Exam revision can be likened to preparing for a marathon. To win, the runner must prepare early, create a realistic training schedule, have specific goals, have a balanced diet and lifestyle, train consistently, and most importantly, be optimistic, believe in themselves and stay focused on their goal which is to win the marathon of course.
They need to know themselves well too. For example, when they’re most active, productive and their limits. These factors are crucial to win the marathon or be in the top three. Well this is no different when revising for your exams. In this short article, I will reveal my 7 handy revision tips which really helped me to ace my exams. These could help you too! You’ll also discover some inspiring quotes and useful and fun revision apps to get you going!
Tip 1. Start early
My first top tip for conquering your exams is starting your revision early. Starting early means you can revise at your own pace and with ease. In 2014, Psychologists from The University of Sheffield showed that cramming information in the last months, weeks or days of your exam was ineffective. Though you may find success stories of friends or students who have crammed their revision and topped their exams it does come with major drawbacks – sleepless nights, stress, poor recall of information and in the long term be detrimental to your health. Getting a head start on your revision allows your memory to consolidate what you’ve learnt which means it will be easier to recall in the exam plus you’ll have suffice time to practice what you’ve learnt to find out how well you’re doing.
Tip 2. Get organised
Organising your revision notes, lecture material, past exam papers, stationary and study space is all part of the important preparation phase for your exam revision. This will prevent you from faffing about and give you more time in the day to do what is important for your exams – the revision! Getting organised also involves creating a revision timetable which you should adhere to in the run up before your exam. The timetable must be realistic and as specific as possible. The usual cause for students not following their timetable is that it does not really reflect their actual situation. To maximise your revision time factor in your social outings and hobbies. Remember, the purpose of a revision timetable is to have a clear vision of what you need to achieve by a certain time. Save your artistic skills – your revision time is precious.
Tip 3. Self-introspect
We know who we are, we know our likes and dislikes, ambitions, favourite foods and much more. But how well do you really know your learning style, attention span, and optimum productivity time? Understanding these can really help you start your revision on the right foot. There are seven established learning styles – visual (spatial), aural (auditory and musical), verbal (linguistic), physical (kinaesthetic), logical (mathematical), social (inter-personal) and solitary (intra-personal). Remember that we are all unique individuals and revising is personal. So, you may be a combination of these learning types. If you don’t know yours try them out with a friend. It might be more enjoyable than you imagined.
Tip 4. Look after yourself
To succeed in your exams, your health needs to be top form. Revising can become very tedious. Your sleep, diet and lifestyle all influence your ability to prepare for your exams. To make your revision productive, ensure you get enough sleep, have a sleeping routine, snack on superfoods like nuts, seeds and dried fruits, drink water regularly, exercise at least 20 minutes a day, make time for your friends and family – don’t leave them out! Revising can get overwhelming and stressful so find ways to help you keep calm and focused. There are many apps of mindfulness meditation like Headspace and Calm, deep breathing is just as good! Overall, take care of yourself!
Tip 5. Get creative.
Revising for your exam doesn’t have to be mundane and mind-numbing. There are numerous new and exciting apps to make your revision fun and effective at the same time! Study Blue, Quizlet, Cram and Revision are apps which allow you to create your own quizzes and flash cards to test your understanding of a topic. They’re fun to do and easy to make. Remember the Milk is another popular one where you can create lists, prioritise your revision and make notes. If you’re a visual person, go wild with your highlighters and coloured pens. If you enjoy being around your friends, have a go at teaching them what you’ve learnt – this is a real test of your understanding! You can also opt for recording yourself with audio notes, take videos of yourself teaching a topic, do role plays, create your own past papers and create mind maps. Mind mapping is a fantastic way of linking ideas and recalling key information. You can download the IMindMap app for free!
Tip 6. Positive attitude
The famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said ‘your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.’ Revising for your exams is a long and tiresome process and period so it’s important to keep your mind and attitude positive. Many unexpected things may occur in your journey. Possessing a positive attitude can ensure you will successfully overcome any obstacles.
Tip 7. Sleep well
Like I mentioned before, sleep is important! Not merely to give your stimulated brain to take a break but to also consolidate what you have learnt throughout the day. Going over your revision in your mind before you doze off reinforces the facts and principles you’ve revised which means in the exam it’ll be easier for you to recall this.
I hope you will give these tips a go – they really worked for me! Remember, revising for your exams can be fun and interactive. Everyone’s revision technique will vary so do what works for you to ensure you succeed in your exams.
Good luck!
by Umeeka, private home tutor