After many months of lessons and homework, it’s finally time to start revising for your exams. This is a tough time for students, which is why we’ve put together 10 top tips to help get you started.
1. Create a Timetable
Before you start revising for exams, be sure to create a timetable so that you know where to start. Without one, you’ll find yourself opening text books aimlessly and wasting time on topics you might not actually need to look at.
Your timetable is a little like a calendar, but rather than having birthdays and days out, it will have each of your subjects. Think about which subjects you’re struggling with that you’d like to spend a little more time on.
2. Vary Your Approach
Everyone has a preferred method for studying and some methods work well for certain subject and not for others. For example, you could write out key dates on flash cards for History. For Maths, it’s probably more beneficial to finish lots of practise questions. Find out what works best for you and what works best for each subject.
3. Find a Quiet Place to Study
When revising for exams, it’s important that there a no distractions. Set up a quiet little study place where you’re not likely to be interrupted. The library is a good option, or you could lock yourself in your bedroom for a while.
4. Be Visual
Not only does the use of colour make revision a little more interesting and attention grabbing, research has also shown that it improves memory and recall. With that said, try and be visual with your revision notes to stimulate your brain and help you digest the information you’re writing down.
5. Do Past Papers
Be sure to ask your teacher for plenty of past papers, or find them online, so that you can practise for the exams as much as possible. Questions are often similar and it will be good to familiarise yourself with the format.
6. Take Breaks
Make sure you take regular breaks during your revision sessions; it’s important to find a balance between studying and leisure time. If you spend too long studying, you’ll get bored and lose interest.
7. Ask for Help
It’s perfectly acceptable to ask your friends and family for support during exam period. Perhaps they can test you or give you some feedback. Having a little help now and again will change the pace of your revision sessions and give you some company for a little while.
8. Start in the Morning
Try not to procrastinate; the sooner you start your revision the better. Try and get into the swing of things as soon as you wake up so that you can relax in the evenings.
9. Reward Yourself
Try and encourage yourself by giving yourself a reward after completing a certain amount of revision. If you know you’re getting a treat at the end of it (whether that be something sweet or a trip to the cinema with your friends), you might feel more motivated.
10. Be Positive
Try and be optimistic about your exams and don’t worry too much. As long as you’re putting in the effort and trying your best, that’s all you can do! If you are really struggling with a particular topic and it’s making you feel stressed, speak to your teachers and ask if you can get some extra support.
