ETTING READY FOR REVISION

1. ORGANISE YOURSELF EARLY

When it comes to revision, slow and steady wins the race. Look at when each exam is due to take
place, then create a revision timetable that prioritises the subjects you’ll be tested on first. You
should also include your exam dates, times and locations.

By making a plan in advance of the exam period (and sticking to it!), you’ll feel more in control of
your work - and you can avoid being gripped by last minute panic.

2. MIX IT UP

When you create your revision timetable, be honest with yourself about which subjects you are,
and aren’t, looking forward to spending time on.

By placing less enjoyable topics next to ones you find more interesting, you’ll find it easier to keep
going. For example, an hour of maths revision might be more bearable if you know you have
history to look forward to after lunch.

Avoid spending more than an hour on each subject, and make sure you build in time for regular
breaks, too.

3. GET COMFORTABLE

Think about where you’re going to be revising and make sure it’s a space you can truly work in.
You’ll need plenty of light, plus room to spread out your notes, text books and other resources.

You’ll need to avoid revising anywhere noisy or where there are distractions that will affect your
concentration - so if you can, try to stay out of areas where other family members will keep coming
and going.

Have a drink of water handy as staying hydrated will help you to focus. Also, consider opening a
nearby window if you’re in a warm place; a breath of fresh air will help keep you alert.

Above all, be honest with yourself about whether or not ‘background noise’ truly helps you to
concentrate. While relaxing music, played softly, is an aid to some people when they’re revising,
almost nobody can work effectively with the TV or radio on.

4. DON’T OVER DO IT!

Quality is more important than quantity when you’re revising. In other words, it’s better to revise
effectively for a few hours each day than to be buried in your books 24 / 7.

Nobody’s attention span is infinite, and it’s impossible to concentrate for much more than an hour
without a break. In fact, a subject you’re struggling to get your head around might make more
sense once you’ve spent a few minutes away from your desk, stretched your legs or had a cup of
tea.

It’s important to stay sociable when you’re revising, too - spend time with friends and family in the
evenings and, if you take part in a sport, try to keep it up during exam time. These activities will
help you relax, preparing your body and your mind for more revision tomorrow.

TOP REVISION TECHNIQUES

1. DON’T WATCH THE CLOCK

Timing your revision sessions strictly isn’t always the best approach - particularly if you’re inclined
to keep glancing at your watch, wishing the hours away! While sticking to your revision timetable is
important, try to set yourself small goals while you’re working as well as time limits.

SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-related. For example, a
SMART goal for an English literature revision session might be: ‘By the end of this session, I will
have memorised five useful quotations from Of Mice and Men.’

Achieving objectives like this will help you feel good about your revision and boost your
confidence.

2. REVISE ‘ACTIVELY’

This doesn’t mean you have to do star jumps while practicing Pythagorus’ Theorem - but it does
mean you need to ‘exercise’ your mind!

Simply re-reading your notes is a very ineffective way to revise. According to scientists, your brain
will retain less than 10% of what you read, unless you also do something active to boost your brain
power.

Re-writing or condensing (simplifying and shortening) your notes, creating posters, drawing mind
maps or discussing a topic with friends will help you remember what you’ve studied far more
successfully than reading alone.

3. CREATE KEY WORD LISTS

Making lists of key words and terms, then looking back at them, can be a great way to test what
you’ve learnt about a particular topic.

For example, after a session spent revising the origins of the Second World War, you could try to
list its causes as simply as possible: Treaty of Versailles, Weimar Republic, Wall Street Crash,
appeasement, and so on.

You can then use the list again, giving it to a friend or family member so they can see whether you
remember your key words and terms - and whether you’re able to fully explain them.

4. KEEP THINGS COLOURFUL

Scribbling on sheets of lined A4 paper day in, day out might not help your motivation to revise -
particularly if you’re artistically inclined. But there’s no rule that says revision always has to mean
writing!

Creating colourful A3 posters and drawing bright mind maps can be just as helpful as producing
reams of text. Using bright stationery and colour-coding notes according to topic can also help to
tackle the boredom you might feel with working in only black and white.

5. LISTEN TO YOURSELF

Bizarre though it sounds, some people swear by recording themselves reading their notes aloud
and then listening back to the track on a laptop, mobile phone or music player.

It might feel embarrassing, but it’s definitely worth a try; some of us are ‘aural learners’ and absorb
information particularly well when we listen. If that applies to you, this could be an easy way to get
extra revision time in!

6. TRY FLASH CARDS

Creating flash cards is a great way to condense your notes and revise key topics - and they can
also be handy to use with family and friends.

Lined, rectangular note cards are available from most stationers, and can be filled with key word
lists, important questions and answers and bullet-point explanations of concepts. They can then
be passed to willing testers who can check how much you remember!

Flash cards are easily portable, too - helpful if you’re heading out for a revision date with a friend.

7. PUT UP POST-IT NOTES

Using post-it notes can be a fun and powerful way to work on remembering important ideas, facts
and definitions. Write single words on brightly coloured post-its and stick them up around the
house, placing them on everyday objects such as the kettle, the fridge door... Even the top of the
toilet!

