Handbook: How to Revise

April 17, 2017

• Effective Revision

Revising for exams can be difficult and taxing so before you start you need to know the best way to revise to get the most of the time you spend doing it:

1. The first thing to do is make sure you have all the equipment you need to revise. Having enough paper, coloured pens, highlighters, flashcards etc. are all commonly used so make sure you have enough of whatever you will use at the beginning of your revision so you don’t waste time trying to find some later.
2. Start your actual revision by making a schedule. This may not seem an efficient use of your time at the beginning but this schedule will keep you on track throughout your revision period. Make a long term schedule that can be split into weeks and then a daily timetable to make the most of your time before exams
3. Schedule in breaks. These are needed to make sure the brain is still concentrating and taking in what you are trying to revise. You need at least 5minutes break every hour at least to ensure you work efficiently. Doing small chunks like this is more efficient than continuous working.
4. Make sure your schedule is realistic. You need to take time with what you are doing. Rushing through topics mean you may not be learning all the information you need to know. You may think about setting some time at the end of the week to be used to catch up on any revision you didn’t get to finish in the allotted time.
5. Start early. The earlier you start means you can go over a greater range of material at a slower pace allowing for more efficient learning. You can ease yourself into it by doing a little each day to get the most out of the time you use. Doing it this way means you are less likely to have to cram the night before which is usually a stressful way of doing things.
6. Find out what type of learner you are. If you need to write to learn, then copying out notes or condensing them can be a good tactic. If you are more of a physical learner then flashcards may be a better option. Most people find it is easier to learn from things when they are different colours so highlighters and coloured pens should be well used.
7. Practice exam questions. If you are more prepared for the type of questions they normally ask, you are less likely to slip up in the exam. Furthermore, getting a friend to test you regularly can help you keep track of your progress and this can highlight areas you need to work on.
8. If a particular style of question comes up regularly, then practice writing out a good answer for it. If you do an essay based paper, practise writing out essay plans which could potentially be used in the exam. If they don’t, it’s still a good and useful practice.
9. Eat healthy and do a bit of exercise, science has shown you are more likely to concentrate and perform to a higher standard if you go regular exercise and eat the right foods.
10. Try not to cram the night before or on the day. Also, don’t think about areas which you think you could have done more on. This will just stress you out and so you are less likely to do well in the exam. You have prepared well for the exam, being calm and confident will help you think better in the exam.

Good luck with your revision and exams. They it is a stressful period but with the help of these tips, starting early and some careful planning, you should be more relaxed about this time and achieve the grades you want.

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