Revise your Revision Techniques
REVISION MATTERS
Don’t be passive!
There is no point just passively sitting there reading your books and hoping that what
is swimming before your eyes will eventually stay in your mind. It’s boring and it
doesn’t help you to understand or even remember what you are revising. After a few
minutes your concentration will start to wander…..
What should you do?
Active revision is the way forward…..!
Read on!
Very important.
Very important.
Very important.
Very important
Attend all revision sessions planned for you. Write down the details in your planner so you don’t forget.
Attend all support sessions
First of all let’s think about preparations……
Start planning your revision in good time. Plan ahead………Relying simply on last
minute revision doesn’t work
Draw up a trial timetable lasting one week and then review this at the end of the week. This will
enable you to find out how much revision you can do.
Create a new timetable and then review it at the end of each week.
Put the timetable in a prominent place on your wall.
Continue until your final exam.
When planning your revision timetable…..
Vary the subjects you revise each day
Try to mix your weaker subjects with those where you are more confident
Space out the revision for each subject over the week.
Plan to do 30 – 60 minutes at a time and then have a break before returning to your revision
Leave some blank sessions in your timetable in case you need extra time on a topic
Give someone at home a copy!
Make use of the library facilities in school. Remember that it is open 3.30 – 5.00 pm
How should you start your revision programme?
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List the topics to be revised for each subject
Make a checklist of the major topics covered in each of your subject.
Ask your teachers if you are unsure
Pin up the list of topics that you need to cover
Look at the list and decide what order you would like to study them
Choose an easy topic to start, as this will give you confidence.
Work out how much time to give to each topic
Tick off the topic when you have revised it. This will help you to see that you are
making progress
Treat yourself to some stationery…
Pens, coloured pens, highlighters, cards, coloured paper, post-its, any maths equipment
missing from your supplies all add variety and help to relieve the monotony of revision.
WEEKLY REVISION TIMETABLE
EVENING
8-9am
9-10am
10-11am
11-12
2-3pm
3-4pm
4-6pm
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT
SUN
6-8pm
8-10pm
WEEKLY REVISION TIMETABLE (work out the time slots that suit you)
MONDAY
Morning
8am12noon
Afternoon
1-5pm
Evening
5-9pm
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Doing your revision –Getting the basics right
Find a good place to revise where it is…
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Quiet
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Uncluttered
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Light and airy
Away from all your usual distractions.
Switch off your mobile & don’t log onto Facebook to socialise!
Vary the venue. Even consider going out for a walk to learn a particular topic or a
particular part of a language presentation
Try working on topics in the morning when your mind is fresh. Set yourself realistic
targets.
If you need to listen to music, keep the volume down
Make sure you pick a good time not to be distracted
Make sure you have correct kit/food and drink around you
Ask others to respect your right to revise.
Be honest with yourself.
For those who find concentration a problem
Start with a short revision period and gradually build up.
Have regular breaks e g 10 minutes for every hour you work
Walk around whilst revising, as this may help you
Talk to yourself. Talk to others. Explain a topic to a willing listener
Change your revision technique. Change the colour of your pen/paper (see also penultimate
page)
Ways to wise up in lessons and at school:
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Be there! Attendance and punctuality are vital to your success.
2
Be prepared – with the right equipment and mental attitude. Make sure that you
have reviewed the work from the previous lesson and done any work set.
3
Make time to write up notes and review them whilst they are fresh in your mind.
Reviewing work helps your learning.
M = Movement
R =Respiration
4
Get involved. Answer lots of questions in class.
S= Sensitivity
5
Avoid any inappropriate distractions.
G= Growth and
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Ask if you need help or information.
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Go to the library – remember that it is open 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm
Repair
R =
Reproduction
E = Excretion
N = Nutrition.
Think about how you learn best. Is it by
Using an iPad?
Reading and/or writing things down?
Listening to information?
Doing something, e.g. drawing a diagram, walking as you read information, etc?
By a mixture of these?
Plan to revise in the way that suits you. Remember that ‘variety is the spice of life...’
If using an iPad helps you…..
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Skitch is good for use as a whiteboard. You can use a photo from your photo roll
and then highlight, put shapes around certain words or pictures, add your own text
and more – like drawing over your work. You can mark up maps, screen captures or
photos/videos, you can save or share your annotation to help others see and
understand your ideas.
