It’s a word we all fear: revision. Unfortunately it’s a huge part of student life, whether you’re studying for your Standard Grades or exams at university. Fortunately, here at Source, we understand the difficulty thousands of students across Scotland face, so we’ve come up with a few handy hints and tips to help the revision process.
First things first, there is no absolute science to revising. Many students differ in their study techniques and it’s simply down to whatever suits your learning style. If in doubt, try studying in different environments, with friends, by yourself and you’ll quickly learn what works best for you.
Timetables – Try planning a timetable of what your going to revise and when. Download this example to get an idea of how to set one out.
Breaks – It is very important to take regular breaks away from revising. Whether you go listen to some music, go for a walk outside or perhaps even catch up on all the latest goings-on here at Source, try and take a short break every 40 minutes.
Hydration – Keep up your focus and energy by drinking plenty of water and eating well.
Test Yourself – Get a friend or family member to test you on what you have revised so far. Create question cards with the answers on the back, that way you can test yourself if there is nobody around! No cheating though.
Space – Find yourself a quiet space, whether that be at home, school or local library and give yourself enough space to have all your materials at hand.
Rewards – Give yourself a reward for revising. Whether it be a night off if you’re ahead of your plan or you simply just need a night to yourself. It’s perfectly fine to take time off to relax.
Music – Studies have found that listening to relaxing music helps students revise. However this is not the case for everyone. Why not try it and see if it works for you – it might be best avoiding a bit of Enter Shakari though…
Group Study – Why not organize a group study session to go over any queries you have and test each other on what you’ve learned? This is a great, fun way to revise and hang out with your friends at the same time.
Post-It Notes – Write short facts on Post-Its and stick them in places you go to regularly such as notice boards, mirrors and cupboard doors. You’ll be amazed what you remember without even realizing.
Past Papers – These are a fantastic way to test your knowledge. They consist of past examination papers (including the answers) to help you gain an understanding of what you will face in the exam. Exams often have similar questions and layouts to previous years, so it is definitely worth a look!
Further Tips…
- When reading large pieces of text, try picking out all the key words and writing them down.
- Try explaining what you have just revised to someone else. This is a great way of practicing what you have revised.
- Experiment using mind-maps, coloured pens and diagrams to display your written revision. If it is colourful and fun to look at, you are more likely to remember the information.
- Your brain is a muscle, so it is important to give it plenty of rest. Try and get a good night sleep every night.
- If you’re finding a particular subject difficult to grasp, why not ask your teacher if they’ll spend some time going over it with you.
- Give yourself plenty of time to revise all your subjects. Before you know it, it will be exam time!
Best of luck!
