Revision

Top tips for revising successfully

Focus your revision

Minimising revision stress

Top tips for revising successfully

• Start revising several weeks beforehand - even if you can only manage an hour a week while you still have classes, you will feel more in control.

• Draw up a realistic timetable- including any coursework tasks that you still need to complete. Whatever time you have available should be allocated fairly equally between each of the sections of the course that are to be examined. However...

• ...think tactically!  If you're going to be examined on everything, then you'll need to put in extra work on your weakest subjects. But if you will have a choice of questions in the exam, then you may do better to focus your efforts on six or seven main areas where you feel you could do well.

• Don't start revising in detail until you have jotted down an overview of each part of the course. Draw up a diagram with a list of topic headings for each unit - from memory first, then check your notes and handouts. If you have managed to develop good habits during the course - making your notes clear and concise, sorting them out regularly - then this will be much easier.

• Make a list of the main issues and problems involved for each section. Write each main issue on a separate sheet of paper, followed by the ideas, arguments, evidence that relate to it. Relate these to questions in sample papers, or try inventing your own questions for different topics. What would constitute good answers to these?

• Identify a few small revision tasks that you can do whenever you have a spare half-hour.

• Use images, mindmaps and diagrams to help you visualise and illustrate the subject - and then stick them up on your wall where you will see them every day!

• Practise writing essay plans (in about 10 minutes) to sample questions. Look at your course notes afterwards to see how you might improve them.

• Don't waste time worrying about what you don't know once you get nearer to the exam time. Concentrate on making the most of what you do know.

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Focus your revision

The key to coping well with exams is to make sure that your revision is not a frantic attempt to memorise every fact you've encountered during the course, but is directed towards sorting out the main themes of the course material.

• Within each topic your revision should be shaped by the kind of questions that you are likely to encounter in the exam. So find out as much as possible about the examination format for this course or module - look at past papers and ask your tutors to clarify any aspect you are unsure about.

• Consider the sort of questions that have been set previously for course work as well as past exam papers, and practise planning answers for these.

• One of the commonest faults described by examiners is not answering the question that was actually set.  It's no good writing down everything you can remember about a particular topic just because it happens to be mentioned in the question!

• Instead analyse the questions as you would for coursework essays - what kind of answer does the question imply? You will need to choose appropriate examples, relevant to the particular problem, and to develop an argument clearly and concisely (but do remember that nobody will expect you to write with the same kind of detail and wealth of reference as in your coursework).

• Draw up sample answer plans throughout your revision period - this is not only good practice in itself but will also help you to identify where you need more work. (Exams are more than memory tests, but you still need to have sufficient grasp of your factual material to enable you to recognise what is relevant and to use it well.)

Minimising revision stress

Revising and the lead up to exams can be an anxious time, but there are a number of simple things that you can do to help keep focused and stay in control:

• Try not to compare revision progress or the amount of work you are doing with that of your friends.

• Instead, try to arrange group revision sessions with your friends. Discussing the topics and revising with others is a great way to improve your understanding and memory.

• Cut out the negative self talk. Be aware of 'should have' statements that implicilty place pressure on yourself. At the end of your studying day, focus on what you have accomplished.

• If you get stuck and are unable to work, identify a small amount of time for restarting work with relaxation afterwards which you gradually extend as you regain confidence and motivation.

• Plan some leisure activities that you enjoy every day. Physical exercise can help reduce stress levels and help focus the mind.

• Try not to suffer in silence if you are having problems either academically or personally. Don't forget your GP, tutor, and the Counselling Service are there to help.