Revision Tips
Here are some tips to help make the most of your revision time. By making a plan and organising your time you can divide your revision into manageable chunks.
What you need to know
Organise a revision plan as early as possible, this will allow you to work out how much time to spend revising each day and when to take breaks.
Prepare a revision checklist
Divide the number of days you have until your exams, by the number of subjects you need to revise, to ensure you cover all subjects and topics.
Make a revision plan
- Once you know how many days you need to spend revising each topic, you will be able to make revision part of your daily routine. Revise often, try and do a little every day.
- Set aside time on your plan for things you need to do, like going to school, mealtimes and leisure activities
- Split the remaining time into half hour slots
- Break each subject/topic on your revision checklist into chunks you can cover in 30 minutes and fill your slots with these chunks
Where to study
- Find somewhere quiet
- Keep background noise to a minimum
- Avoid distractions!
How to study
There is ‘no right way’ to revise and there are a number of different techniques, you might find a mix of these suits you best.
- Read your revision notes
- Read for detail, where you need to have a good understanding of the text, take it slowly and ask yourself questions when you’re reading
- Skim to get the general idea of a large piece of text
- Scan to look for specific information such as names, numbers, dates and quotes
Tips
- Turn your notes into revision tools:
- Write ideas and facts onto cards, to use as prompts
- Create memory aids such as diagrams
- Study with a friend and test each other
- Work through past exam papers
- Use study and revision guides
Look after yourself
- Regular breaks are important
- A 5 minute break every 30 minutes is better than 30 minutes after five hours
- Breaks will help you absorb the information and avoid overload
- It’s important to set aside time, to take your mind off exams
- Lots of sleep and regular exercise will help you stay alert