Fix how you study, not only how much

After a failed exam, most students promise to study harder. The bigger gains usually come from studying differently. Research on learning consistently favours active recall (testing yourself instead of rereading), spaced practice (short sessions over weeks instead of one long night) and working through past papers under timed conditions.

Highlighting and rereading feel productive but leave little behind. Try this for one subject: after each class, close the notes and write what you remember, then check. Use a tool such as Anki for facts you need to keep.