Study Skills – Preparing for your GCSE exams
To help you get off on the right foot with your revision we have prepared some useful revision tips for you.
Tip 1 – Plan for your revision
It is important to have a structured approach to your revision
because it means you can be sure of covering everything you
need in the time available. You will look at how to create a
revision timetable in a separate lesson in today’s collapsed
curriculum programme.
Tip 2 – Create the right environment
When you revise at home use the following tips for creating the right environment:

If possible try and set aside an area that’s
just for revision. Wherever possible, avoid
your bedroom as this is full of distractions.

Make sure your desk is well lit and away
from distractions such as the TV.

Most people revise most effectively in a
quiet environment however playing music at
certain times might motivate and inspire
you.

Find a spot where it is easy to avoid distractions. Turn off your phone, move away from the TV and
shut down your internet connection.

Have everything to hand before you start. This means pens, pencils, paper, textbooks, exam paper
and notes.
Mrs Bilton – Subject Leader : Careers
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Tip 3 – Think about your technique

Simply reading textbooks and notes is not enough for effective
revision. You need to be active, making notes and diagrams – see
later on in this booklet for tips on how to do this.

Use past papers, text books, class notes and syllabuses to work out
what you should be revising – you don’t want to waste time on topics that are not relevant for the
exam.

Set aside time to think as well as read and write. It’s important – switch environments for this.
Maybe go to the park, for a walk or to the cafe.

Go over material more than once but leave a day or two in between. This will help reinforce
knowledge and fix it in your mind.

Find the optimum time in the day for you to revise - many students find that revising early in the
morning works best for them – obviously this is impossible to do when revising during school hours
but is possible during exam study periods, weekends and holidays.
Tip 4 – Don’t overdo your revision
 Avoid information overload and burn out by pacing your studies
– this reinforces the importance of having a well thought out
revision timetable.
 Take frequent breaks. Short chunks of revision work best for
most people e.g revise for 30 minutes then take a short 5 or 10
minute break.
 Stay hydrated and don’t get too hungry. Keep a glass of water
to hand along with healthy snacks like fruit and nuts.
 Remember your friends and family. Spending time with them will keep you stimulated and stop
you going ‘stir crazy’.
 If things aren’t going quite to plan, don’t panic – just re-evaluate what you can cover in the
remaining time and focus on what you can achieve.
 Make sure you get enough sleep as this can help you stay alert and energetic rather than tired.
 Discipline yourself and get into the habit of revising regularly
 Plan in some relaxation time – especially if you are revising every day it is important to plan in
some time to switch off and relax
Mrs Bilton – Subject Leader : Careers
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Different learning techniques:
There is a wide variety of different techniques that you can use to help you remember your work. One
thing is for certain, simply just reading your notes will not help you to remember. You need to be active in
the way you revise. Try putting some of the following techniques into practise:
 Read the information you want to learn then cover it up
and try and summarise in writing what you have just
read. Then re read your original notes again and
compare to what you have written. Keep doing this
until you get it right.
 Read books rather than the internet as you run the risk
of being distracted on the internet by facebook, emails
etc
 Revision Cards : Write a set of these – one for each
topic you are studying. On them list all the key facts
and information you need to know. Carry these around
with you taking them out to study them regularly when
you have a spare few minutes
 Past papers are a must – go through one then mark
using the mark scheme to assess how you did
 Stick posters, post it notes or big notes on your bedroom wall (get permission from your parents
first!)
 Make up rhymes to help you remember key facts
 Create mind maps – watch the you tube clip – how to create a mind map – the basics by
MacGrercy and see the guide later on in this booklet.
 Create mnemonics – this is the use of any technique that helps you retain information common
applications include acronyms and short poems or phrases
o
Short phrases or poems – e.g ‘Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain’ is used to help
remember the colours of the rainbow
o
Acronyms take the first letter of a phase or word e.g USA for United States of America
Mrs Bilton – Subject Leader : Careers
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How to create a mind map:
Websites that have been recommended by other students who have been through
their GCSEs
Maths:
http://www.youtube.com/user/maths247
http://www.examsolutions.co.uk/GCSE-...ials/index.php
http://www.khanacademy.org/
English:
http://www.teachit.co.uk/armoore/default.htm
http://www.youtube.com/user/WCSEngli.../2/VJWdoluPpGY
http://www.youtube.com/user/helpmemrdavies
History:
http://web.mac.com/gileshill/history...E_History.html
http://www.johndclare.net/
Languages:
http://www.wordreference.com/
Revision tips:
http://beanbaglearning.com/resources/159-exam-technique
www.getrevising.com
Mrs Bilton – Subject Leader : Careers
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