Content
Revision preparation
Before you start
- You can't revise what you don't know
- You can't revise what you don't understand
If you are away during your course you need to catch up.
If you are finding a topic hard to understand:
- Ask your teacher
- Read a book about it
- Look it up on a revision website
- Talk about it with friends and family
Where to revise
You can't always choose an ideal place but try to find the best place you can.
Your revision base should:
- be quiet, no music, TV or other people to distract you
- have a large desk or table
- be well lit
- be equipped with pens, pencils, paper
Planning to revise
- You must start early. You will need to return to each topic several times
- Plan a revision timetable. Decide what subjects and topics you will study on each day
- Do include breaks and exercise in your revision timetable. Most people can't revise for longer than about 30 minutes so plan short blocks with 5 minute breaks
- Make sure you have all your books and revision materials to hand.
Revision Excuses
"I revise best the night before an exam". - This is totally untrue. We learn by using facts and ideas repeatedly. If we learn something once we forget over half of it within 24 hours. This is an excuse for failing to revise properly.
"I learn best with music on". - There is some evidence that soft, gentle music in the background may help relaxation. Anything else is just a distraction that helps time to pass without you learning much.
"I did loads of revision last night. I worked for five hours without a break". - You can't concentrate for that long so most of this time was probably wasted.
"I revise best by reading my books".
- Obviously reading is an essential part of learning but fixing things in your brain should be active. There are several ideas in the next section.