Revision Tips

Get or make a check list

• For every subject and in every topic find out what it is you need to know.
• Use the contents page of revision guides
• Ask your teacher
• Use the course specification (This tells the teacher what to teach!)

Make a timetable! - plan your work well in advance

• Plan your revision as far in advance as possible.
• Think of it as part of the course - not something separate.
• Make a revision timetable - then stick to it.
• Don't try cramming all your revision into the last few days before the exam. This is a very common mistake.
• Lots of people do leave it to the last minute of course. That's why they get stressed!

Manage your time - develop a regular work schedule

• Arrange your revision into short blocks of time.
• Work in regular, shorter blocks of time, rather than one long revision session.
• I recomend planning in 30 minute blocks: 20 minutes intensive revision followed by 10 minutes break
• Give yourself a reward after each session. This will help you to stay motivated.
• Regular revision will help you to remember your material.
• Remember! Revising one hour every day is much better than one day every week.

How to concentrate - avoid distractions and practise regularly

• Don't try to revise too many subjects in the same revision session.
• Switching between subjects may cause confusion.
• One subject in each session may be enough - because it will help you to concentrate.
• It's better to do one small thing well, rather than several things badly.
• A series of small successes will make you feel more confident.

Take short breaks - you can have fun too!

• If you start to feel tired or fed up, have a short break.
• Do something you find relaxing - but don't use this as an excuse to escape hard topics.
• Some topics will be harder than others - so be prepared.
• After the short break, go back to work again.
• That's the secret to this approach - have a bit of fun, then get back to work!

Your best time - revise at a time which suits you

• Some people work best in the earlier part of the day, because they feel more alert.
• Others might prefer to work after school, in the library.
• You might like to work at home in the evening.
• Choose whichever suits you.
• Decide on your best routine, then stick to it.
• Working late at night isn't usually a good idea.

Feeling tired? - don't push yourself to the limit

• Don't revise until you become tired.
• You will not remember what you have read, and your efforts will be wasted.
• If you start to feel tired, take a short break, and maybe get some fresh air.
• Short sessions of revision should help you to avoid this danger.
• Remember! For efficient revising, short and often is best.

Quick revision tips - even short periods can be useful

• You can sometimes use very short periods for revision.
• Five or ten minutes may be enough to remind yourself of a course overview.
• Short periods are also useful for revising word lists, dates, or formulas.
• Carry small revision cards and prompt lists for this purpose.
• You can check through a list whilst you are on a bus, for instance.
• Three or four shorter sessions like this might be more useful than one longer block.