Then, next time you come to use that object, remind yourself of what the word means - whether
it’s ‘mitosis’, ‘historical context’ or ‘Industrial Revolution’.

If you can’t remember what your post-it note means, look it up before you make that cup of tea,
raid the fridge or use the bathroom.

8. USE PAST PAPERS

Past exam papers will be available from your teachers and online from whichever exam boards
your school uses. You can use them to test yourself both in timed and un-timed conditions, and to
help focus your revision.

Simply planning your answers to questions that require longer responses - such as in English and
History - will help you to consolidate your understanding, without the need to produce whole
essays.

Click here for GCSE Papers

Click here for A-Level Papers

9. REVISE EXAM SKILLS, AS WELL AS SUBJECTS

Refreshing your subject knowledge is obviously the primary purpose of revision - but be sure to
remind yourself of how to approach exam questions while you’re working towards your GCSEs.

Don’t neglect vital skills such as properly reading the question and ensuring you answer it in full.
Failing to respond to a question in just the right way could cost you marks - even if you really know
your stuff.

When it comes to subjects where you’ll be doing lots of writing, make sure you plan your answers
to essay questions. If you don’t, it’s all too easy to drift off the point and write a response that,
even if it’s good, doesn’t directly address what you’ve been asked - and which therefore won’t
bring you any closer to a top grade.

10. IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED...

Try, try again! Re-do questions you get wrong when you test yourself, even once you understand
the mistake you’ve made. Prove to yourself you can do it. The more times you get something right,
the more confident you’ll feel.

11. DON’T ALWAYS WORK ALONE

Independent revision can be highly effective, but combining this with revision with a friend, or as
part of a group, is the best approach. It’s a great way to add variety to your routine, provided you
concentrate on the task at hand.

Participating in group discussion helps most students to focus for longer, can give you a different
perspective on the topic you’re studying and will help you achieve a broader understanding of the
subject you’re revising. Explaining concepts and ideas to others is also a key way of strengthening
your knowledge and consolidating your learning. Sharpening your exam technique while working
with an expert tutor in a group setting makes for the perfect revision solution.

12. ASK FOR ADVICE

Revision is about refreshing what you’ve already learnt, not teaching yourself something from
scratch. If you’re really struggling with a particular topic, don’t try to get to grips with it on your own
- seek advice from a teacher who’ll be able to help you make sense of it far more quickly and
easily.

GCSE REVISION: DOS AND DON’TS

1. DO... REWARD YOURSELF

Allow yourself a treat after working hard or achieving an important goal. Whether it’s a relaxing
night in with your favourite film, a simple bar of chocolate or an afternoon out with your friends,
enjoy yourself for a while before you get back to the books.

2. DON’T... COMPARE YOURSELF TO YOUR FRIENDS

You might have heard that someone in your English class has read Romeo & Juliet 10 times - but
do you really think it’s true? Don’t get hung up on what other people are doing to prepare for the
GCSE and A Level exams... Especially as you can’t ever completely believe what they say!

Stick to your own timetable, stay calm and revise in the way that works best for you.

3. DO... USE THE WEB WISELY

Online forums are full of revision tips in the run up to GCSEs, and the internet boasts a wealth of
quizzes that can help test your learning in a variety of subjects - but use the web wisely when
you’re revising.
If you start clicking around at random, it could be a long while before you look at your watch and
realise how much time you’ve wasted. Only use trusted Revision sites like revisionworld.com

4. DON’T... - LEAVE EVERYTHING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE

Trying to stuff your brain full of information immediately before an exam is the worst way to revise.

Not only is it unlikely to help you remember anything meaningful, it is almost guaranteed to stress
you out right before your big day, when what you really need is a calm mind and a good night’s
sleep.

5. DO... KNOW HOW TO SPOT STRESS - AND STOP IT

All of us feel stressed from time to time, but the run up to GCSEs can be especially intense. Stress
can cause headaches, lead to difficulty sleeping, cause constant tiredness and result in increased
feelings of anxiety - all of which are counterproductive when you’re trying to concentrate on
important work.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms it’s really important to talk to someone about your
stress levels - whether you choose a friend, a parent or a trusted teacher.

If stress is a problem for you, relaxing more will help you to revise more effectively - however
contrary this might seem. Getting extra sleep, taking regular breaks and letting off steam by doing
some exercise will all help.

6. DON’T... CONDUCT A ‘POST-MORTEM’ AFTER EVERY EXAM

‘What did you put for question 3b...?’ Don’t answer that, because it doesn’t matter now!

Go into every GCSE exam and do the best you can, but don’t go back over everything you wrote
once the test is over.

Worrying yourself silly over things you have done (or not done) won’t help you to concentrate on
the revision and exams that are to come - and they should be your priority.

7. DO... WHAT’S BEST FOR YOUR BODY

It’s always sensible to eat a healthy, balanced diet and get plenty of sleep, but this advice is really
worth following in the run up to GCSEs.

Avoid junk food, opting instead for wholesome meals that will give you plenty of energy for
studying. Try to wind down fully before you go to bed, and aim for a full eight hours of sleep every
night.