Supporting our students as they head into exam season is crucial and preparations for Year 11 and 13 are well underway!
Revision starts well before exam leave and it is so important to be well organised and plan effectively in order to ensure that time is used as productively as possible.
Planning revision exercises carefully and in a timely manner will benefit longer term retention of information and also help to alleviate any potential test anxiety. With this in mind, our Head of Teaching and Learning Dr Jack Sheldrake has pulled together his top 10 revision tips for preparing to demonstrate your potential in exams.
1) START EARLY
Revision should begin months before the exam. Don’t ignore any problems you are having in lessons and seek assistance as soon as possible. You cannot review lots of information quickly so you need to give yourself plenty of time to allow your brain to review all the ideas in all of your subjects.
2) KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Check with your teacher which exam board you are studying and ensure that you have a copy of the specification. Review all the contents and ensure that you are confident in all the examined areas. This exercise is very useful as it will encourage you to focus your time on the most appropriate areas. Looking at the exam reports is a really useful exercise as it highlights what the examiners are prioritising.
3) CREATE A REVISION TIMETABLE AND STICK TO IT
Each subject contains topics and each topic should then be split into shorter, more manageable, sections (see above). Doing this will prevent the material from feeling overwhelming. You should create a revision timetable and stick to it. It should be realistic and include breaks. You should populate the timetable with the shorter manageable sections from each topic.
4) DO NOT LEARN PASSIVELY
Reading the subject revision guide and reviewing your notes is important as this cements the key concepts in your memory, however in order to achieve the highest grades you must actively revise and engage more deeply with the subject content.
You might create mind maps to link your learning, take online quizzes, use QuizLet, listen to podcasts and revise with friends. Don’t waste time making your notes look pretty!
5) REVISE IN A SUITABLE PLACE
You cannot learn in front of the TV. Find a nice quiet place with all your resources around you so you can revise in peace. Some people find it useful to revise each subject in a different place. For example, a café, as this can create stronger memories in a particular topic associated with a particular location.
6) DON’T GET DISTRACTED
Mobile phones are distracting even if you are not using them so turn it off. If using a computer or iPad, do not go on any apps or sites which are not linked to your learning. Try to develop self-control in this area as students who have high levels of self-control in this area generally perform much better in examinations. Use phones as a reward after working hard.
7) TAKE REGULAR BREAKS – EVEN BETTER IF YOU CAN GET OUTSIDE AND EXERCISE
You will be able to concentrate much more effectively if you take breaks. Don’t try to revise when you are tired. Eat well (especially breakfast) and drink plenty of water. Don’t drink coffee trying to revise late, sleep enhances your ability to learn and retain information.
8) PRACTISE IN THE SAME WAY YOU ARE GOING TO BE ASSESSED
Complete past paper examination questions then review the mark schemes in order to ensure that you are adhering to all the marking points and so your examination technique improves. Try completing the papers under timed conditions in order to ensure that you are spending an appropriate amount of time on each question.The more papers you complete, the more familiar the real examination will feel and the less nervous you will feel in the examination as the content and structure will feel more routine.
9) TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU LEARN
As we are all individuals, having an awareness of how you like to learn and how you can best recall information is very useful when revising. For example, if you like to learn using diagrams, you may read a passage of text then convert this into a diagram. The act of converting the material aids your learning and you may find this distillation process makes revising more straightforward. This will all depend upon how you like to learn.
10) TRY NOT TO GET STRESSED AND BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF
If you get stuck on something and you have persevered for some time then make a note before taking a break from it. When you go back to look at the problem again, you may see it from a different perspective and you may not make the same mistakes. Do not be afraid to seek guidance and support from your teachers and friends. If you get stressed then take a break, you will not learn anything if you are stressed which is why you should start revising now.
Dr Jack Sheldrake
Head of Teaching and Learning