Revision Techniques

You've heard it before, but you know it's true. Planning is everything. It can take anywhere from two weeks to two months to do your revising. Start by:

• Writing down all the subjects you have to revise and number them in order of level of difficulty.
• Write down beside each subject the date and time of the exam, the type of exam, and where they are being held (if you don't have this info now, add it to your list when you find out).
• Plan a revision timetable based around these events! This is much easier than it sounds.

• Fill in the things you can't move: mealtimes, scheduled events, family obligations, etc.
• Then fill in the times when you know you're mentally less with it. If you know you get sleepy around 3:30, don't schedule in two hours of your hardest subject! Instead, schedule in a walk or some other exercise to clear your head.
• Stagger revision of difficult subjects with easier subjects. Breaking up the level of difficulty and the subject matter makes it less boring, and you're less likely to get frustrated.
• Vary the place where you revise-- as long as those places are all quiet and focused environments. Get out of your room and take a trip to the library twice a week.
• Finally, fill in fifteen minute breaks every 60-90 minutes. Use this time to grab a bite to eat, dance around to your favourite music (you may feel like a nutter, but it relieves a lot of tension!), or just clear your mind and meditate for a bit.

• Keep your notes as brief as possible. One idea is to reduce all your notes into key words (a whole subject should fit on one side of A4 paper).
• Write down as much stuff as you can remember for each key word. How do they compare with your original notes? You should be able to express things more clearly and succinctly.
• The brain remembers things best by seeing them or storing them in different ways. For example, if you read about the causes of WWI, draw them in a diagram, and verbally discuss them with a friend or teacher, you are more likely to remember them than if you do only one of the above.
• Use colour coding, flowcharts, spider diagrams and other visual tools to make your notes more distinctive.

• Move on to another topic. Sometimes the brain just needs a break from one particular subject.
• Give yourself a pep talk. No seriously! Pretend you are encouraging a friend, and review all the positive things you've achieved and all the good work you are capable of achieving.
• Surprise yourself with how much you know by taking a test! This will tick off things you already know from your mental list and help you focus on what to do next.
• Talk to someone! You're not alone. Everyone has experienced exam stress and can sympathise with what you're going through. They might even suggest a way of moving forward you hadn't seen.
• Get some exercise. Work your body and not your brain for a while. Give your brain a chance to ferment all that information you've shoved into it!

Check out these sites for more help:

SQA - Study Techniques
LTS - Study Skills