Practice for your state's standards, grades 1 to 12
How TONEC STUDY follows US state standards: Common Core and TEKS maths, NGSS and state science, state history in the right grade, for all 50 states and D.C.
Blog
TONEC STUDY blog
Study tips, the science of learning explained simply, and news from TONEC STUDY.
What's new in TONEC STUDY: every US state, a tutorial and faster loading
The next TONEC STUDY update adds 120,000 questions written to each US state's standards, a tutorial that tries every game with you, and questions that load in your language.
Why making mistakes helps you learn (and how to use them)
Research shows that trying, getting it wrong and seeing the answer helps you remember more than just reading it. How to turn your mistakes into learning.
What's new in TONEC STUDY: new avatars, 254 badges and university courses
TONEC STUDY is on Google Play, and the next update brings a redrawn avatar, 254 badges with a new mythic tier and secret badges, and questions for high-school and university programmes.
5 ways to keep your study streak going
Simple habits that make daily practice stick – a small goal, a fixed time, mixing subjects, learning from mistakes and making it social.
Are you a visual learner? What research says about learning styles
Many people believe they learn best as visual, auditory or hands-on learners. A major review found little evidence for teaching to learning styles. Here's what to do instead.
Can you really learn to speed read? What science says
Speed-reading courses promise to triple your reading speed. A major scientific review found a trade-off between speed and understanding. What actually helps you read faster and better.
Does a growth mindset really help students? What the research says
The growth mindset idea – that ability can grow with effort – is hugely popular. Large studies found smaller effects than many people think, but real benefits for some students. Here's the balanced picture.
Does learning like a game actually work? What the research says about gamification
Points, badges and leaderboards are everywhere in learning apps. A meta-analysis of gamification studies found small but real benefits – and some important conditions.
How much screen time is OK for kids? What the guidelines say
Screen time recommendations for young children from the WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics, advice for school-age kids and teens, and how to make the time on screens count.
How much sleep do kids and teenagers need?
The recommended hours of sleep for children and teenagers by age, from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, why sleep matters for learning, and tips for better sleep on school nights.
How to calm test nerves: tips that are backed by research
Feeling nervous before a test is normal. Practical ways to handle test anxiety – from practising under test conditions to writing down your worries before the exam.
How to focus while studying: 10 tips that actually help
Can't concentrate when you study? Ten practical ways to focus – from getting your phone out of the room to studying in short sessions, with clear goals and real breaks.
How to help your child with homework (without doing it for them)
Practical tips for parents – set up a routine, ask questions instead of giving answers, praise effort and strategy, and know when to step back. Based on research about homework and feedback.
How to learn the multiplication tables (a guide for kids and parents)
A step-by-step way to learn the times tables – start with the easy ones, use patterns, practise a little every day and turn it into a game. Tips for children and parents.
How to learn vocabulary in a new language (and actually remember it)
The best ways to learn new words in any language – learn words in context, test yourself, use spaced repetition, say them out loud, use them, and learn the most common words first.
How to make a study schedule that you'll actually stick to
A step-by-step guide to building a weekly study timetable – list your commitments, find your time slots, plan short sessions, mix subjects, leave room for breaks – with an example schedule.
How to memorize things faster: 7 memory techniques that work
Practical, research-backed ways to remember more – test yourself, space it out, chunk information, use mnemonics and the memory palace, connect new ideas to old ones, and sleep.
How to motivate yourself to study when you don't feel like it
Waiting to feel motivated rarely works. Practical ways to get yourself studying – start small, know your why, track progress, make it social and reward yourself.
How to stop procrastinating and start studying
Practical ways to beat procrastination – make the first step tiny, set a timer, remove distractions, plan when and where, and reward yourself – for students of any age.
How to study for a test: a step-by-step plan that works
A simple plan for any test – start early, quiz yourself, spread your study out, fix your mistakes and sleep well – based on what learning research shows works best.
How to study the night before an exam (when you left it late)
Exam tomorrow and you haven't studied? A realistic plan for the last evening – prioritise, test yourself, focus on likely questions, and still get some sleep.
How to use flashcards the right way
Flashcards work best when you test yourself, keep one big deck, space your reviews and say the answer before you flip. What research shows – and the mistake most people make.
How TONEC STUDY keeps children safe
A guide for parents – age groups that never mix with adults, parent confirmation by email, chats without contact details, calls that are never recorded, and ads only when a student chooses.
Low-stakes quizzes in class: a short guide for teachers
Frequent quizzes that don't count much toward grades are one of the most effective teaching tools. How to run them, why they work, and how TONEC STUDY classrooms can help.
Meet TONEC STUDY: learning that feels like a game
What TONEC STUDY is, who it's for and what you can do in it – daily tasks for your grade, six learning games, duels with friends and a league for your school.
Should you take notes on paper or a laptop?
A famous study said handwritten notes beat laptop notes. A later replication found the difference was smaller than it seemed. What actually matters is how you take notes.
Sleep is part of studying: how rest helps you remember
Your brain keeps working on what you learned while you sleep. What research says about sleep and memory, and why an all-nighter before a test is a bad trade.
Spaced repetition: what it is and how to use it (with a simple schedule)
Spaced repetition means reviewing material at growing intervals so you remember it for longer. How it works, a simple review schedule, and the Leitner box method.
The Cornell note-taking method: a step-by-step guide
How to take Cornell notes – divide the page into notes, cues and a summary, then use the cue column to quiz yourself. A simple layout that turns notes into a study tool.
The Feynman technique: learn anything by explaining it simply
The Feynman technique in four steps – explain a topic in plain words, find the gaps, go back to the source, and simplify. Why explaining helps you learn, with examples.
The Pomodoro technique: how to study in 25-minute sessions
What the Pomodoro technique is, how to do it step by step, how to adapt it for younger students and long tasks, and the most common mistakes.
What is active recall? The study method that beats re-reading
Active recall means testing yourself instead of re-reading. What it is, why it works, the research behind it, and seven easy ways to use it in any subject.
Why a few questions a day beat a long cram session
Two of the best-tested ideas in learning research – retrieval practice and spaced practice – explained simply, with the studies behind them and how to use them.
Why mixing up math problems helps you learn
Practising one type of problem at a time feels easier, but mixing different types – called interleaving – leads to better test results. Here's the study and how to use it.