My exams are like months away (may/june). But I am already starting to revise now. I find it really difficult, having 10 subjects to study for. I mean, everyday I study a different topic but because I have 10 subjects, I have to wait for 10 days before I could go back to studying math. And then another 10 days before I come back to maths. And I don't study on Sundays...so that means its 11 days. I find out that I forget everything I studied and that just plain sucks.
I wonder how you guys do it? Thanks.
Also, tell me how you guys do revision. Write notes, go on revision websites, read textbooks, use revision books, etc?
Memorizing books basically. Repeatedly writing out text until I can recite it without looking at the book. Time consuming but it's comforting because it gives me the mind set that I've done all that I could and didn't slack.
Err.. you're studying for exams 6-7 months away from now? I've got final exams in May as well, but I'm not going to start revising on that specifically until April.
In the meantime, I'd advise you to try and show an interest in your subjects. It helps a lot when trying to memorize the stuff you're reading. I wouldn't study specifically for an exam 6-7 months away from now, if I were you.
For my January AS exams I have started to simply rewrite my notes and rewrite the textbooks i have! Some of it is sticking in which is great!!!! As soon as christmas comes! (6.5 weeks) Im going to actually try and do those revision card things!
I keep seeing people revise by just rewriting everything..
Why? Could anyone explain to my why this is used so much? ):
Sounds like a horrible method in my opinion. All you're doing is painstakingly trying to remember everything your book says.. or am I wrong?
I keep seeing people revise by just rewriting everything..
Why? Could anyone explain to my why this is used so much? ):
Sounds like a horrible method in my opinion. All you're doing is painstakingly trying to remember everything your book says.. or am I wrong?
your right!
I do it because it gives me comfort! Got any other methods?
i just rewrite all my school work and text book information into short notes now, it takes ages but is worth it when the exams are closer.....i wouldn't recommend studying till february or so of next year because you will just forget. .... Try to do past papers, especially for maths and other subjects where you need practice.....
your right!
I do it because it gives me comfort! Got any other methods?
I wouldn't spend so much time trying to remember everything your textbook says. Rather, I'd work on applying your knowledge: work on past papers. If you're doing it right (slightly depending on subject), you should gain the knowledge required for your exams whilst working on those papers.
I personally think trying to remember everything is a horrible way of studying. But then, I'm not doing A levels (sure, an equivalent of, but the exams are different and I'm not entirely sure what A level exams look like. I've heard from others which haven taken both A levels and the system I'm in (Dutch VWO), VWO exams are harder).
edit:
If A level exams are mostly about being able to photocopy your textbooks, they're seriously flawed. Every (removed for not trying to come across as overly offensive) can try and remember as much as possible for an exam, though one might take longer than another.
I'd say don't bother with revision until you've nearly finished your course as there's nothing worse than revising while your still getting new info, and revising for 10 subjects isn't too bad (trust me I've been there).
In terms of how I revise, I normally run through the lecture notes, do a couple of papers, summarise the notes, do more papers and then do a final summary and write all my formulae/mechanisms etc. Then while I driving from home to Uni (the night before) I'll recite my notes and formulae, works a treat. The whole process took me about 4-6 weeks due to the amount of depth I need to go into.
It is too early to revise for exams in June cos you havent learnt all the neccessary stuff yet.
for my January exams I've started making revision cards to carry around with me, and mind maps to stick on my walls. Never tried either of these methods but hopefully they'll work.
My exams are like months away (may/june). But I am already starting to revise now. I find it really difficult, having 10 subjects to study for. I mean, everyday I study a different topic but because I have 10 subjects, I have to wait for 10 days before I could go back to studying math. And then another 10 days before I come back to maths. And I don't study on Sundays...so that means its 11 days. I find out that I forget everything I studied and that just plain sucks.
I wonder how you guys do it? Thanks.
Also, tell me how you guys do revision. Write notes, go on revision websites, read textbooks, use revision books, etc?
Instead of revising one subject per day you could split up your revision into smaller chunks. This should allow you to do 2 or more subjects per day. I revise by writing notes of everything and then reading over the notes and jotting down quick points. Everyone will have their own method that works for them. You've started very early so you still have plenty of time. Just check if your revision is working by testing yourself now and again or even testing yourself before you revise the next topic. That way for each revision session you can test your progress, revise what you missed out from last time and also revise the new topic. If you find that you're forgetting it then it might be better to reduce your revision down into smaller chunks. It should mean that the gap between the next and previous revision of the subject is smaller.
edit:
If A level exams are mostly about being able to photocopy your textbooks, they're seriously flawed. Every (removed for not trying to come across as overly offensive) can try and remember as much as possible for an exam, though one might take longer than another.
