How to revise?

So i do Biology AQA, Psychology OCR, and Criminology WJEC. I am currently in year 12 and have recently sat my march mocks, which i got. D,E,D in which i feel isn't me and even my biology teacher said that as if someone else had taken the test for me. it feels awful to put in the work and not get much out of it ill watched youtube videos and looked at other advice on the internet but nothing has helped. Its like the pressure of the actual test makes me flop and i have a hard time to retain the information for biology too especially from 2 or more months back. so i guess im just asking for advice on how to improve grades and actual lock in

Reply 1

jelly-fishes

Definitely use textbooks. if your college has online textbooks then use them, but if you don’t like digital books then buy a second hand textbook from your biology, phsycology and criminology exam boards. Maybe ask your teachers individually if they recommend a good specific textbook, because unlike GCSE textbooks, there is often a larger A-level variety (but I don’t think it really matters much as long as its that exam board). I personally cannot focus with videos and prefer literally to read than listen.

Use physical flashcards if you take in information by writing. Or use ring binded flashcards (but not as flashcards) but to make compact notes. In TESCO they sell a ring binded set of flashcards with 75 pages for 1.50. Do this if you prefer physical notes. Im doing this now with 3 sets of these.
Currently how im revising with this is:

I go onto the specification and print it out as a booklet or on double sided paper and staple it together.

Anything I don’t t know or forgot I highlight - but I ignore anything that I potentially might know.

This helps waste time because it allows me to fill more gaps in my knowledge than cover something I might easily recall during the exam.

I open the textbook and make notes on the flashcards about the stuff from the specification I don’t know.

Use Gizmo AI to create flashcards from books/PDFs you make/etc, people hate on AI but this website is actually really good if you are someone who likes to learn digitally, but you have nothing to do with all the digital notes you take. It gives you the option to understand or memorise.
Screenshot 2025-04-14 at 20.20.15.png

Here is an example of what I mean. You can store decks of card for each subject and its got a bit of a seneca vibe to it. Its 4.99 for unlimited (if you check the box for student discount monthly) which is quite cheap if you would use this practically every day. Heres the link but please try because I feel like its genuinely a good resource to use - especially because it has a mobile app.

USE YPT !!!!!!!!! My favourite app. Im not studious myself but i've managed to revise 4 hours today, unlike a few months ago where I didn’t revise whatsoever!!! Its so good because you can join either a random study group or make one and invite friends, which is kind of comforting because you feel like you don’t study alone, or it can make you feel competitive and makes you want to beat all your friends.
Screenshot 2025-04-14 at 20.33.25.png

You can see all sorts of analytics on your phone about for example, how much of each subject you study, when you started and ended revising on a day to day basis, all sorts of averages etc. It also sets a block on all your apps while the timer is on until you pause it!!! Its also a mobile app, and I think available on Mac silicone chip and windows in the store, but I have an intel Mac so i cant have it on my laptop. YPT

Sorry for such a long message, I didnt realise how long it was, but hopefully it is enlightening!

Reply 2

DerDracologe

Study Forum Helper

I do Biology for a level and am also in year 12. Ive got all A*s and As so far and my revision consists of spaced repetition flashcards, blurting on weaker topics and Seneca for the bulk of it. Happy to chat about revision for biology and generally 🙂 I have mocks in a week :eek3:

Reply 3

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper, Life & Style Forum Helper

@always-anxious

You are in year 13 and took biology and psychology for A levels. You certainly still know how did you revise in year 12.

Reply 4

always-anxious

Chat Forum Helper, Study Forum Helper

Original post

by kacperwisniewski

Hello, I find active recall helps the most with remembering content. This could be through flashcards/blurting etc. Then to understand how to answer questions, I find past paper questions the most useful.

It's important to look through your mock papers and see where you need to improve. From here, you can structure our revision to focus on your weaknesses which will help you to improve.

If it's the pressure of exams that is causing you to do badly, I recommend doing as many past papers as possible in time conditions during your revision time. This will help you get used the feeling of what it is like being in the exams, then hopefully in the actual exams you will be more used to the feelings and so less pressurised.

As Kallisto mentioned, I study psychology and biology so if you have any subject specific questions I would be happy to answer the best I can :smile:

Reply 5

kacperwisniewski

Original post

by jelly-fishes

Definitely use textbooks. if your college has online textbooks then use them, but if you don’t like digital books then buy a second hand textbook from your biology, phsycology and criminology exam boards. Maybe ask your teachers individually if they recommend a good specific textbook, because unlike GCSE textbooks, there is often a larger A-level variety (but I don’t think it really matters much as long as its that exam board). I personally cannot focus with videos and prefer literally to read than listen.
Use physical flashcards if you take in information by writing. Or use ring binded flashcards (but not as flashcards) but to make compact notes. In TESCO they sell a ring binded set of flashcards with 75 pages for 1.50. Do this if you prefer physical notes. Im doing this now with 3 sets of these.
Currently how im revising with this is:

I go onto the specification and print it out as a booklet or on double sided paper and staple it together.

Anything I don’t t know or forgot I highlight - but I ignore anything that I potentially might know.

This helps waste time because it allows me to fill more gaps in my knowledge than cover something I might easily recall during the exam.

I open the textbook and make notes on the flashcards about the stuff from the specification I don’t know.

Here is an example of what I mean. You can store decks of card for each subject and its got a bit of a seneca vibe to it. Its 4.99 for unlimited (if you check the box for student discount monthly) which is quite cheap if you would use this practically every day. Heres the link but please try because I feel like its genuinely a good resource to use - especially because it has a mobile app.
USE YPT !!!!!!!!! My favourite app. Im not studious myself but i've managed to revise 4 hours today, unlike a few months ago where I didn’t revise whatsoever!!! Its so good because you can join either a random study group or make one and invite friends, which is kind of comforting because you feel like you don’t study alone, or it can make you feel competitive and makes you want to beat all your friends.
Screenshot 2025-04-14 at 20.33.25.png

You can see all sorts of analytics on your phone about for example, how much of each subject you study, when you started and ended revising on a day to day basis, all sorts of averages etc. It also sets a block on all your apps while the timer is on until you pause it!!! Its also a mobile app, and I think available on Mac silicone chip and windows in the store, but I have an intel Mac so i cant have it on my laptop. YPT
Sorry for such a long message, I didnt realise how long it was, but hopefully it is enlightening!