What advise would you have for revising for exams?

Dmitry Dereshev answered on 25 Apr 2023:

What helps me is re-reading the textbook chapters, writing mock tests, then spending more time on parts that the mock test shows I do not understand completely. Usually, there are articles and videos online explaining how and why a given problem has a given solution.

Tom Bullock answered on 26 Apr 2023:

I found making a revision timetable plan and doing it little and often helped me fit it all in and not get overwhelmed. Even just 15mins on a topic is useful.

What type of learner are you? I’m a visual learner so I found drawing out diagrams and writing things out helped a lot!

Lucy Mitchell answered on 26 Apr 2023: last edited 26 Apr 2023 6:13 am

My main advice is don’t panic. I found exams hard – i think most people do – so you are not useless if you find them hard, or struggle with the stress of them.
So – don’t panic. They are not there to catch you out, they are about checking whether you can remember what you’ve learned.
For my university students, I give them all the information they need during the course to pass the exam or complete the coursework – and it will be the same for you at school. If you go to lessons, you will get the information you need to pass the exam.
If there are bits you found very difficult during your classes, ask your teacher – don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you found it hard, the chances are someone else did as well and if the teacher can understand why then they can explain it to you differently so you get it.

I also think that when it actually comes to taking in information during revision, that short, sharp periods are better – I wish I had known that when i was revising! Instead of struggling through an hour on a subject, if you just spend 15 -30 mins on a topic which you find difficult, and then take a break, you will probably get further than you would otherwise. Good luck!

Iona Christie answered on 26 Apr 2023:

I found I was better at learning while doing something so this might be reading aloud or writing out key things over and over again or making flashcards. anything other than just sitting and reading from notes

Catherine Holt answered on 26 Apr 2023:

Use flash cards for things you need to learn and put them up where you will see them. When my son was doing his exams he put flash cards of maths and science facts around the bathroom mirror so when he was brushing his teeth he could revise and practice. Repetition is what you need so use a timetable to map out what subjects you are going to revise with plenty of sessions to go over and repeat work you have covered. Little and often over a longer period works much better than cramming the night before.

Jo Montgomery answered on 26 Apr 2023:

Start early (if you can’t do that because the exams are really soon, then above all else, don’t panic! It’s never too late to make a difference).
Plan your time, and include breaks and fun things – be realistic with what you can achieve – and don’t spend all of your time making beautiful colour-coded revision timetables, rather than actually revising! Allow yourself some flexibility – for example, map out which subjects you’ll be revising in which block, but don’t tie yourself down to a specific topic – some will take longer than others and you might not always be in the right frame of mind for that tricky topic. Audit your knowledge – there’s a temptation to go over stuff you already know as it makes you feel successful, but start with the things you know less well. Check the spec, use revision guides and past papers to help. Interleave your revision – so come back to things a couple of days, or weeks later, to make sure you still know them. This act of retrieval – digging the facts out of your brain, helps you to remember. Keep your revision active – don’t just read notes or watch videos – make summaries, questions and flashcards. Ask your teachers – they are great at this too and will have top tips!

Ling Lim answered on 26 Apr 2023:

Little and often. It’s not just about reading, but also doing – that’s how we learn best! So, trying different type of questions including those from past year papers will help with knowledge revision, identify gaps and test understanding.

Shanine Smith answered on 26 Apr 2023:

Hi,

This is what worked best for me:

1. Identify the main topics on the subject and schedule a day to focus on one at a time.
2. Identify mock exam questions (you teacher could help you with this) and practise writing a good answer with the help of books and revision material.
3. Read over your answer a couple times the next day and then practise writing it without the help of books this time.
4. Compare your 2 written answers and see what things you might have forgotten.

This technique worked for me but maybe only aspects of it will work for you (or none at all).
But I definitely advise writing something down either in written text or like a spider diagram of ideas if you brain remembers pictures better.
Re-enforcing what you read will give you a better chance of remembering things than reading alone.

Most importantly of all though is to not get to stressed and stay calm. It’s only an exam!
I like to revise in a nice quite place, by myself in a relaxing environment.
But find what works for you? Maybe you like to have an energetic revision session, study with others and talk through answers?

Find what works best for you and you will set your self up for the best outcome!

Cheers,
Shanine

Lisa Hursell answered on 26 Apr 2023:

Make notes, then condense those notes into index cards and use different colours for different sections so things stand out as you read them. Make notes from the recommended reading as well as your classes. Make a schedule that includes longer sessions to read and practice exams, as well as short sessions to review the index cards. The more you write, rewrite and review, the more likely you are to take it in and remember it.

Amanda Cruchley answered on 26 Apr 2023:

So many of the tips here are really helpful! It can be really stressful revising and as Lucy said it’s important not to panic.

I like trying to explain what I’ve been revising to a friend or to my parents. It helps me work out what I know and what I need to go back over and it doesn’t feel as scary as doing a practice exam paper.

