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Study Skills Core Modules

Revision & Exam Practice

Revision & Exam Practice Tip #1 - Work out how you like to revise

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That's right, how you LIKE to revise.

The only way you can concentrate on your revision is if you're enjoying it. Is that even possible? Well, yes, maybe...

Everyone's brain is different - some people like colours or pictures, some like order, some like it noisy!

There are a lot of different techniques you can use to help you assimilate all the information you'll need to impress the examiners. But just reading through your notes and hoping some of it might sink in is not going to be enough for college - you need knowledge and skill, which only comes from repetition and practice.

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What makes your brain happy?

There are a number of ways to try and work out how your brain prefers to learn. You could start by thinking about how you usually remember things. Not school or college things - the things you know you always just seem to remember, like movie quotes, song lyrics, dance steps, sports statistics, etc. Why do you find it so easy to fill your brain with that stuff, but not the knowledge that's going to help you get a university place or a job in the future?

 

Quick Activity

QA

A quick and easy way to try and work out what makes your brain happy is to complete this Memory Style test. You'll need:

  • a countdown timer (e.g. use your phone or the one on this website),
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  • to download and print out, or place on screen, the Memory Style test Word Chart (you can always ask in the Study Centre, room 235, top floor of the ILC, for a printed out version),
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  • a highlighter or coloured pen/pencil/felt tip if completing the above sheet as a print out (or read the first page instructions for advice on how to highlight on-screen).

When you have completed the test, read through the feedback suggestions to see what sorts of techniques your brain might have used to remember the words - you may have used more than one technique, so make a note of them. You'll need them for the essential activity on the next page.

 

 Are you more of a visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner?

eyesVisual Learners earsAuditory Learners handKinaesthetic Learners
  • Prefer to see how to do things
  • 29% of us prefer to learn by storing images in our brains.
  • Learn by listening and speaking
  • 34% of us prefer to learn by storing sounds in our brains.
  • Learn by doing
  • 37% of us prefer to learn by movement or touch.

Possible revision techniques:

  • use pictures, mind maps, computers, diagrams, flowcharts, key words, posters, timelines
  • Videos
  • Mind maps.
  • use colour and highlighters to help the brain remember.
  • write information in bullet points or as key words on “post-its” – (they come in different colours).
  • Careful layout of notes

Possible revision techniques

  • Talk over the work with someone else
  • Tape notes and play them back
  • Listen to music while revising – no words
  • Repeat their work out loud in funny voices.
  • Make up rhymes or raps about work.
  • Get someone to ask you questions about the work.

Possible revision techniques

  • Key word cards
  • put their notes on cards or “post-its” and sequence them (perhaps rank the cards in order of importance or make into sentences).
  • walk between notes or “post-its” that are on the floor or on the walls.
  • walk around while reading.
  • stand up – stretch or exercise – at least every 20 minutes.
  • draw pictures, mind maps – run a finger between the words on the map, say each one out loud.
  • squeeze a sponge or stress release ball while working.

 Table adapted from Revision and Examination Techniques PowerPoint by www.langley-sec.solihull.sch.uk