The article argues that one of the most important academic skills — and yet least discussed — is Metacognition, which basically means thinking about how you think and learn. Rather than just memorising or working hard, metacognition involves self-awareness about your learning style, knowing which strategies work for you, and consciously planning, monitoring and evaluating your study process. 

Metacognitive knowledge means you understand yourself as a learner — what helps you study effectively, which environments suit you, and when to apply different strategies. Metacognitive skills are the actual steps: planning a study session, checking whether you really understand what you read, switching methods if one fails, and evaluating after a test to see what to change next.

Why does this matter? Because when students learn to use metacognition, their learning becomes intentional, flexible and adaptive. They gain confidence, stay organised, and can deal with difficulties more effectively. Research shows that explicitly teaching metacognitive strategies leads to better academic outcomes.