revision

Ask a teacher/lecturer or tutor for help, they can give you past papers for you to work through, make notes on what you don’t understand, and whatever you can’t answer just ask, it will not hurt.

Revision is usually a solo thing but it is also good to revise in a group setting, whereby knowledge can be exchanged and opinions can be discussed and explained.

Revision can be tiring and it takes a lot of dedication, concentration and determination. You need to set your goals to achieve your targets, do this by aiming for all the objectives set out in the syllabus.

When revising you need to have an idea of what you intend to learn and where you’ll get all the information and material you need. Along with the work you’ve already done, consider buying assistance for revision such as books or guides that take you through step by step.

Revision takes careful preparation, you need to prioritise your workload and time yourself, and it’s no good reading for the entire day you’ll get bored and won’t learn enough.

When thinking about time, consider the time of day. First thing in the morning is ok because your awake, alert and ready for it, try to avoid doing it after midnight, unless you’re nocturnal you’ll be so tired you won’t remember half of it.

Revision aids such as smart cards are very effective, jot down short sentences that are quick, catchy and easy to remember rather than long overwhelming quotes or paragraphs of text.

Relax and take regular breaks during revision, space it out. I tackle the hardest subjects first then the easier ones. For example GCSE /A level history, science and economics are chronological with dates, numbers, figures and equations to remember, this is harder than text based revision like English, drama or geography.

All subjects are hard to grasp but some you may hate and some you may love

Tackling the least liked subjects first is a brave and bold move because you overcome the demons at the first hurdle and get that ballpoint pen rolling.

Creating a good quiet working environment works wonders, you really get the time and space to home in on learning mode and make time pass faster while you enjoy yourself and feel refreshed. Some people actually work better with background noise whether its birds, traffic or the summer breeze, while others tend to go for calming music such as jazz or classical. I for one always opened my windows to get the feel of a natural environment, as if I were outside studying; You can also darken the room by drawing the curtain and using a desk lamp to create the effect of being in a library study.

At this time of year teacher’s offer extra tuition or study classes that give you the opportunity to catch up on thing’s you missed last term or haven’t fully understood, use revision classes they are beneficial.

Mixing and blending your revision technique helps, especially when tailoring information to the various subjects you study.

Last minute revision is to be done once you’ve learnt all you can and all you want to do is touch up on a few topics you haven’t grasped fully.

Summary

1. Find a comfortable and quiet space to study

2. Plan, Prioritise and Prepare yourself for revision

3. Attend revision classes or work with a friend

4. Look at past paper’s or published material.

5. Take notes, use smart cards or other memory systems

6. Never panic, stay calm and focussed.

If it gets all too much seek help, check out the BBC Bite size website for help with GCSE and A Levels…

Now you’re ready to run home, revise and stay in and hibernate until the exams are all over.

From me and all the Get Smaart team  

Good luck guys!