Train your mind to become photographic.
I typed all my summaries but they weren't really summaries. Like for each unit in Modern History I had 20 pgs.
I think typing helped, cause I can type faster than I can write, you read the actual stuff as you're typing...and your summaries are neat. However when it comes to diagrams, it can be a bitch.
For english, drama, modern history and visual arts, write essay after essay after essay. And if you're too lazy to do that, then write essay structures and do short answer questions.
For Drama IP and GP performance, be organised and be patient with other people you work with.
For major works in eng Ext 2 and Visual Arts, get a crud load of it done in the summer holidays, cause you'll be spending all your other time on other subjects when it gets busier in the latter part of the year.