taken for granted that teenagers will just inherently know how to study?

Because unfortunately — most don’t!

Some teens are really lucky and will soak in information without too much effort, and inherently understand what’s required to prepare for exams. But that is a small club.

Thousands teens do not know how to study effectively, or efficiently.

So many teens, like yours, are bursting with potential — they’re bright, lovely kids, capable of so much — but when it comes to studying, they don’t have the study skills or tools they so desperately need to get the results they’re truly capable of.

Let’s Fix That Eh?

That’s why I started Cram Lab.

I have sat a stupid number of exams.

Taking into account three years of high school exams, my science degree, postgrad diploma and then postgrad law degree, it’s a lot. And that’s not including mock exams, piano exams up to grade 8 or LSAT (to get into law school).

Studying has been a huge part of my life, and I have to say, I got pretty damn good at it.

That many years of studying allowed me to hone my study process.

I figured out a process for studying and preparing for exams that enabled me to get consistently good results. I finished law school in the top 10% of my class.

Me and Mum at my Law School Graduation in 2014.

I hear you — that’s great Clare… so happy for you… — but how does that help ME?

Well, I realised that I don’t have to keep all of my study secrets to myself.

I can do something about the fact that teens aren’t taught how to study.

I can share everything I know about studying and preparing for exams with YOUR teen, so they can take those study skills and use them to get the results THEY’RE actually capable of. Hazzah!!

So that’s what I’m doing.

Making studying easier for your teen.

I have poured and keeping pouring everything I know about studying here on Substack and over at cramlab.org, so if you haven’t already, I strongly suggest you hit that Subscribe button below so we can get your teen’s study on track as soon as possible.

I Also Really Like Friends

Okay so not a great segue.

But the wonderful thing about Substack is the personal and human communities it creates, so here are a few things about me that aren’t broadcast on cramlab.org:

I developed an obsession with Friends when I was working as a postie (yup, delivering mail on a bike) as my uni job. I challenge you to a Friends trivia-off anytime, and yes Ross is the best character. My cats are Ross and Monica, and no I’m not embarrassed. Just proud.
I love movies and TV. All of it. Got a good recommendation? Let me know.
I was a band geek at high school (saxophone) and still love all music, from jazz to country to pop.
I also love tennis, true crime (any murderinos out there?), and stand-up comedy (watching, not performing lol).
I have a PADI divers licence and motorbike licence (both are a bit dusty).
I love all things Italian — particularly the pasta and pizza elements — and desperately wish I could speak Italian and live there for a while like Diane Lane in Under the Tuscan Sun (minus the whole divorced part).
I love a nice lemony GnT and glass of red, but after 5 years of either being pregnant or breastfeeding one glass and I’m yabbering like a monkey.

Me in Tuscany (credit Touchstone Pictures)

More Importantly, What About YOU?

So that’s why I’m here. Why are YOU here? I wana know.

What’s your teen struggling with? What’s the main issue you’ve come here for help with? What’s causing your teen pain? What’s driving you nuts?

Some of the issues that come up time and time again are poor organisation, studying ineffectively, motivation (lack of), studying but stuffing up exams, generally feeling overwhelmed / exasperated. Ring any bells?

The comments are open for all subscribers so don’t be shy. Tell me what’s going on with your teen. I’m here to help.

You can also email me any time at clare@cramlab.org, and follow along for practical study know-how, solidarity and a bit of a laugh on Facebook and Instagram.

Can’t wait to hear from you and help your teen get their study on track.

Let’s do this.

Clare x

Do you know 1 or 2 other parents who are struggling with their teen? Go ahead and share this post with them — I’d love to help them too.

P.S. I’m obsessed with this cover of Hopelessly Devoted by P!nk, it’s so good (YouTube link).

P.P.S. If you haven’t already, cramlab.org is where I have a bunch of FREE PRINTOUTS for your teen to help with various parts of school and studying. AND if you simply sign up with your email here I’ll send you my free Learning Styles Quiz and Study System Starter Kit to share with your teen to get their Study System started.