I Important for
Students:
- Study
skills – how and where to study
- Revision
plan – the secret to exam success is planning
- Last-minute
revision tips – what can you do when time is short?
- Dealing
with exam nerves – don’t let the stress get on top of you
- Exam
tips – taking the exam
- Exam
tips – after the exam
1.
Study skills
Where to study
Creating good conditions to study in can help you make the most of the time
you spend revising. Here are some suggestions:
- Find a quiet place to study and
make sure you are sitting comfortably
- Make sure your desk is well lit
- Keep background noise to a
minimum
- Avoid studying in an area where
there will be distractions (like television!)
- Have everything you need to do
your revision to hand before you start
How to study
There is no ‘right way’ to revise, as long as the method you choose enables
you to gain a solid grasp of key facts and consolidate your knowledge. Some
students are happy to read their classroom notes from start to finish, others
prefer to simplify the information as much as possible, turning everything
into skeleton notes, diagrams or mnemonics. In practice, most students find
that mixing techniques suits the varied nature of the subjects being revised,
and provides essential variety when studying.
- Turn your notes into revision
tools;
- write ideas and facts on to
cards to use as ‘prompts’
- create memory aids such as
diagrams or mnemonics (e.g. initial letters to make a word you need to
remember or SMART objectives: Specific; Measurable; Achievable;
Realistic; Targets). These will help you remember key facts
- write key facts/notes out and
display these around the house where you will see them
- record yourself reading notes
to listen to
- Study with a friend and test
each other’s knowledge, but remember you are meeting to revise rather
than to chat!
- Work through past question
papers – and use a watch to time them so that you can practice timing
your answers.
- Choose study and revision
guides sensibly. It’s not hard to find help with revision – as well as
established published revision guides, there are hundreds of websites
offering help and advice. The problem is not how to find such help, but
how to judge which the best source for your needs. Save valuable time
and get recommendations from your teachers
- Remember course notes are also
a valuable source of extra help
- Keep yourself more alert by
changing revision methods during a session. For instance, try switching
from note taking to memorizing; from reading to asking someone to test
you
- Attend any revision classes
that your teachers may be running at school and get their advice on
revision methods
- Look after yourself – Sometimes
revision can become a competition – who stayed up latest, who worked
longest, who’s worrying the most. But the more tired you are the less
efficiently you’ll work. You need to rest as well as study, eat well,
drink lots of water and make sure you pace yourself. Don’t rush, and
equally don’t over-revise by doing too much too soon
2.
Revision plan
The top tip for successful revision is to make a plan; otherwise it is easy
to waste your precious revision time. We recommend that you start your
revision at least six weeks before your exams begin. It is helpful to look at
your exam dates and work backwards to the first date you intend to start
revising.
- List all your exam subjects and
the amount of time you think you will need for each one. It is unlikely
that the amounts will be equal. Many people find it advisable to
allocate more time to the subject or topics they find the most difficult
- Draw up a revision plan for
each week
- Fill in any regular commitments
you have first and the dates of your examinations
- Use Revision Checklists or
Syllabuses for each subject as a starting point. Look at what you need
to know and try to identify any gaps in your knowledge. (A good way of
doing this is to look at the results of past papers or tests you have
worked through)
- Divide your time for each
subject into topics based on the units in the revision checklist or
syllabus, and make sure you allow enough time for each one
- Plan your time carefully,
assigning more time to subjects and topics you find difficult
- Revise often; try and do a
little every day
- Plan in time off, including
time for activities which can be done out in the fresh air. Take a 5 or
10 minute break every hour and do some stretching exercises, go for a
short walk or make a drink
- You may find it helpful to
change from one subject to another at ‘break’ time, for example doing
one or two sessions of mathematics and then changing to Geography, or
alternating a favourite subject with a more difficult one. It helps to
build in some variety
- Write up your plan and display
it somewhere visible
- Adjust your timetable if
necessary and try to focus on your weakest topics and subjects
- Don’t panic; think about what
you can achieve, not what you can’t. Positive thinking is important!
3.
Last-minute revision tips
Although time may be short, you can still make a difference to your grade.
Try and prioritise; do what you can.
- Use your revision tools
(prompts, diagrams etc) to check final facts
- Keep calm and consolidate your
existing knowledge rather than trying to learn new topics
- Don’t stay up all night
revising; being overtired will not help you to do your best
4.
Dealing with exam nerves
It is natural to feel nervous before an examination. The more prepared you
feel, the easier it will be to conquer your fears.
- Create a revision plan to help
you feel in control of the process
- Plan your work carefully around
the topics you need to focus on. Being aware of gaps in your knowledge
can create nerves, but having a plan of how you will fill these will
make you feel better.
- Find out what is involved in
the exam:
- where and when it will take
place
- how much time is allowed
- how many questions you need to
answer
- Think positive
- Keep the exam in context – even
if you do badly, there will be other options open to you
- Allow yourself some fun-time
each day to relax
- Eat sensibly – your brain cells
need energy to function well. Make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid
becoming dehydrated. Dehydration makes you tired and reduces
concentration
5.
Exam tips – sitting the exam
Be prepared; find out what is involved in each of the examinations that you
are going to sit. Organize yourself the night before and get plenty of sleep.
- Check you have the correct
equipment with you before you leave the house (pens pencils, ruler,
scientific calculator, etc)
- Do take a watch or clock so
that you can time your answers
- Leave for the exam in plenty of
time
- Look through the paper first
and mark difficult questions/initial thoughts
- Select the questions that will
best enable you to demonstrate your knowledge to the examiner
- Look at the marks available and
read the questions carefully, following instructions given in the paper
(e.g. to show all workings, word limits etc)
- Use the information provided on
the paper (the answer’s often nearly all there)
- Pace yourself and allow enough
time to answer all the required questions
- Write as neatly as possible to
help the examiner to mark your work. Marking untidy writing is difficult
- For longer answers, take a few
minutes before you begin to produce a structured plan of what you are
going to include in each section
- Allow yourself ten minutes at
the end to read through your answers and correct any mistakes
- Cross out anything you do not
want the examiner to read (e.g. an earlier answer to a question)
6.
Exam tips – after the exam
It is easy to fall in to the trap of wondering how well you performed and to
discuss this with your fellow students. Your time would be better spent
looking ahead to your next examination.
- Don’t panic – you won’t be the
only student who is anxious about their answers
- Don’t compare your answers with
those of other students – this can create negative feelings
- Have some fresh air and food
and take time to relax before you start revising
- Don’t rush to your textbooks to
check your answers – there is no point at this stage
- Focus on the next exam and how
you might improve your exam technique
- Have a quick look at your
revision plan. Do you need to adjust it?
- Think positive!
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