Skip to content
Home » Support strategies » Study skills

Study skills

Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence, it just means that dyslexic learners learn in a different way and may take longer to process and remember information.

Difficulties with short-term memory can mean that dyslexic learners may need to over-learn things until they know them. 

Tips for studying

  • Use different coloured folders for each subject
  • Use post-it notes to summarise notes e.g. a very short sentence or drawing might help 
  • Work out what time of day suits the learner best to study 
  • Think about distractions and how to prevent these 
  • Study little and often – 10/20 min bursts 
  • Start with the basics and build up understanding 
  • Keep notes to a minimum 
  • Use flash cards – key points on one side and on the other side draw a reminder, then test knowledge 
  • Use mind maps and make notes (write down information) 
  • Look at past papers and underline the keywords of the task 
  • Make ‘to do’ lists 
  • Make a study timetable (include breaks) 
  • Choose a quiet location to avoid background noise (this can make things difficult for those who struggle with auditory processing) 


Check out other study skills resources at www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/leaflets