Revision Advice
Top Ten Tips for Revision Success

1. Start early: It is true that it is never too late to start revising. You should already be well underway with your revision timetable, but if you aren’t then start now and whatever you do don’t leave revision to the night before. When on study leave aim to revising for at least 6 hours on days when you do not have an exam.
   
   
2. Revision timetable: This is very important and will help you manage your time in a way that leads to effective revision and exam success without getting stressed. Click HERE for more advice about constructing a revision timetable and to download a long term and short term planner which will really help you to get organised! 
   
   
3. Revision environment: Find a good place to work where you won’t be easily distracted. Revising in front of the T.V. or in the garden will not help you concentrate, so work somewhere which is quiet and uncluttered. The best place is sitting at a well lit desk or table, certainly not lying on your bed with the curtains shut and your books propped up by a pillow! Turn your mobile off during revision sessions to avoid the distraction of texting.
   
   
4. Break your revision up into small sessions: Most people revise best by working for about 30 minutes and then taking a short 5 minute break. Be strict with the length of your breaks – perhaps just make a drink and grab a snack, have a stretch or send a quick text. Aim to work like this for about two hours (four 30 minute sessions) before taking a longer break. You may find it helpful to change from one subject to another at ‘break’ time, for example doing one or two sessions of Maths and then changing to Geography, or alternating a favourite subject with a more difficult one. It helps to build in some variety.
   
   
5. Be clear what you need to revise: Make sure you are absolutely clear what you need to revise for each exam and if you don’t know then ask your teacher. Many subjects have published revision checklists or provided a copy of the exam syllabus. Use these to ensure you revise the right topics.
   
   
6. Revision materials: Be careful with revision guides that are published to buy in book shops. They try to cover all bits of a GCSE in that subject. Ask which revision guides are recommended by your teachers. Some subjects have given or sold revision guides to you so make sure you use these.
   
   
7. Revision technique: Make your revision ACTIVE or INTERACTIVE rather than passive. Passive revision is just simply reading your notes or copying them. While this is better than nothing research shows that you will remember more if revision is active or interactive. Click HERE for a list of active revision techniques that help you revise effectively.
   
   
8. Get help: If you don’t understand something even after you have looked it up in your notes and read the textbook, then ask a friend or contact your teacher to explain things to you. 
   
   
9. Keep healthy: Make sure you stay energised during your revision timetable by drinking lots of water and eating well. The best start you can give yourself on a long day of revision and/or exams is a good breakfast, so don’t skip it! One of the most effective ways to release stress and boost energy levels is to do some exercise – why not go for a run, take a swim or go for a ride on your bike? Lastly, make sure you get to bed early throughout the exam period. 
   
   
10. Stay calm and focussed: If you panic you won’t revise well or perform to your best in the exams. There will be times when you think that you’re never going to be able to remember all your revision notes but you will if you work hard and stay calm. The exams are going to happen so you might as well give yourself the best chance of doing well by starting to revise early and keeping calm.

 

Further school Exam information