How to study smarter by thinking like a teacher

Turn questions into your secret study weapon.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about what to study or how much is enough, you’re not alone. Many students get stuck re-reading notes, highlighting things they don’t quite understand, or watching lesson videos on repeat. And even after all that effort, exam questions can still feel like a surprise.

It’s frustrating. You’ve put in time, but it doesn’t feel like it’s sticking.

What if there was a smarter, more confident way to revise? A way to actually predict what might be asked and feel more prepared to tackle it?

You can. It starts by flipping your perspective:

Study like a student, but think like a teacher.

Why this works ✨

Teachers don’t just know the content; they know how to ask about it. When you study with that mindset, you start to:

• Understand the material from different angles
• Anticipate what’s important (and likely to be tested)
• Build your own knowledge instead of just memorising

It’s one of the most powerful ways to turn study time into learning time, especially if you’re not sure where to start.

How to think like a teacher 👩🏫 (while still being a student)

1. Create teacher-style questions 

Pick a topic you’re reviewing. Now ask yourself:

“If I had to test someone on this, what would I ask?”

This forces your brain to scan the topic, notice patterns, and think critically.

Try writing 3–5 potential test questions as you go. You’ll notice the topic becomes less intimidating and much easier to understand.

Example:

If you're studying climate change, don’t just read your notes, write questions like:

• “What are the key causes of global warming?”
• “Why is methane more potent than carbon dioxide?”
• “How could rising sea levels affect Australia?”

2. Build your notes around those questions

Instead of endless dot points, try turning your study notes into answers to the questions you just created.

You could even use a simple format like:

Q: What is the greenhouse effect?

A: It’s the process where certain gases trap heat in the atmosphere...

This helps you see what you really know and what you don’t.

3. Guess what your teacher would test

You don’t have to be psychic. Just pay attention to:

• What your teacher repeats or emphasises
• Topics they’ve set as homework or group tasks
• What they get excited or passionate about

These are all clues. If something stood out in class, there’s a good chance it could appear on a test.

4. Raise your standards (gently)

Ask yourself, “Could I explain this to someone else?”

If the answer is no, then you probably don’t know it well yet. That’s okay.

Use this chance to go deeper. Look up one more video. Read a related article. Draw a diagram.

You don’t need to become a genius, just more curious. The more you engage, the more confident you’ll become.

Bonus: Use Bloom’s question ladder

This is where things get even more powerful. Bloom’s Taxonomy is a framework teachers use to design questions that test different levels of thinking.

Let’s break it down in student-friendly terms:

Question Type	Example Question	What it does
Remember	“What is photosynthesis?”	Tests basic facts
Understand	“Why do plants need sunlight?”	Checks your comprehension
Apply	“How would you grow plants in low light?”	Makes you use the knowledge
Analyse	“What are the parts of the process?”	Breaks it into steps
Evaluate	“Is hydroponic farming a better alternative?”	Weighs pros and cons
Create	“Design an experiment to test plant growth rates”	Encourages original thinking

 

You don’t need to use every level all the time; just try asking different types of questions as you study.

It makes your brain work harder in the best possible way.

Study smarter, not just longer

Most students think they need more time to study. But often, what they really need is better questions.

When you stop trying to memorise everything and start asking questions like a teacher, your study becomes:

• More focused
• More engaging
• And way more effective

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Want more support to improve your study habits and strategies? 

Get deeper on how to study smarter with the upcoming eBook and Online Course!

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