Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyse information and evaluate it rationally, while understanding the link between ideas and concepts. It involves problem-solving and reasoning, and taking action, making a decision or forming an argument based on observations and interpretation of information. In simpler terms, you can think of it as the ability to question ideas or events, and not necessarily take them at face value. It’s an important skill which will inform the development of your own opinions and ideas. If you’d like to nurture your critical thinking skills, here’s some advice from a prep school in the UK which you might find useful.

Ask questions

Get into the habit of questioning information you’re presented with or questioning yourself when you’re faced with a decision to make. Ask why?, what?, who?, and how? when you’ve observed something or when you’re faced with different options or a problem to solve. In addition, try to question your own assumptions about events or ideas; ask why you’ve formed that assumption and whether there could be different viewpoints to explore. This ability to question the perceived norms is an important aspect of critical thinking, and getting into this habit will allow you to approach life with an open-minded attitude.

Evaluate the evidence

Another key part of being able to think critically is assessing evidence and deciding whether it’s useful in helping you solve a problem or reach a conclusion. Try to get to the bottom of where the evidence has come from and how that might affect its validity. Being able to spot where bias is involved is also a useful critical thinking skill as this can inform your decision making process.

Seek out different views

Our natural tendency is to align ourselves with people who think and act the same as us, but this can narrow our perspective and limit our thinking. This is particularly relevant in the age of social media where we can get lost in what’s often described as an ‘echo chamber’ – that is, a space where we only ever hear viewpoints similar to our own. This stifles our ability to change our thinking and beliefs based on new information we receive. Try to seek out thoughts and opinions different to your own. Step outside your normal social circle and have debates with people who hold contrasting beliefs and viewpoints. This will enable you to consider information from a different perspective and question any assumptions you might have made about people or events.

Reverse your thinking

Thinking in reverse can be an effective way of solving a problem that you’re stuck on. This entails flipping your thoughts and knowledge on their head, and considering them backwards; so instead of assuming that A causes B, you could ask yourself: “What if B actually causes A?” Doing this disrupts your normal thinking process and allows you to discover alternative solutions.

Consider all angles

When you’re faced with a decision to make, practise considering the available options from a variety of different angles. Think about the potential consequences of pursuing each one, and how that might affect you or other people. Again, you’ll want to ask questions when considering each scenario, and carefully analyse the answers. On a practical level, you can boost this important critical thinking skill by writing a pros and cons list whenever you face a decision and going through each item on your list and thinking about its impact on whoever is involved.

Getting into the habit of questioning information, evaluating evidence, challenging your thinking and considering things from different perspectives will improve your critical thinking skills; you’ll be able to rely on your own decision-making and develop informed opinions which will stand you in good stead throughout life.

It’s understandable if you feel a little daunted by the prospect of exams, particularly if you find formal assessment difficult. It may seem like a momentous moment in your life, especially with a potential university place or work opportunity resting on your results, and the pressure can build up. There are things you can do though to ensure you’re fully prepared and increase the chances of you doing well and reaching your goals, and also to safeguard your mental health during this important period. Here a Sixth Form in London outlines how you can get ready for your exams and look after yourself in the process.

Design a manageable revision schedule

Revision might seem like a drag, but designing and implementing a manageable revision schedule is the best way to ensure you recap everything you’ve learned over the last few years in time for your exams. Write down everything you need to cover and by when, and look at the time available to you, then break your time down into smaller blocks and allocate specific topics to each block. Make sure you take into account when each exam is and prioritise earlier ones over later ones. Try to avoid a jam-packed schedule if possible; design a revision routine that’s realistic and includes regular breaks for exercise, relaxation and socialising. These aspects are important for your mental health and you’ll burn out quickly if you’re constantly studying.

Reward yourself regularly

Promising yourself a nice reward upon completing a particular topic will provide a good incentive to motivate you throughout the revision period. Write a list of small rewards like seeing a movie or going out for a meal so you have things to look forward to once you’ve met your goals. This will also ensure good mental health as you won’t be spending every second studying.

Prioritise your physical health

Your physical health will affect your mental and emotional health, so make sure you’re eating a healthy diet of nutritious foods and not consuming too much junk food or high fat/sugar foods – these can lead to energy slumps which can affect your motivation levels and ability to concentrate on revision. Make time for regular exercise as well; this is particularly beneficial if done outside as the fresh air will energise you while the physical activity will give you a welcome boost of endorphins. It’s also a good idea to ensure you’re getting enough sleep; lack of sleep can have a significant impact on your ability to focus for an extended period of time.

Ask for help

If there’s a particular topic you’re struggling with, don’t stay silent – ask for help, whether it be from a tutor, a friend or a family member. Having someone else’s perspective on the subject might help you understand it better. If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it’s important to talk to someone you trust who will listen in a non-judgmental way. Even just offloading to friends will make you feel better. Make use of all the resources available to you to dive deeper into topics you’re finding difficult; there should be plenty of online resources on the subject, and of course you could ask for some help from a tutor. Try not to panic and take some time to think about how you can overcome any difficulties, asking for the support of others if you need it.

It might also help to keep a sense of perspective and remind yourself that exams are not the be all and end all; of course you want to do well and you might feel pressure to perform from others, but know that there are always other options and avenues open to you if things don’t go as well as you hope.