Exam season is upon us, and so it is really time to lock in and revise. We know everyone revises differently – whether you like loud music, silent study, flashcards or mindmaps – we’ve compiled our top revision tips to get you through your exams.
1 – Use Active Recall
Re-reading your notes might feel like the best way to revise, but you’re not necessarily taking in the information. Active recall forces your brain to retrieve information, which strengthens long-term memory.
So, how do you actually use active recall?
- Read your notes, then cover them up. See how much you can remember. This is a good way to ensure that your brain is focusing on taking in the facts.
- Use Flashcards, or apps like Quizlet, and trigger your memory from a date or a word.
- Try and answer some questions before you even look at your notes. This way you can spot gaps in your knowledge, and spend a little more time on the areas you’re lacking in.
2 – Do Past Papers
This is one of the most reliable ways to help with your exams. It helps you to understand exactly what examiners expect.
Start with papers topic-by-topic, then try to complete them within the exam time. Always check your answers against official mark schemes from the exam board.
Try and focus on:
- Sticking to the proper timescales
- Understanding the mark schemes and not just the answers
- Spotting question patterns
These are the closest thing to “predicting” how you may perform in an actual exam.
3 – Space our your revision
Spacing out your revision can be a lot more effective than last-minute cram sessions.
This method of revision is based on the Spacing Effect, which shows that going back to your notes/books at increasing intervals helps you to remember it for longer.
Here’s an example of how to space out your revision:
- Day 1: Learn the topic
- Day 3: Review it
- Day 7: Test yourself
- Day 14+: Have a quick refresh
Being consistent with your revision always pays off.
4 – Focus on your weaker areas
It might seem obvious, but focus on the topics you don’t know or understand as well as others.
Identify where you have some gaps in your knowledge (maybe by using active recall), and prioritise your revision on these topics. Hopefully, you’ll start to see progress in what you remember.
If you need any further help, remember to reach out to your teacher, they will happily provide more resources and go through things with you. They want to see you succeed!
Doing this is where you will see your grades go up.
5 – Have short, focused revision sessions.
Long, intense revision sessions can be counterproductive. Often, students find it helpful to study in shorter time blocks, and take breaks in between.
- Study in 25-50 minute blocks (use a Pomodoro timer to help).
- Put the phone away, or use an app blocker. This removes the temptation to take a quick sneak peak that turns into a 2-hour doomscroll!
- Make sure you take a rest in between. Walk away from where you’re revising, give your brain a proper break, then come back ready to revise again.
If you’re struggling with your revision, the Sixth Form team is here to help you with whatever you need. Plus, there will be A Level booster sessions too, keep an eye out for times and utilise your time wisely!
