Britain’s Six Learning Personalities Revealed – Which One Are You?
September 7, 2026
New research has uncovered the habits that shape how Brits learn – from The Highlighter to The Visualiser, we all have very different ways of making information stick
• Four in ten (40%) say they are avid highlighters, while 29% prefer to use AI to get a simpler explanation of a difficult topic
• Nearly half (47%) say their preferred way of learning has changed since school, while 28% still use the same techniques they relied on at school
• 58% would find an AI tools useful if they could adapt explanations to what they were struggling with
• Samsung’s Gemini Notebook feature on the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra brings a more personalised approach to learning, working with users’ own notes and documents to help them ask questions, simplify tricky topics, get follow-up explanations and turn information into quizzes
Britain is a nation of note-takers, last-minute crammers and serial highlighters, according to a new study1 which has uncovered six distinct learning ‘types’ across the nation.
The new research, commissioned by Samsung to celebrate Gemini Notebook on the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, has lifted the lid on how we retain information – with one learning personality emerging as the nation’s most common.
Nearly half of Brits (45%) confess to be avid note-takers, while four in ten (40%) say they lean on the highlighter with extreme vigour when reading or learning
The study also found that 47% of Brits say their preferred way of learning has changed as they’ve got older, suggesting the way we learn isn’t necessarily set in stone. Meanwhile, 28% still use the same learning techniques they relied on at school, showing that some learning habits are harder to shake.
In fact, over half (62%) say they learn something new at least once a week, showing that learning doesn’t stop when we leave the classroom – it’s something Brits are doing throughout everyday life.
From picking up a new skill or hobby to figuring out a tricky task at work, a quarter (24%) have found that they have had to teach themselves how to use new technology in the past year, while 79% agree they enjoy learning simply because they’re curious about something.
And when it comes to making new information stick, Brits are prepared to experiment. Over three quarters (85%) say they use different methods depending on what they’re trying to learn, while 38%% admit they’re still figuring out what works best for them.
When something doesn’t make sense first time, Brits are also prepared to find another route in, whether that means searching for another explanation (37%), looking for a simpler answer (29%), watching a video (39%), asking someone to explain it differently (33%) or testing themselves until it finally sticks (14%).
It is this more flexible approach to learning that AI tools such as Gemini Notebook are designed to support, helping people use their own notes and documents to create resources such as slide decks or videos, ask follow-up questions, simplify complex topics and even turn information into quizzes or a podcast.
The Six Learning Personalities
- The Note-Taker (26%) – The person who has to take notes to learn new information, despite 14% admitting they have written down more information than they actually need
- The Visualiser (23%) – For whom seeing really is believing, whether it’s a diagram, video, chart or demonstration, they need to see it in action before the penny drops. And they’re not alone: 75% of Brits say seeing something visually is important before they fully understand it, with 17% saying it is essential
- The Sense-Maker (15%) – Is never quite satisfied with the first explanation and needs to resort to other material such as YouTube videos, alternative text or real-world examples for things to finally make sense
- The Highlighter (14%) – Is a little overzealous with the highlighter pen. If something looks important, it gets highlighted – and if it’s really important, it probably gets highlighted twice.
- The Last-Minute Learner (7%) – The person who only gets serious when a deadline is looming
- The Quizzer (6%) – Likes to be tested on what they’ve learned to make something stick, often roping in friends and family to help
These learning habits don’t necessarily stop at traditional methods 58% say they would use an AI tool that adapted explanations depending on what they were struggling with, while 1 in 10 (10%)% would find it useful to turn their own documents or notes into quiz questions.
Annika Bizon, Mobile Experience VP of Product and Marketing for Samsung UK & Ireland, said:
“Learning doesn’t stop when we leave school or university. We’re constantly picking up new skills, solving problems and satisfying our curiosity, and our research shows there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
“Whether you need to write everything down, see something visually or hear an explanation three different ways before it clicks, technology can help make learning more personal.
“And when you’re making the move to a new Galaxy, bringing your projects with you should feel just as easy as discovering something new. With Smart Switch2, you can transfer the things that matter from your old device, so you can get set up and start exploring straight away.”
The Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra with Gemini Notebook are available now with prices starting from £1,699 and £1,899 respectively at www.samsung.com/uk.
- Survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted by OnePoll in September 2026. ↩︎
- Wired transfers from iOS require the receiving device to have Android™ 17 or later and One UI 9 or later, and the second device to have iOS 26.6 or later. Transfers can be completed without a cable through a wireless connection. For wireless connections, the receiving device must have Android™ 17 or later and One UI 9 or later, and the sending device must have iOS 26.6 or later. Availability of eSIM transfer may vary by carrier. ↩︎