Explain everything – good for annotating and speaking at the same time
Popplet and Simple mind – for mind maps – good for revision and you can make
changes to amend your revision. The latter is understandable, good for taking notes,
choice of different layouts and colours, particularly good for geog revision, you can
have branches, sub-branches, you can add cross links, export it to emails, print it off
and the hard copy can be in your book. You can delete when you make a mistake –
ideal if you cannot cope with messy work, easy to store on ipad. Suggested use -for
planning CA in English and what sort of language would gain a better grade. Popplet
is faster than pen and paper, you can add pictures and its less messy.
Revision App – the ultimate revision tool and flash card app – You can click on a
subject and it will give you a selection of different areas within that subject and it will
give you a choice of video lessons or flash card lessons. Recommended by the
IChamps
Rover – works by sending the web address to a server then back to your iPad which
means you are able to go on applications which would originally need flash
player. This is better as you don’t need to be in a computer room to go on my maths
or linguascope.
Notability – allows you to download document. Once you have the app, you are able
to draw, highlight and add text on it. You can then organise all your documents and
notes you create by saving them into different folders. Reduced use of paper, can
undo errors, edit it afterwards, store it for later, easier to access than just an
unorganised pile of paper.
Pages – useful app where you can prepare your own word documents, It can also
be used to open other documents and edit them. You can peer assess. Share
documents you have created.
Quick voice – record notes, practise presentations/pronunciation
Sticky board – 9 -12 – variations on post -its
Evernote Peek
Sticky notes
Keynote – create power points for revision purposes
Flashcards+ - Revision tool with ready-made revision flash cards or make your own
If reading & writing things down helps you…..
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Read the information and then make your own notes – short, sharp & to the point.
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Leave gaps in your notes – read and fill in the gaps
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Make lists of key facts in a topic on a card or post-it – (use bullet points to jog your
memory)
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Highlight important facts/words using a highlighter pen
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Write on different coloured paper
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Make up mnemonics (words or phrases made from a set of letters)
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Make a set of cards with definitions of key words
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Label diagrams, make flow charts, do gap filling exercises.
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Write quotations/definitions on post-it notes and pin them on your wall
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Test yourself. Try answering questions on past papers. Re-do Maths questions
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Give yourself a list of headings and find out how much you know.
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Each time you make a statement always try to explain – because, because,
because.
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Try answering examination questions without your notes and in the time allowed.
If Listening suits you….
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Make key notes and ask someone to read them to you
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Record yourself reading the notes and play it back
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Listen to recordings made by your teacher
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Read your notes aloud, cover the notes and try to repeat what you just said. This will
help to fix the information
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Ask someone to test you in a question & answer session
If doing something suits you...
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Write key facts on post-it notes, stick them around the house and plan a circuit
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Use highlighters
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Play with blu-tac or playdough as you read through notes
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Record yourself reading the notes & play it back on headphones whilst walking
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Record important facts/languages presentation etc onto your phone. Make up
songs to help you revise.
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Use revision websites like http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/maths/
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Or http://getrevising.co.uk/ - you can make wordsearches of definitions, key
people etc
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Draw mind maps, diagrams and symbols
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Go for a walk and learn different facts at different stages on your walk.
If a mixture suits you...
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Choose the best mix
ALWAYS END YOUR REVISION SESSION BY TESTING YOURSELF
KEEP TESTING YOURSELF DURING THE REVISION SESSION
Other words of wisdom!!
Have a bottle of water nearby when you are revising and have regular drinks
Get a change of scene in between revision sessions.
Relax and stay calm and plan something to look forward to
Make sure you drink plenty of water!
During the examination period........
The night before...
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Look through your notes but don’t go to bed late
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Do not do an excessive amount of learning. Try not to do any totally new revision.
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Get all your equipment ready the night before.
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Get a good night’s sleep
On the day of the exam...
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Get up early
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Check that you have all you need for the exam
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Have a quick look at your revision notes, if this will give you more confidence.
Remember
Worry is like a rocking chair. It keeps you
going but gets you nowhere.
Coping with any worries
Talk to friends/family/a teacher and ask for help
Make sure you take time to relax
Exercise will help to clear your head and help you to relax.
Always be positive – ‘your glass is half full not half empty…’ ‘Always look on the
bright side of life…….’ Think of solutions to any setbacks.
Eat a variety of healthy foods.
Breathing techniques can help. Breathe in slowly whilst counting to ten, hold your
breath counting to ten then breathe out slowly, again counting to ten. Repeat this
three times.
Remember to smile
Recognise what you need to know
Make sure you know it
Show that you know
Be confident.
You’ll be fine
Good Luck