7 Ways to Use your iPad for Studying
In today’s digital age, having an iPad (or any kind of digital tablet) is very useful for students, especially when it comes to effective revision. Whether you’re preparing for your GCSE or A Level exams, or just want to improve your understanding of English (or any subject for that matter), an iPad offers a multitude of resources and apps that can enhance your study sessions.
It is important to note, however, that whilst this blog post does use an iPad as an example, it is not necessary for revision. All these tips and apps can be used and found on IOS or Android.
Organise your study materials
Apps like GoodNotes, Notability, or Notion allow you to create digital notebooks per subject, or topic. Organise your notes and even annotate PDFs. You can even scan documents in apps like GoodNotes, importing your class notes, past papers, revision guides, and teacher feedback making everything accessible in one place.
Apps like Apple Notes, Apple Reminders, or Google Keep can be used for quick notes, to-do lists, and reminders about deadlines and important topics to review.
Access to digital revision guides and e-books
Reading platforms such as Apple Books, Google Books, or Kindle offer a wide range of books in general for download, including all GCSE & A Level English exam texts and revision guides. Using these apps, you can highlight important sections, make annotations, create bookmarks for quick reference, plus the added advantage of portability.
The other added benefit of using digital reading platforms is that some of the GCSE texts, such as Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, A Christmas Carol, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde are available on the public domain. Copies of A Christmas Carol on Google Books, for example, cost less than £2 to buy.
Digital apps for audiobooks I recommend are Borrowbox and Audible. You will need a public library card to use Borrowbox though.
Utilise educational apps
There are a plethora of educational apps available on IOS and Android. Quizlet is great for creating your own flashcards or using sets created by other students. Flashcards are a useful method for memorising literary terms, key quotes, and vocabulary. Other flashcard apps include Anki, StudyPod, and FlashCards Maker.
BBC Bitesize and Seneca apps offer comprehensive revision materials, including video tutorials, practice quizzes, and summaries of key concepts.
Watch videos and tutorials
The number one app for watching videos and tutorials is of course YouTube. Channels like Mr Bruff, Mr Salles Teaches English, Mr Everything English, and BBC Teach offer insightful videos on literature analysis, exam techniques, and essay writing tips.
The other type of video you can access on YouTube are StudyTube videos. Creators like Ruby Granger, Study to Success, UnJaded Jade, and Vee Kativhu have hundreds of videos on motivation, tips, and ‘study we mes’ to help motivate you.
Collaborate and share notes
Google Drive and Dropbox are useful apps to store revision notes in the cloud and access them from any device. You can also share documents with classmates, tutors, and teachers to have collaborative revision sessions.
Zoom, Skype, and Goole Meet are great for hosting virtual study groups with your friends & classmates. Discussing topics and sharing insights can help reinforce your understanding and provide different perspectives.
Enhance your writing skills
Apps like Grammarly, that help improve your grammar, punctuation, and style errors and can help with finding frequently recurring mistakes.
Word processors such as Pages, Google Docs, and Microsoft Word are useful for writing essays, creating revision documents, and organising your study notes. For similar apps, please see the Organise your notes section above
Stay focused and organised
Lastly, an iPad (or tablet) can help with staying focused and organised in general. Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or any calendar app, can be used to create revision timetables, and remind you of important dates.
Time tracking apps can help with keeping your focused on a specific task. Forest helps you stay focused by encouraging you to stay off your iPad or phone. PomoFocus is useful if you like using the pomodoro method.
Using an iPad, or any tablet, for GCSE revision can help streamline your study process, making it more interactive, interesting, and efficient. By using the right apps and resources, you can access a wealth of information, practise your skills, stay organised, and have the added benefit of portability.