Last-minute revision advice for the final countdown…
No matter how much prep you’ve already done, finishing your revision in the right way can make all the difference. When it all comes down to it, you've just got to remember stuff. But how do the high achievers get all that information to stick?
To help you get the grades you want, we spoke to former teacher Pete Langley, as well as mining the knowledge of students from The Student Room forums.
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1. Condense what you need to know into smaller chunks
Give yourself as little to go over as possible by chunking your notes down using mind maps and flashcards. Doing this will make it much easier to commit information to memory.
“Group topics into things you know well and things you don’t know so well and prioritise your weaker areas. Be ruthless with yourself and don’t take shortcuts, because if it’s easy it’s probably not working,” says Pete.
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2. Test yourself often
Check that your studying is working on a regular basis. Once you’ve covered a topic, test yourself by turning over a mind map and recreating it on a separate piece of paper, or using Q&A style flashcards.
“The more you can get your brain working the better. Instead of highlighting your notes, you should be testing yourself to see what you remember and what you don’t,” says Pete.
3. Practise with past papers; get to grips with exam technique
As well as understanding the types of questions that will be asked, doing practice papers will help you understand the structure of an exam, how much time you should spend on each question and what you’ll be expected to do.
“An exam is never going to ask you to regurgitate everything you know about a topic. Doing practice questions will help you get into the habit of applying what you know to questions,” says Pete.
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4. Talk to your teachers
If there is anything you don’t understand at the last minute, go and ask your teachers while there’s still time. If you’ve found a particular question or topic challenging, or want to get clarity on the exam structure, they should be happy to do what they can to assist.
“Teachers are there to help you, and I used to love it when students came to me to ask for guidance,” says Pete.
5. Balance study time with a healthy dose of leisure
If you’re into the gym, yoga or any other fun hobby, don’t give it up just because exam season is upon us. Even at this late stage, it will give you a well-earned break from studying. Just remember to stay focused on revision, too.
“You’ll need to make some sacrifices to your personal life in the last week before an exam,” says Pete. “But reduce your social activities rather than completely eliminating them; find the right balance.”
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6. Don’t forget about your other exams
When you’re preparing for an upcoming exam, make sure that if you have others coming up, you still include them in your revision plan. It will help break up your studying and (hopefully) keep things interesting.
“I recommend spending around five to seven hours a day on revision for the last week before an exam. Remember not to drop the ball on your other exams, but still focus on the closest one,” says Pete.
7. Take care of your mind and body
If you’re in hardcore revision mode, it’s easy to forget to look after yourself. While this is true all the way through, the last week is when it really counts. Remember to eat healthily, stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep and exercise; it will help with your brain power and concentration levels.
Bonus tip
Avoid leaving anything except slow-paced, gentle revision for the last night – it’ll be difficult to absorb it properly and you’ll be tired for the big day.