I keep seeing people revise by just rewriting everything..
Why? Could anyone explain to my why this is used so much? ):
Sounds like a horrible method in my opinion. All you're doing is painstakingly trying to remember everything your book says.. or am I wrong?
At A Level I revised by writing short notes from textbooks and then revising those. I don't think it's worth writing your own textbook for A Level exams. I sort of think you are trying to remember everything your book says but it's useless if you don't understand what you're revising. I find that if I understand something and I revise it then I'll remember it for much longer than if I revise something I don't understand. But that's really only part of the revision process and like you said in your next post past papers are key.
Originally Posted by phen
If A level exams are mostly about being able to photocopy your textbooks, they're seriously flawed. Every (removed for not trying to come across as overly offensive) can try and remember as much as possible for an exam, though one might take longer than another.
I wouldn't say that all A Level exams are about that. A lot of them require real application of what you know to get any marks at all. I know that for the later units in my Economics A level that pure theory wouldn't have given me many marks at all.
I don't think the OP is doing A Levels anyway
Last edited by thetopnotch : 2 Weeks Ago at 09:45.
I'd say don't bother with revision until you've nearly finished your course as there's nothing worse than revising while your still getting new info, and revising for 10 subjects isn't too bad (trust me I've been there).
In terms of how I revise, I normally run through the lecture notes, do a couple of papers, summarise the notes, do more papers and then do a final summary and write all my formulae/mechanisms etc. Then while I driving from home to Uni (the night before) I'll recite my notes and formulae, works a treat. The whole process took me about 4-6 weeks due to the amount of depth I need to go into.
How can you just rely on lecture notes? I thought they were simply the skeleton of what you need to know. All the meat is on the reading list? Don't you ever make notes from the reading that is on the reading list? Lecture notes are surely not enough aren't they?
I'd say don't bother with revision until you've nearly finished your course as there's nothing worse than revising while your still getting new info, and revising for 10 subjects isn't too bad (trust me I've been there).
In terms of how I revise, I normally run through the lecture notes, do a couple of papers, summarise the notes, do more papers and then do a final summary and write all my formulae/mechanisms etc. Then while I driving from home to Uni (the night before) I'll recite my notes and formulae, works a treat. The whole process took me about 4-6 weeks due to the amount of depth I need to go into.
I find that the best way is making notes through out your course so that you don't spend ages making notes at the end. Then at the end you revise from those notes.
Also don't ever revise from someone else's notes because they would word it in a way that they would understand and would be personal for them.
At my school we learnt that on the first day because A level students are given a study skills day.
Also experiment with the format of your notes e.g.
spider diagrams
Paragraphs
bullet points
How about revision books? Like Letts and CGP...do you guys use them?
I am going to try with the "sticking notes" on my physics formulas everywhere so hopefully in 7 months time they'll be GLUED in. LITERALLY GLUED in.
What exams are you doing? For physics formulas it's probably best to do lots of questions that use the formulas like you would do for maths. If you're revising maths you're likely to do lots of past papers rather than make lots of notes so treat physics formulas in the same way.
Revision books are good for getting the basic theory. Although it depends on what level you're at. At A Level or an equivalent level revision guides are good to get the basic knowledge and the basic points. After this it's your understanding that counts and how well you can apply your knowledge to the questions. For this it's important to do lots of past papers.
Try and find out what exam board you're on, then go to their website.
Then spam print past papers and do questions.
If you get stuck, go to your teacher, or some revision guides for how to do the questions.
Thats what i do anyway.
At A Level I revised by writing short notes from textbooks and then revising those. I don't think it's worth writing your own textbook for A Level exams. I sort of think you are trying to remember everything your book says but it's useless if you don't understand what you're revising. I find that if I understand something and I revise it then I'll remember it for much longer than if I revise something I don't understand. But that's really only part of the revision process and like you said in your next post past papers are key.
I still have my doubts about the whole notes-system. I personally only note down any specific points I don't understand, usually something that's not mentioned in the textbook.
It depends on what A Level exams are like, though, and I can't really be the judge for that reason.
Originally Posted by thetopnotch
I wouldn't say that all A Level exams are about that. A lot of them require real application of what you know to get any marks at all. I know that for the later units in my Economics A level that pure theory wouldn't have given me many marks at all.
I don't think the OP is doing A Levels anyway
I'll take your word for it, then. I doubt OP is doing A Levels as well.
Discussion about GCSE exams and courses. Study for IGCSEs or O Levels? Then this is also the place for you.
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How do you guys STUDY/REVISE?
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