For me, I also had some days when I just wasn’t feeling revision but I would sit in front of my books feeling more and more guilty. I find it can be helpful to take a break when you need it and go outside or go for a walk and then come back to it.

Camilla Cassidy answered on 27 Apr 2023: last edited 27 Apr 2023 8:23 am

Don’t be afraid to find what works for you, even if it is not the standard advice! I always worked best in the morning – so I would roll straight out of bed, in my pyjamas I’d grab my flash cards and run through them for two hours. Then, when I felt like my brain had done all its absorbing, I’d get up, brush my teeth, have breakfast, and only then would I set about doing other sorts of revision like making mind maps, etc. I could never be someone who revised late at night – it wasn’t a good way for the information to go in, for me, so my time was better spend then resting, rather than forcing myself to stay away for 10 more minutes.

I worked best by repetition – I would write everything on a topic out a few times, then I would attempt to put that all down on paper again on plain piece of A4 paper from just my memory; a mind map, with bubbles, little diagrams, tiny writing. Then I’d look back and see what I missed off. Then repeat. I liked this because the process helped me remember, but if I ever struggled I could close my eyes in an exam and think ‘the thing I need to know I wrote in green pen on the top left’.

I would also encourage you to do shorter sessions, with frequent breaks. Again – slogging through it when you’re not feeling good isn’t going to get good results! Look after yourself, set time limits and keep to them. If you can feel yourself goofing off and not doing good revision – you’re neither having the actual fun you would be if you were doing what you really liked, and neither are you doing good revision. Knuckle down and concentrate, or commit and give your brain the little break it needs.

Avoid distractions – put your phone in another room. If you want to listen to music, make a playlist and set it running – don’t find a reason to change song every other song. I used to listen to Classic FM a lot when I revised; it was background noise, I didn’t have to pick anything, and it was never too distracting.

Jarrod Hart answered on 27 Apr 2023:

Some great advice already, my two cents’ worth:
-> ensure you sleep well leading up to the exam, being alart on the day is worth a lot!
-> try explain your subjects to a sibling or parent to see if you understand it – what bit is important? why is this info useful?
-> most people learn more from “active” rather than “passive” learning – google the difference!

Rachel Edwards answered on 28 Apr 2023:

For any small bits you need to memorise, make posters and stick them up on your bedroom wall. It’s not the most exciting thing to look at, but seeing it every day really helps.

Rodrigo Bammann answered on 3 May 2023:

There are many options out there! You can see these two links here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zw8qpbk

https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/after-you-start/exam-revision-techniques (ignore the learning styles – it’s not proven!)

But ultimately, you need to try them and find the ones that work best for you. Practising, resting, and practising again. And most important of all, not getting super stressed about it!

Emily Rowe answered on 3 May 2023:

I found it helpful to write a set of revision notes and then try to create a copy without referring back to the first set. I then compared the two and focussed on the details I had missed out, rather than those that I remembered. I would sometimes then write out the details that I missed on flashcards to revise from later.

Cliff Williams answered on 5 May 2023:

Some great advice already posted.

Plan your time – you need to balance your revision with having some fun.

If possible start a study group or something so that you can revise together and learn from each other.

Remember that different people learn best in different ways. So plan to use the methods that work best for you.

Loretta-Ann Jilks answered on 5 May 2023:

When I revised for exams I would create mind maps to help break down the topic I was studying. There are so many different revision methods out there, you need to explore a few and find which one works best 🙂 Also remember to stay calm, you can only do your best!

Santosh Mahabala answered on 9 May 2023:

Identify the topics that you find difficult to follow and revise them till you understand them.

Write mock tests – this helps as it involves additional brain functions, looking, reading and ‘writing’. So, writing helps.

Yumi Stow answered on 11 May 2023:

I found making a revision timetable very useful, list out how many “sessions” e.g. AM/PM, how many topics for your subjects and put them all into something visual, I like to use excel. Then you can keep track of your progress, see where you are ahead, see where you have spent more time and need to catch up.

Paula McMahon answered on 19 May 2023:

Don’t panic. Writing things down and reading them out loud helps you remember/learn. If you understand how and why something works it is easier than remembering it.

Mimi Asogwa answered on 24 May 2023:

Some tips that worked for me
1. Start preparing early, don’t leave it till last minute. After each class, try to revise what was taught and write down the main points.
2. Get to do some revision with your friends: it really helps a lot because you may get help from your peers on areas you are struggling.
3. Revise past exam questions: most times the questions are repeated albeit in a different way.
4.If you are struggling in any area, contact your teacher and arrange for extra sessions.
5. Use videos in you tube to understand complex concepts.
6. Do a final detailed revision 1 week before the exams so you can relax.
7. Eat well and sleep at at least 8 hours in the weeks before your exams.

Áine Uí Ghiollagáin answered on 28 May 2023:

Summarise the main points on post-its or bits of paper and revise first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Question: What advise would you have for revising for exams?

Comments