How to study effectively for your exams

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Get ready for your exams with 15 reliable revision habits

It's important to work hard when you're revising, but you also need to work smart – studying can feel like less of a grind when you stick to a solid plan.

Whether you need help with revision methods, getting organised or remembering everything on the day, here are 15 smart study habits that should get you in good shape for your exams.

1. Make a revision timetable

Following a revision timetable can help you feel a lot more prepared for your exams – it should help you avoid running out of time or focusing too heavily on some subjects.

"Creating a revision timetable helps a lot. It is a great way to organise your study time and boosts your motivation towards each subject," says TSR member Chittesh 14. 

Split your revision topics into small chunks and spread them across the timetable, but aim to make your plan realistic – you're more likely to burn out if you overdo it.

A great timetable should be detailed and flexible, so you know exactly what you’re meant to be doing but you can also change things up when life gets in the way.

2. Setting up a room for your study space

Find a quiet space to study in – this could be your bedroom, at school or even the local library. Anywhere tidy and comfy with lots of natural light will do. 

You don’t need to study in the same place every time; moving about will help keep your mind fresh.

Wherever you study, the hard part is avoiding any distractions. Trapmoneybenny recommends "turning off your phone, disabling your internet and getting stuck in". 

"The first step is to get yourself organised. Have you got a tidy workspace? If you think you work better in a clean environment, organise your room as well! Organise loose sheets and have a to-do-list," says Kangaroo17.

3. Define your study objectives and plan ahead

Having targets – like what you want to complete in a day – is a big part of effective revision. Using a revision timetable can make it easier to achieve and measure your goals.

Whether you want to create mind maps for a physics paper or remember 50 French words on a vocab topic, tick off each target as you reach it. The sense of achievement should be a little bonus to your motivation too.

Review your targets at the end of the day and test yourself on each one. It's not the end of the world if you haven't remembered everything, you can just revisit the topic the next day.

4. Get your study motivation

If you're ever short of revision motivation, think about the goals you're chasing. The thought of getting into university or securing your dream apprenticeship should help you get back in the zone.

Sometimes studying can get stressful too, so find some support. You could get your parents involved and make them test you on what you're learning.

Or you could revise with a friend. Having a study partner should keep your motivation levels up – and you can keep each other focused.

Also, don't forget to plan something fun for when your exams are finished – it'll give you something to work towards.

5. Pull your class and course notes together

Get your class notes, handouts and other revision resources all in one place – and then start organising. 

Make sure your notes cover everything on the course specification. If you have any gaps, you can ask your teacher to help fill them in.

Or you could buy a study guide – it should take you through everything you need for the exam.

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6. Check past exam papers and mark schemes

Past papers, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are secret weapons for bossing revision. Together, they'll give you a solid idea of what an exam could throw at you and how to handle it.

Going through past papers can give you a grasp of the sections, question choices and how much time you should spend on each part. 

Mark schemes are useful because they show you how to answer each question, as well as where marks are gained and lost. Keep an eye out for key terms, which may be essential for marks.

Examiners’ reports list the exam questions and give notes on what students should have done to get the top grades. If you follow this insight in your exams, you should be giving examiners what they want. 

7. Write up your study notes

Start creating revision notes that summarise the key concepts from your class work, with clear headings and subheadings. The aim is to simplify what you need to remember.

These notes should become a quick and easy way to check your knowledge. Read them and test yourself regularly – you need to be confident the information is sinking in.

8. Create revision cards and flashcards

Take your revision notes and make them even shorter. By simplifying your notes, you should be training your brain to remember what’s not there.

Try using cue cards for notes on different topics. Experiment with colours and the amount of detail until you find something that works for you. You should end up with a bunch of revision cards you can flick through.

Flashcards are great for testing your memory of the important facts for your exams. Put a question, word or theory on one side and the answer, definition or explanation on the reverse.

9. How to create a mind map

Mind maps are a more visual way of learning. Start with a core idea in the middle and then expand around it with additional information.

This can help you spot trends and relationships within the topics, while also focusing on the smaller details – which can be handy for tackling essay questions and larger topics.

10. Finding more revision resources and study help

Don't worry if certain revision methods don't click with you, keep experimenting until you find one that you like.

"Find methods of revision that work for you – different techniques work for different people. Your friend might be using flashcards whereas you need something more verbal," says TSR member Acsel. 

If you need more inspiration, visit our study help forums to get revision tips from other students. 

11. Using memory techniques for studying

If you’re looking for quick ways to remember nuggets of information, try making a little rhyme or sentence around the initial letters of a topic – this technique is called mnemonics. 

It's a good idea to make up your own mnemonics, as putting thought into creating them can help them stick in your memory.

Also, set yourself regular tests on each topic in your revision plan. Regularly revisiting topics can help the knowledge sink in, even if it's just once or twice a week. 

12. Study breaks and the Pomodoro Technique

Taking breaks is essential if you want to keep your study time productive. 

Loads of students swear by the Pomodoro Technique, which breaks work down into intervals – for example, you work for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break.

After four study sessions, you should take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. This method can help to keep you focused and refreshed during your revision, while still allowing yourself occasional distractions.

13. Practise exam questions

Once you're feeling confident about your revision, test your knowledge by doing all the past papers you can get your hands on. Only do one at a time, but under exam conditions. You can then check your answers and practise the ones you got wrong. 

This is a good way to expose your weaknesses, so you can focus on improving them. Every past paper you take should help develop your understanding of the subject.

14. Exam preparation tips

Feeling prepared before an exam can help you get in the right mindset. A good night's sleep and a healthy meal beforehand should set you up nicely. 

Visualisation techniques could also help you feel positive before an exam. So picture yourself getting ready at home, travelling to the exam hall, sitting down and smashing every question.

After you've done all the revision you can, a relaxed and confident mindset could make all the difference on the day.

15. Don't revise all the time

Revision will probably keep you busy, but it's important to have schedule some downtime too – it can keep your mind fresh.

"You shouldn't give up all your hobbies just to get extra revision time for your exams," says ToffeeJoy. "We all need a break at some point and if it's something you enjoy it will help you be less stressed overall."

If you manage your time properly, you’ll be able to have fun and still be ready for exam season.

And that's everything! Want a quick recap? Here's your complete revision cheat sheet: 

15 ways to supercharge your studying

  1. Make a revision timetable 

  2. Find a quiet study space 

  3. Set yourself achievable study objectives 

  4. Find your motivation 

  5. Get all your notes in one place 

  6. Check mark schemes and past papers

  7. Write up your study notes

  8. Create revision flashcards

  9. Make a mind map

  10. Test different revision methods

  11. Try some memory techniques 

  12. Take study breaks 

  13. Practise exam questions

  14. Sort your exam routine 

  15. Don’t revise all the time! 

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