Study apps for smartphones and tablets are transforming the way we study and learn

With almost half a million education apps out there to choose from, it's not always easy to find the one you're looking for.

Here are some general apps that come highly recommended:

1. Evernote – Great for collating notes

The New York Times named it one of the Top 10 Must-Have Apps. Not only does it let you take notes during lectures, save webpages, create lists, attach photos and audio recordings, but it also instantly synchs it back to all your devices. It's a great way of sharing notes with friends and its search function makes it a lot easier to find things instead of scrambling through hand-scrawled notes.

2. Groupboard – Perfect for group work

An app that's perfect for group study or coursework because it enables lots of different users to collaborate on an online whiteboard, all in real time. So even if you're not in the same room as your study mates, you can all work on the same project simultaneously, sharing ideas and data.

3. Chegg – Best money-saving app for students

Textbooks are the most expensive aspect of studying, but with Chegg you can rent textbooks quickly and easily – either as hard copies or eBooks that you can download straight away onto your eReader, smartphone or tablet.

As well as those general apps to help you study, you can also download apps for specific subjects. For example:

4. Plumbers Handbook

For those studying plumbing, this handy guide is the perfect app, covering every aspect of plumbing, from products to processes and installation guides. It contains diagrams, notes and technical information and is easily searchable, making it almost as essential as a spanner and wrench.

5. Electronics Engineering Toolkit

This comprehensive app includes calculators, examples and information that will help students of electrical engineering make quick unit conversions and understand the theory behind them.

6. iHandy Carpenter

This is a perfect example of innovation when it comes to technology. There's no need to carry around tools these days – all you need is your smartphone or tablet. This app contains a plumb bob, surface level, bubble level bar, steel protractor and steel ruler. Or if you're looking for a spirit level/bubble level with some cheeky feedback, check out TAFE NSW's Level TAFE App in iTunes.

You can find more apps by searching the Apple and Google Play stores or by doing an online search with keywords for your specific subject plus "app". And if you're unsure of which are the best for you, ask your TAFE NSW lecturers for their suggestions.