Study Skills: An Essential Requirement Among Higher Secondary Students

English is a skill subject, so, along with the four basic language skills, study skills are also to be developed in order to become proficient in English language. Study skills are learning strategies that help students organize, process and use information effectively. They give the learner practical solutions on how to study. Higher secondary level acts as the stepping stone to higher education. Henceforth it is essential for the students to be equipped with the study skills of English. The objective of the study was to find out the need for study skills among higher secondary students. A survey was conducted to collect necessary data. A questionnaire on study skills having 59 items was used as the tool to collect data. The items in the questionnaire were prepared under the following dimensions: Note taking, note-making, reporting, paragraphing, summarising, reference skill, reading skill, writing skill and information transfer skill. Under note-taking, note-taking format and note-taking strategy were considered to prepare items. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 385 higher secondary students in Malappuram district as the sample for the study. Due consideration was given to type of institution (Govt. and aided), gender (male and female) and stream of study (science, commerce and humanities). The investigation found out that, study skills in English are required for higher secondary students regardless of type of institution, gender and stream of study.