Revising without making notes

..... is this possible? :confused:

My bro feels he can sail through his A-levels without making any notes whatsoever. Anytime I suggest he should make notes. He shousts and swear at me!!!!!! He thinks revision is just simply staring at his text book. I personally don't think it is possible to make notes. What do you guys think?

Reply 1

*_Em_*

4

Well.... spose it is possible if you've got a photographic memory.... but seeing as most people don't, notes of some kind are probably best. Leave him to it is my advice, if what he's doing works then that's up to him. Personally I need to write stuff down, but lucky for him that he doesn't!!

Reply 2

Robbolo

13

My straight A student friend that got moved up a year only looks over his books, different things work for different people. He'll find out on results day i guess :p:

Reply 3

becky.fm

18

I used to make notes, but i find them a bit too time consuming now. :redface:

That is probably just his way of revising.. :smile:

Reply 4

Rock 'n' Roll

OP

Sorry, I should have mentioned that he's used this technique before and as a result has failed terribly in his AS and A level modules, hence he's got re-sits coming outta his ears on top of his final A-level exams!!!!! I've advised him that he messed up the other exams by not revising properly but still, he doesn't listen.

Reply 5

becky.fm

18

Rock 'n' Roll

Sorry, I should have mentioned that he's used this technique before and as a result has failed terribly in his AS and A level modules, hence he's got re-sits coming outta his ears on top of his final A-level exams!!!!! I've advised him that he messed up the other exams by not revising properly but still, he doesn't listen.

Ohh

I'm sorry, but i'm sure he doesn't want to be told how to revise by his [little] sister/brother.. :wink:

Reply 6

Chezua

12

actually it is possible to revise straight from text books. depends really how you learn the stuff :tongue:

like me, i enjoy learning the facts cos i always feel they will come to useful one day (and hey, what if i join who wants to be a millionaire and the million-dollar question was a gcse question? lol, that type of scenario always works for me =D).

others might learn diffrently. moi, i hate highlighters, they hurt my eyes, but other ppl don't think so. i hate making notes too, this is why i'm asking for study leave so that i can spend days reading all my textbooks lol :laugh:

Reply 7

*_Em_*

4

Bexiness!

Ohh

I'm sorry, but i'm sure he doesn't want to be told how to revise by his [little] sister/brother.. :wink:

Yep thats probably true and if he's got lots of resits he'll be stressed out. I can't stand being told what to do when I'm stressed and have exams. Just leave him to it. Even though you're only caring about your brother, it'll be wasted on him!

Reply 8

kellywood_5

17

Personally I don't think just reading without making notes works because the information doesn't properly sink in, but maybe that's just me. It works for some people, and even if your brother isn't one of them, you can't force him to revise a different way. He's probably stressed enough at the moment that he interprets it as yet another person nagging him to do certain things in a certain way, which is why he shouts at you when you try to help.

Reply 9

yellow96

15

It's possible. Preferable, sometimes. I only ever read over my booklets for things like psychology and philosophy (doesn't really work for English, naturally) and I get straight A's. I find it easier to remember things in the order they appear on the page rather than writing them down, which can be done with little to no memory or understanding.

Reply 10

cbv2005

i don't know how its possible actually, i spend all my time making notes and doing practice questions for my subjects (plus reading books for english). i have a good memory but there's no way i could remember everything for every module just through reading.

if you write something out and think about what you're writing it really does stick in your mind

Reply 11

The Joker

kellywood_5

Personally I don't think just reading without making notes works because the information doesn't properly sink in, but maybe that's just me. It works for some people, and even if your brother isn't one of them, you can't force him to revise a different way. He's probably stressed enough at the moment that he interprets it as yet another person nagging him to do certain things in a certain way, which is why he shouts at you when you try to help.

Intresting theory, have you thought about writing a book?

Reply 12

Sandhu

2

Rock N Roll, you already have a thread on your brother though, why didn't you tell us that their. You haven't replied to that thread in ages, have you even read the advice given to you there?

Reply 13

wackysparkle

14

having a photographic memory is myth -
everyone works with notes alongside - at least a little doodle here and there - well has he managed to get good grades following this method? if so - let him be

Reply 14

67382

I never found copying out notes productive. Time consuming and I just end up going into auto-pilot where I don't take anything in. Past papers and revision books are what I use.

Reply 15

Chezua

12

having a photographic memory is myth -

:dito:

of course no one can avoid making notes before their exams. but with english exams, i can never revise with annotated text! >.< it makes your brain go crazy and doesn't give the chance for it to dig new ideas.

Reply 16

Kolya

17

Chezua

of course no one can avoid making notes before their exams.

Nor completely true: making notes is not necessary for Maths A-level exams.

With other subjects, I find that if you read with the goal of questioning and understanding the author then you are able to retain most of the material; do not underestimate concentration.

I would suggest that, in the majority of cases, when people make notes then they are simply wasting their time. Notes have an important place, but only when taken properly and as necessary, not when they are taken just for the sake of taking notes.

Reply 17

Chezua

12

Lusus Naturae

Nor completely true: making notes is not necessary for Maths A-level exams.

With other subjects, I find that if you read with the goal of questioning and understanding the author then you are able to retain most of the material; do not underestimate concentration.

I would suggest that, in the majority of cases, when people make notes then they are simply wasting their time. Notes have an important place, but only when taken properly and as necessary, not when they are taken just for the sake of taking notes.

:dito::dito::dito:

but i can't resist making wallcharts and annoy my mum by putting em up in her kitchen :biggrin:

Reply 18

lamenter

12

I make some notes. But i never use them. Because my handwriting sucks. My teacher said that when i write down stuff i remember them. Not me i can write stuff that she says/written on the board and not process what i have written. I actually have to read my notes to know what i wrote.

Reply 19

carefree_sloth

For me, reading the textbook does help ... in understanding what the author is trying to tell me. Then I simply begin writing out my notes to reinforce what I have learned (of course, with reference to the textbook), rephrase them and I read the notes instead of the textbook - so much faster that way.

Well, the few "geniuses" in my class don't even bother making notes. They just stared at their textbook, and voila! Instead 100/100 in exams (no, I'm just kidding :p:

). But reading textbook does work for some people. In fact, I think I'm the only person who makes notes in my class! :eek:

Revising without making notes

Related discussions

Articles for you