Getting Started With Revision

Revision is an effective tool to help students better understand exam material, identify weaknesses, improve grades and boost confidence. However, for many, revision can bring on a sense of dread and unease.

It can be tedious and overwhelming to try and figure out the best place to start and how to make the most of limited study time. But with a little organisation and some good revision tips and techniques, the process can become a lot easier and far more productive.

The following tips can help students get started with revision for their exams…

Create a detailed list or mind map of every subject, topic and sub-topic

It’s always helpful to have a game plan and some tools or resources to hand to help make the revision process smoother when prepping for exams.

When getting started, it is best to formulate a revision plan that clarifies how to spend revision time – create a study guide based on the material that will be covered in each exam module. 

Make a detailed list of specific topics and concepts, break down each topic into smaller sub-topics, and then create flash cards or mind maps to help learn and remember the information. It’s also important to practice questions related to each topic to test understanding.

A good tip is to colour-code the level of understanding for each topic – green, orange and red. This is a great way of pinpointing weaker areas that require more focus and attention. By the time the exam approaches, all sections should (hopefully!) be green.

Prioritise

Every student has their most and least favourite subjects. The trick is to tackle the most challenging ones first – spending a larger amount of time on them as they are likely to be the subjects that trip students up when it comes to sitting their exams.

Find a comfortable place to study free from distraction

Find a quiet, well-lit place to work, preferably with natural light, that will be comfortable and stimulating. It’s a good idea to keep phones or any other electronic devices in another room to remove any distractions and the temptation to scroll through social media or reply to messages.

Start revision with something fun

Students should always start their revision with something fun to help gather some momentum. It can be a game, an interactive learning resource, watching an informative film or video, or reading something interesting.

Make the text engaging

A key revision technique is to use cue or flash cards to test retention levels. If a student is reading over text on a page again and again without remembering any of the information, it can be frustrating and wastes a lot of precious time.

Taking a more active role by making flashcards cards with questions is recommended for repeated exposure during study periods and helps the words on the page sink in. 5 different types of questions per card with the answers on the back is appropriate and should cover all the information in the text.

Instead of simply reading notes, another top tip is for students to highlight sentences and points that they are struggling to understand or remember. Bright colours help make this bit more fun too, as well as organising and colour-coding subjects.

Read examiner reports

Reading examiner reports will identify focus areas and improve exam technique. They are published alongside past exam papers and mark schemes and review student exam performance and provide detailed information on what answer the examiner was looking for, for each question. Examiner reports are based on past papers, but students should still use them as a guide to answer exam questions and respond to topics.

Monitor diet and sleeping patterns to increase energy and focus

In order to maximise their chances of success, students should also monitor their diet and sleeping patterns – eating nutritious foods and getting enough sleep is essential for focusing the mind. Foods that are high in sugar or caffeine will give students a short-term burst of energy, followed by a lull – eating like this during revision sessions isn’t sustainable.

Here are a few tips for monitoring diet and sleeping habits;

• Eat balanced meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, slow-release carbohydrates, lean protein, and dairy products.

• Avoid processed foods, sugary drinks and caffeine in excessive amounts.

• Get the recommended sleep each night – a regular bedtime routine and a relaxing environment are conducive to good sleep hygiene.

• Drink 2 litres of water per day – staying hydrated improves our ability to execute a task by improving memory, attention and concentration levels.

Stay calm and positive

One of the key things a student should remember during the whole exam revision process is to stay calm and positive – becoming overwhelmed or frustrated will only lead to increased stress and anxiety levels and make the process more challenging.

Try not to let revision stress take over and take each day as it comes. Be patient and remember that everyone learns in different ways – performing well during exam season is not the be-all and end-all of a student’s academic journey. 

There’s no exact formula for exam success. Every student has different requirements when it comes to revision. The key is to work out which method works best and stick to it. Ultimately, when it comes to revision and study time, students get out what they put in.

Start your revision journey with confidence

If you decide that extra revision and exam tuition is the way to go, then Explore Learning’s dedicated maths and English tutors are here for your child in the lead up to exam season. Get in touch today and book a free trial.