Top 10 revision tips
Top 10 revision tips
July, 2017
No matter how you revise best, we have put together some top tips that will help you get to grips with studying and thereby maximising your chances of achieving top grades in any upcoming exams. Revision is key to getting the grades you want. Different people revise in different ways: you might learn by listening to a lecture, or by reading through your notes, or you might only be able to remember the facts you need by drawing things like spider diagrams.
1) Start first thing in the morning
The best time of the day to start revising is first thing in the morning. If you’ve had a good night’s sleep you’ll be refreshed mentally and physically, and your brain will be at its optimum levels of performance. Make sure to always eat breakfast too - it will increase your concentration levels and help to keep your energy up.
2) Make a revision timetable
Plan your studies with a timetable: this will help you manage a big heap of revision by breaking it down into small manageable chunks. A timetable will ensure that you have allotted enough time to each subject you need to study, and don’t run out of time as it comes up to the exam date.
3) Study in a quiet environment
Some people prefer to revise alone in their own space, while others work better in a shared study space like a library. Wherever you decide is best for you, try to minimise any distractions. You will concentrate better somewhere that is quiet and will use your time more efficiently if you are able to focus completely.
4) Take breaks to exercise
It may sound strange, but exercising in between revision sessions will help you in more ways than one. Exercising has been shown to help people commit their revision to memory, and you will also gain the usual benefits of exercise: feeling happy and healthy.
5) Think positive!
The first step on the ladder of success is a positive attitude. You need to have confidence in your own abilities, and remember that it isn’t the end of the world if you don’t do as well as you would like. Try not to worry too much: your life won’t be over if you don’t pass an exam.
6) Reward yourself
Give yourself a treat after each section of revision you complete. With something to look forward to, you’ll be more motivated to work hard. It’s important to maintain a balance between work and play, or you’ll end up burning out!
7) Eat and drink well
Make sure you’re at the top of your game by cutting out unhealthy junk food. Instead, eat leafy greens like broccoli and spinach, which are packed with vitamins and minerals that will give your brain a boost. Other foods to help you concentrate and keep full include oily fish, eggs, and peanut butter.
8) Teach someone else
You’ll gain a deeper understanding of a topic by explaining it to someone else, and you’ll also be more likely to lock the ins and outs of it into your memory. Ask a parent, friend, or classmate if you can teach them what you’ve been learning.
9) Practise past papers
A lot of the time you can find past papers online; if not, ask your teacher if they have access to any. Completing past papers is the best way to get ready for an exam. For extra authenticity, give yourself the same amount of time to answer as you would have in the real thing.
10) Sleep
Make sure you aim for 8 hours sleep per night during the time you’re revising and leading up to your exams. There’s no use spending a night cramming in all of your studying - you’ll just be useless the next day! Getting a good night's sleep before exams not only improves memory recall but also helps to maintain and improve concentration levels.