Revision: The Basics

Whether its for common entrance, GCSE, A-level or University -  revision can be the bane of student life. Some revise too much. This student will forsake all in the pursuit of the “perfect revision day”. From sun up ’til sundown…. summarising, mind mapping and bullet-pointing. This often leads to short tempers, stress and an eventual breakdown from overwork, lack of sleep and an over active achievement mode gone awry . They may be surprised that their examination results do not reflect their effort. “But I revised so much, worked so hard??- How could I get such a low grade”. The build up of tensions, the sheer volume of data crammed into their minds and a lack of any form of life can create a bottleneck effect come examination day. They choke. It’s a classic “buckling under pressure”, not so much due to the exam itself, but rather the self-imposed pressure they have placed upon themselves. To the other end of the educational spectrum, those who don’t revise, then cram on the last night. The “It’ll be alright on the night” students. Their laissez-faire attitude has served them well throughout term, now it’s just going to take an all nighter to cram it all in. Surprisingly, this one doesn’t work either. Aside from the lack of sleep impacting exam technique, the likelihood of retaining much of the information read at 2.03am that morning after 5 cups of coffee is extremely low. Result - poor final grade. This is not to mention the multitude of students up and down the spectrum with their own revision woes and the resulting exam performances to match. So, for those who want to do well in exams, and overcome the minefield that is preparation for them, here are a few tips I have shared with our students……

The bottom line,  revision can seem stressful. It can seem boring.  However it is a necessary evil……

Tips for revision:

PLAN. Set out a manageable time table; understand your own physical and mental limitations - don’t plan to do 8 hrs per day then fail to maintain this level and feel upset. Start small and build. 2 hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon. Work out what subjects to do each day, and what areas need the most attention. Do these first. Mix and match subjects and topics to stimulate different areas of the mind and to keep focus. 

GOALS. Create achievable goals. Topics to be covered that day, grades in personal tests, subjects to be completed. Write them the night before, check them off the next evening then write more. This will boost confidence and give you something to aim for. Focus, direction and achievement. 

BREAKS. Don’t take the piss. Everyone needs breaks, just not 3 hour ones to binge Netflix. schedule breaks (10-20mins) per hour or after you have achieved a goal. Use them as rewards and something to unlock through determination. 

EXERCISE. Everyday you are studying you should aim to exercise. Sitting for hours on end, eating sandwiches and drinking energy drinks (which you should avoid!) will take its toll on your physical and mental wellbeing. So, go for a morning run, and lunchtime walk, or an afternoon gym session. Anything to get the blood flowing, the mind off the books and dopamine surging to allow you to hit the books even harder upon your return. 

ACCOUNTABILITY. To make sure you are working and hitting your goals, share your plan with another - use them as your studying conscience. Email or debrief them each day on the level of your progress, the goals you have achieved and the next days tasks. This will boost your determination and provide a support structure for the revision.

TEST. Each day, each week, each month. Make sure what you are revising is going in. This could be part of your goals and planning. It will boost confidence, or highlight the areas you need to concentrate on. 

A concerned Tutor