Revision Tips

Ten Top Tips for Effective Revision

Everyone is tempted to stay up all night a couple of times before the exam, trying to cram that knowledge into our brains, surviving on coffee and chocolate bars. But is it really the best way to learn? Here are the Focal Point Career Guidance team's tried and tested revision tips:

1.   Ensure that your notes are complete

If you missed classes or were just having a bad day and didn't take notes, speak to teachers or friends and make sure you fill in those gaps.

2.   Identify the place where you work best

For some people this is the library, for others this is at home. Find your place and stick to it.

3.   Cut down on social media and messenger

If you are one of those people who can't ignore that little flashing light on your phone, turn it off when you are studying, leave it somewhere you can't see it or even delete Facebook from your phone for a month.

4.   Eat properly, sleep well & exercise

Gorging on 'brain foods' like fish in the last two weeks before your exam won't help, but you can make sure your blood sugar level stays constant by avoiding high sugar foods – it's the peak and ensuing sleepy trough of sugary snacks that makes it difficult to concentrate.

5.   Make a realistic timetable and take breaks.

Plan to finish your revision a week before the exam. Then you can either take days off or have more time for topics you find difficult. Never work for more than 45 minutes without a break.

6.   Don't do all your study on a subject in one block.

A recent study by Professor Dunlovsky at the Kent State University showed that 'distributive practice' – breaking up your study over a longer period of time – is a more effective way of remembering.

7.   Know what works for you

Each individual has a different approach to learning. Some learn better in silence, some find it easier to revise with music on, others like to study in groups. Learn which strategy works for you.

8.    Keep on testing yourself

Prof Dunlovsky also highlighted testing and re-testing as the most effective method of revision. The key message is to learn things more than once – practice retrieving material from your memory and then building on what you know.

·         Recreate mock exam conditions: download past papers from exam board websites and complete them in a quiet room within the allocated time. Ask a friend to do the same paper and then swap your papers to mark them. It may be a bit intimidating but you really will improve.

·         Write notes on flashcards and keep them in different boxes – one for things you don't know yet, one for things you almost know and one for things you definitely know. Keep testing yourself and the cards will gradually move across the boxes.

9.   Know your learning style!

Find out whether you are a visual, auditory or kinaesthetic learner and use this to help you revise. If you are not sure which you are, you can download a quick quiz from www.facebook.com/focalpointcareerguidance. Visual learners: use colour codes, organise information into mind maps, tables, charts or diagrams and stick them on your wall. Auditory learners: put information into your own words and record it or repeat it out loud, use rhymes and songs. Try studying in groups where you can discuss information. Kinaesthetic learners: study in shorter blocks, make sure you are comfortable, be free to walk or move while you work. Use flash cards, memory games, and gestures to recall information. Write and we-write information; reorganise it into tables, timelines or flowcharts.

10.Lastly – do your best. Don't feel pressure to be the best. One bad exam does not define who you are!