Study Skills Core Modules

Revision & Exam Practice Tip #4 - Get your revision materials sorted

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You know how you like to revise and what methods you want to use for each subject.

You have page 2 your Revision Guidelines sheet filled in for each of your subject units and topics.

You have your revision timetable pasted on your wall, your bedroom door (with the Keep Out sign), your phone and/or the fridge.

You have your textbooks and your class notes at the ready.

You've picked the first subject, unit and topic to focus on today...

Now what...?

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Remember I mentioned above that we'd explain the page 2 Revision Guidelines chunks? Well, here we go:

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- 1st Revision = get creative! Make your lovely mind-maps, diagrams, 1-page notes, flash cards, recordings, etc. This is the first part of your revision, as it's making you go through your notes and books and pull out the most important things you know you need to learn. You could also work with friends and classmates on these or, if you just fancy cheating, you could check online revision sites for ideas and ready-made revision notes you can borrow and adapt for your own needs. Just remember to cross-check them with your own notes to make sure they're correct and appropriate for your specification.

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- Summary Notes - you can now organise these however you want and spend some time reviewing them. If they're visual or kinaesthetic, pin them about your room, or your whole house if you're allowed. If they're auditory, set up your playlist and start listening. Get someone to test you on the notes you've made.

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- Self Test - I know what you're thinking - isn't this the test bit? Well, yes and no. Obviously you can test yourself on the knowledge again here. BUT for this bit, you should really test yourself by trying out some actual exam questions using that knowledge you've been filling your head with. Compare your answers to the mark schemes - what did you get right and what could you have done better? It's at this point you should also be checking on your exam technique; if you're not confident about how to answer exam questions, talk to your teachers a.s.a.p. If you're not sure where to get practice papers and mark schemes from, take a look at tips in the Exam Preparation module.

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- 2nd Revision - now's the time to pull all that knowledge and practice you've done above together and work on the bits you're missing. Maybe you need to go back to the books and improve your knowledge; maybe you need to check that you're answering the questions the way the examiners want...

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After all that, it's a case of repetition and practice until your exams start. Regular repetition will strengthen your knowledge and skills. That couple of big revision sessions can now become lots of little revision sessions: picking a practice question, checking your knowledge, answering the question, checking your answer.

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Don't forget to ask for help from your teachers or the Study Centre whenever you need it.