Studying with ADHD worksheet

Looking for a studying with ADHD worksheet to share with school-aged therapy clients? You’re in the right place.

Clients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often struggle with paying attention, focusing for long periods, and prioritizing tasks—which can make school and college more challenging. 

This guide to studying with ADHD is for therapists who work with neurodivergent clients. It includes studying tips to strengthen learning skills and tips for how to use test anxiety worksheets. You can also download a free studying with ADHD worksheet to use in your therapy practice. 

Study tips with ADHD

Studies show that children and adolescents with ADHD experience poor outcomes in several domains of functioning, including education, work, and relationships. 

However, with the right support, neurodivergent people with ADHD can excel in these areas. 

As a therapist, there are several ways you can support clients with ADHD who are struggling at school. 

The most important step is to ensure they request accommodations at their school or college. 

School-based accommodations are usually addressed in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan. In a college setting, students with ADHD can access support through the school’s disability office or health center. 

Reasonable accommodations may include: 

• Extra time on tests and extra breaks can benefit students with ADHD during long tests. 

• Advance assignment information: Many colleges give students with ADHD advance notice of assignments, which can be helpful with academic planning and breaking assignments into smaller tasks. 

• Evaluation choices: Some educational institutions allow students to choose their preferred assessment method. For example, they may select a written paper, oral assessment, test, project, or online quiz.

• Deadline extensions: This can be helpful for students who struggle with procrastination. However, students may be required to ask for an extension before the deadline.

• Grading information: Getting advanced information about how papers are assessed, like a grading matrix, clearly shows students how assignments are marked and the assessment criteria they should address in their papers.

Depending on the student's age and academic institution, students may have access to academic study resources, like an academic coach who can help prioritize their workload, and the use of technological resources like software that converts written text to an audio file. 

Other study tips include:

• Minimize distractions to help keep focused.

• Set a timer for focused work, such as for 15 or 20 minutes, then get up and move around.

• Play background music while studying. 

• Divide assignments into smaller manageable chunks.

• Use organizational tools like a homework planner, assignment notebook, or deadline schedule.

• Apply multimodal learning strategies, like highlighting text in different colors, learning texts via audio instead of textbooks, playing with fidgets while listening to lectures, or using a standing and walking desk.

• Use time-based reminders, such as a clock, timer, or phone notification to give students a visual representation of time.

• Allow sufficient time for breaks and transition time between studying and other tasks.

• Check-in regularly with a medical provider to manage medication.

These tips are included in the free downloadable studying with ADHD worksheet.

Benefits of learning study skills for ADHD

Strengthening study skills benefits students with ADHD in several ways:

• Reduces the likelihood of overwhelm and procrastination

• Makes learning accessible

• Limits distractions

• Reduces decision fatigue and other symptoms of executive dysfunction

• Helps students stay organized and on track to achieve educational goals

How to study with ADHD and anxiety

Many students with ADHD may also experience anxiety, especially when it comes to taking tests. This is where test anxiety worksheets can be helpful, along with providing clients with the tips below. 

Some ways to approach studying for students with ADHD and anxiety include:

Organize

Plan out assignments in advance and break them into smaller tasks with mini-deadlines. Keeping your home environment/study space organized will also help minimize distractions.

Use sticky notes

Once you’ve planned out your deadlines, use sticky notes as visual reminders (in places you’ll quickly see them) about an assignment deadline or study goal.

Set an alarm

Use your phone to set reminders about study time and deadlines to stay on track, manage time effectively, and reduce test anxiety. 

Create a routine

Having a routine of tasks to complete can help people with ADHD because there is less decision-making. For instance, if you know when you come home from work that you’ll study after dinner, you can get your study materials/assignment information ready before leaving for the day. So, when you get home, you’ll see a visual reminder, which can help you procrastinate less and worry less about what to do. 

Ask for help 

A study buddy or academic coach is a great way to stay on task, stay accountable, and feel less anxious about the volume of work.

How to use the studying with ADHD worksheet

Therapists can use our downloadable studying with ADHD worksheet with clients in several ways.

First, you can provide the worksheet to help clients visualize strategies and learning skills that are available to them.

You can also provide the studying with ADHD worksheet  as a handout to remind clients of what you discussed in the session. This may also help them focus on the content of the session instead of trying to take notes or remember what you said. 

For clients with anxiety, you can use the  test anxiety worksheet to identify study strategies to reduce their anxiety.

Sources

• Evans, S. W., Owens, J. S., Wymbs, B. T., & Ray, A. R. (2017). Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). ADHD in the classroom: helping children succeed in school. 

• Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). (n.d.). For Educators. 

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