Revision Guide
A guide to help you revise which covers:
- The basics of successful revision
- Mind mapping
- Other revision methods
- Useful revision websites
The Basics of Great Revision
1. Get It Right From the Start
2. Plan Your Revision
Starting early is absolutely key. For important
summer exams your revision process should
begin at Christmas. That might sound crazy, but
that is what all the top students round the
country will be doing- remember they are your
competition.
As you enter a study leave period or a period
just before your exams then planning becomes
essential. Before your start create a timetable
which sets out what you will study for every
hour. Don’t just write in what subject- try and
identify the topic or topics within a subject that
you will cover. For example:
The revision environment is key. Create a regular
dedicated space to revise. This should include a
desk and a chair which sits you in an upright
posture. When you’re sat revising keep your
notes around 50cm away from your face. The
space should be well lit with a desk lamp. Keep
distractions out of this space- no computers,
television or music. None of these help!
Ensure you have all study materials ready early.
Order suggested revision books to aid you. Also
visit a stationers and buy coloured pens and a
variety of paper for creating mind maps etc.
Monday
Morning
Maths-Algebra
Afternoon
Geography- Plate Tectonics
and Volcanoes
When putting together a timetable mix up your
subjects- don’t put all your least favourite
subjects together on the same day, or all your
favourites. Mix it up. Also give more time to
subjects you find more difficult.
3. Work Effectively in Each Session
4. Repetition
Research has shown that that sitting down for 2
hours straight to revise is ineffective. You are
likely to recall around 50% of information
following this route.
‘The more we learn, the more we remember,
The more we remember, the more we learn.’
Instead, for a 2 hour session break it down into
30-40 minute chunks with small 5 minute rests
in between each section. Doing this should
boost your recall levels to around 75%.
The breaks are crucial. They should be short
and designed to relax your mind. It could include
popping outside for fresh air, having something
to eat or even meditation! It should not include
Facebook or watching television, as this will
keep your mind active.
Coming back after a break gives you a perfect
opportunity to briefly test what your learnt in
the previous session before moving on.
Memory expert Tony Buzan suggests that for
something to enter your long-term memory
permanently you need to revisit the content
5 times before your exams.
1. Shortly after you’ve learned it
2. One day after you’ve learnt it
3. One week after you’ve first learnt it
4. One month after you’ve first learnt it
5. Three to six months after you first learned it
Obviously, this timetable might not be possible
to follow for everything. However, just trying to
revisit content as many times as possible is key.
Suggested Task: In 5 minutes speedily write out
the key points of your notes from memory and
then add what you’ve missed.
For further information on revision strategies buy Tony Buzan’s ‘Study Skills’ book (available on Amazon).
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Mind Maps
Mnemonics
Other Techniques
Memory experts have suggested that mind maps are the most powerful tool for
making memorable revision notes, but only when they are made correctly
(pronounced without the M–nemonics) need not be as complicated as it sounds. This word literally means 'memory”. It's about
putting something memorable into your mind to help you recall information.
You create a code using rhymes, phrases or acronyms which helps you to recall information that is essential for doing well in your
exams. Mnemonics have been used for centuries in education.
'Every Good Boy Deserves Favour' – This stands for the musical notes E, G, B, D, and F.
“Never Eat Shredded Wheat” – It refers to the points of a compass North, East, South, West.
Revision Cards
A very good way to turn the notes you have made in lessons into a form that is more manageable
- Ipsum
when you come to revise is to make a set of REVISION CARDS.
A good REVISION CARD should contain all the KEY POINTS on a topic in a clear and concise way. It
should be a condensed version of whatever you have in your notes and you should be able to take
in the information on the card at a glance.
Key Rules for Mind Mapping
By transferring information from your notes to the REVISION CARD you are re-learning what you
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that you have to understand it!
mind map will probably need (i.e. how many topics will be included) so you keep it
relatively neat from the start and have room for everything.
Post It Notes
2. Keep it Brief- The point of mind maps is not to write loads of text in big sections. Try to use
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quotes, formulas, dates, case study names, etc and then stick them around rooms in your house
dense sections of text. It is far more difficult for your brain to remember a sentence, than
that you spend a lot of time in (with permission obviously). This means that when you spend times
itinisthese
for your
brain to remember key words.
rooms you will be reminded of the words and you will keep thinking about them more
often. The post-its can also be used to summarise a topic into a couple of sentences or picture to
3. Use Colour- Colour is a powerful tool for helping ideas stick in your mind. Give each branch
help jog your memory.
of your mind map a different colour.
4. Use Images- Using visual images to present certain ideas on your mind-map will engage
Posters
both
sides of your brain. Make them colourful and creative, but don’t spend hours on
them. It’s to help you remember something and not an art exam.
Get yourself some A3 or A2 paper and use it to make a poster on a particular topic or whole
subject.
By using
words,
and includingwithin
definitions
it will help
you remember the points
5. Use
ArrowsUsekey
arrows
topictures
make connections
and across
branches.
you are trying to revise.
6. Key Words on Lines- The lines are important as they connect individual key words
Put the poster up in your room and as you spend time in there have a look over every so often and
together. By placing key words on lines your brain will make the connection with the rest
read what is on there. Even if it’s a few minutes a day it will help you remember what is on the
ofposter
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mind
map.
the exam.
Revision Songs
7. Vary the Thickness of your Lines- Use thick lines at the centre and thinner lines as your
branch off. This variation will help make your mind map more memorable.
8. Curve
your
Curved
lines
are amore
mind than
straight
ones.
Take a popular song and change
the lyrics
so itlinesbecomes
a song
about
key interesting to ourArgument
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topic. You could then record this on to an Ipod and play it out and about.
Against
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Reviewing: Keep reviewing your mind map. Ideally 5 times. The first review (after 10
Planning Out Past Exam Questions
minutes) should be 10 minutes long. Every other review after should be 2 minutes
This can be an incredibly effective
of testing
your knowledge
long. way
A review
should
consist ofafter
a quick-fire sketch out of what you remember without
you’ve learnt it is to practiseany
exam
questions.
You
don’t
need
to
write
the
Explanation
assistance and the mind map hidden
from
view. You should then check against
whole answer. You could write it out in note form or use a grid format.
your mind map to make corrections and strengthen missing areas.
3