It’s the first week back at school and just five minutes after you’re reunited with the friends you didn’t see over the festive period – prelims hit. Some think that because prelims are marked internally, and their grades don’t end up on the all important SQA certificate, that they just don’t matter. But they do.
The point of prelims is to make sure you’re on track with your subjects, and prepare you for the final batch of exams in the spring. So prepare well for these, and you’ll be on your way to achieving those much-wanted As and Bs. To help you get underway, we’ve compiled a few starting points.
Control Procrastination
Doing the things you normally wouldn’t do is always a problem around revision time. As soon as you sit down at your desk to begin, you spot something that needs tidied up, or log onto Facebook. So before you hit the books, make sure your bedroom is spic and span – cleaning and tidying can’t distract you if it’s not needing done.
As for the social media habit, turn off the internet completely. You may need it to look up bits and pieces of information – but do this beforehand and print off what you need. This way you’ll be prevented from quickly Googling a fact, and then heading straight over to Twitter for a quick peek – which we all know is never just a quick peek.
Location, Location, Location
Scientists say that varying your place of study can help increase the chances of remembering what you’ve learnt. Try switching between the bedroom and the library, and, if possible, ask your parents if you can bag the kitchen or dining room table for a few hours. This will also prevent you from becoming bored of sitting in the one spot for hours on end.
Routine
At school, your day is planned out and you follow it without question. Your study days should be no different. Devise a plan that suits you and make a paper copy that you can pop on your desk or wall. If you’re an early riser, you might want to get a couple of hours in before lunch, and then another few in the afternoon. And if you’re more of a night owl, you can plan to study later in the day.
But we don’t want you sitting for hours on end with your head glued to the textbook. Try breaking up your revision time into short bursts of 45 minutes, followed by a ten minute break. Invest in an egg-timer (or there might even be one in the kitchen) and use it as a guide while your working through your notes. You can always use the alarm on your phone – but that may divert your attention should someone decide to give you a ring, so pop it on flight mode or silent.
Understanding vs. Memorising
Now that you have your location and routine sorted out, it’s time to knuckle down and start cramming in all that information. Many make the mistake of simply regurgitating what the textbook says when it comes to answering exam questions. However when the big test comes along, the questions will be worded differently and markers will be looking to see how well you’ve adapted your knowledge. When you start making revision notes, write them down in your own words, in a way you understand. Memorising a huge fact will do you no good, unless of course the question asks for exactly what you have memorised – but chances are it won’t. So get your head around everything – ask your friends and family to have you explain things for them, as a practice method. The more you understand, the better your grade will be.
And if you’re looking for a few more tips, here’s some we did earlier:
Happy studying and good luck!
