How to revise

With exams only weeks away for some students, here are some useful tips on revision:

1. Start revising early

- i.e. months, not days before the exam. Make a timetables (see samples) to plan your revision and stick to it.

2. Don't spend ages making your notes look pretty.

- This is just wasting time. For diagrams, include all the details you need to learn, but don't try to produce a work of art. Limit yourself to two or three colours so you don't get carried away colouring things in.

3. Take short breaks

- every hour, not every ten minutes.

4. Use revision guides

5. In study leave, start revising early

- i.e. 9am - that way, you'll get your day's work done much quicker and will have time to relax in the evening.

6. Stick revision notes all around your house

- so in the exam you think - "aha, quadratic equations, they were on the fridge..."

7. Get yourself drinks and snacks


- so you don't make excuses to stop every ten minutes...




8. Try reading difficult bits in funny accents - Australian is particularly good...




9. Sit at a proper desk, no revising in bed!




10. Don't put it off


- "Procrastination" is the long word for it. And it means rearranging stuff on your desk, getting a sudden urge after 16 years to tidy your room, playing the guitar, thinking about the weekend, writing love poems about that girl/boy you fancy, painting your toenails etc, etc... sit down at your desk and GET ON WITH IT!




11. Don't just read your notes, you have to write stuff down!




12. Don't turn yourself into a revision zombie
- if you stop doing anything else but revision you'll turn into a zombie, it's really important that you keep time to do things you enjoy... like cinema, shopping, sports, Frisbee, rock-climbing, making model planes, nose-picking, whatever tickles your ferret... when you're doing these, try to relax and totally forget about revision.

13. Do lots of practice exam papers

- this is especially important as you get close to the exams.

14. Read the exam timetable properly

- double check so you don't miss an exam and have plenty of time to prepare for it.

15. Find the right environment to revise

- NOT in front of the TV. NOT listening to the radio. Music can sometimes be OK, but you need to find the right kind. It's got to be something that's just there is the background that you're not thinking about at all. Music without signing is better as you won't be tempted to dance around your bedroom like a big fool.

Good luck!

SATRO'S TOP REVISION TIPS

The time of year has arrived - students will be poring over their books, trying to ensure that they are prepared for their exams. We have compiled a list of our top revision tips to help you make the most of your revision time...

Create a timetable
Agree and stick to a routine/timetable for revising. Getting revision done during a specific interval each day will encourage you to become more organised and motivated, knowing that you have a goal to adhere to each day. 

Set goals
Set and write down all your goals - what would you like to achieve from revising? Try to be realistic, focussing on 4 or 5 key areas you wish to study or that you know need improvement. Making a list will help you to keep focused, ticking the items off your list will be satisfying too!

Manage tasks effectively
Manage tasks by making them:

• Specific - do past papers of the exam you are revising for.
• Measurable - success in completion of a specific task is easy to measure.
• Realistic - don't create tasks which can't be achieved because it's unrealistic

Quiz yourself

Quizzing yourself is a great way to keep your brain at work and the topics you're revising fresh in your mind. You can ask a friend or parents to help you by asking you a set of questions related to the topics you are studying. You may also find useful quizzes here:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/levels/z98jmp3 or here: https://www.examtime.com/a-levels/resources/quizzes/

Mind Maps

A great way of keeping information fresh in your mind is by creating 'mind maps' of key information and sticking them around your house, giving them a quick read every time you walk past.

Reward yourself

Remember to reward yourself once you have completed your revision period each day. This could include seeing your friends, watching TV or anything else you enjoy. This will keep you motivated to complete your revision period.

Think Positively

Finally - THINK POSITIVELY! Consider your mental attitude, how you approach the task and how it might be holding you back. The more positively you think about yourself and your actions, the more you will be able to get completed.