Mastering Revision:  Tips and Strategies for Success

Hi,

I’m Alix and it’s my mission to help as many of the next generation as possible work in jobs that meet their passion and purpose, making them happy and fulfilled adults. Join me in making sure you’re one of them…

Note: When I was where you are today, I was clueless. Having chosen my options by myself, choices made for all the wrong reasons, I had no one advising me that the effort and time I put into the next couple of years would dramatically affect my future. No one explained that it was the first step in my career, taking me on to further choices that would lead to a job that I would be spending a great deal of my life at. Neither of my parents, or any of my teachers, sat me down and asked me what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go or helped me understand what type of career would suit my abilities, character, and interests.

And that is why this website exists, I want to help those who have no one either. I’d like to offer my personal experiences and knowledge gained since that ‘clueless’ time as a ‘virtual mentor’ and show them how to make choices that are right for them. I suspect that I am the only one who was so clueless, and hope that’s true, but if you don’t have support and advice, feel free to use my shoulder to lean on.

Today we’re looking at tips and strategies when revising for any exams, but in particular GCSEs. So, grab a snack, get comfortable and let’s dive in.

GCSE exam results are a significant milestone in your educational journey.

By:

identifying and putting practical study methods in place as soon as possible;

backing it up through thorough preparation; and

considering effective exam-taking strategies;

you will ensure confidence, focus and success in your exams.

Colleges and apprenticeships often have set criteria for accepting students, so the grades you achieve can determine whether you are able to follow your chosen career path - or not. And remember that the time you dedicate now in preparing for these exams will make the rest of your life easier, it’s an investment worth making.

Hopefully you’ve read my book ‘I am Choosing my Options’ and will already be studying topics that stimulate and interest you, the ones that make you keen to study and learn more. This will definitely make revision easier.

Start early and plan strategically…

Effective revision begins with early planning. As soon as you begin your GCSE years, or any course leading to an exam, put revision techniques in place. This will avoid the need to go back to the beginning of any textbook later, saving time straight away.

As you learn, each lesson should build on the one before, so by having your revision plan ready, you’ll be able to start with understanding the basics, on which the next lessons will build. If you find you don’t understand the basic concept, seek help straight away. Where to seek help depends on what the challenge is. Either your teacher should be willing to sit with you (and any others struggling), or if it’s something like a maths equation, investigate whether the internet has videos. If so, you can watch these over and over until it makes sense.

If you’re reading a book for English Literature that has a film already made of it, watch the film to get the whole picture (pun intended!) but remember that films can take liberties and can even change the ending so bear this in mind. The book version is what the exam will be about.

And now back to your revision timetable.

So, firstly, think seriously about how much time you can spend revising. By putting this time aside straight away, it’ll become a normal part of your week and just something you do, rather than become a ‘slog’ as you near the exams.

It’s important not to think you can do more than you realistically can as it could cause you to feel like you’re failing when you can’t keep to it. So be careful to consider other commitments you have or arrange to put these to one side for the while.

And create a timetable that allows you plenty of time to cover all the subjects. Then commit to stick to it.

If you need help in creating a timetable, you could find it easier to do your revision the same night you have a particular subject. This can concrete what you’ve learnt during the day in your subconscious. And don’t resent homework. Homework is, again, a way of strengthening your understanding of what you’re learning. Always keep in mind that this is time invested in your future. We both want that to be the best you can have.

Next, by breaking down your study sessions into manageable time chunks and allocating time for:

revision;

practice tests;

and reviewing challenging areas;

you will stay organised and avoid the need for panicked cramming the night before an exam, reducing stress when you need peace and calm, not to mention a good night’s sleep.

Location, location, location…

Now, find somewhere that you’ll be able to revise in peace and quiet. Somewhere where you can grab a drink and snack and settle down to focus with minimal disturbance. This may be at home, or the local library.

Learning to drown out background noise is a skill in itself and will help you avoid any distractions, but only you know whether you can, so choose your space carefully. If you have several siblings two things can happen, either you’ll have learnt as you’ve grown up not to ‘hear’ them as you focus on what you’re doing, or you learn to hear everything.

Note: Having siblings, I learnt to drown out background noise from an early age, but my daughter hears everything. This may be because she has now become a carer for my handicapped brother so that, even when she’s not on duty, as she lives in the same house, she’s always got her radar on. I sit in a café before work to write these articles and can drown out the radio and people talking. However, if they’re particularly loud, I play my phone which has an album of nature tracks on it and I play this. It’s a signal to my subconscious to focus – the subconscious mind is amazing and you can train it to associate listening to a particular track or album with doing a certain something, just like me and my writing.

If you can’t drown out surrounding noise, consider the local library. There will still be noise, but definitely should be less.

Create effective study materials…

Develop comprehensive study materials that suit your particular learning style. Some students will learn easier from reading, others by using visual techniques. So, experiment with various techniques to find what works best for you.

Some you can try are any one of the following, or all of them:

summarising key concepts;

creating flashcards for quick review that you can carry with you;

and/or compiling concise notes;

visual aids such as mind maps or diagrams to help with understanding and memory retention.

Some popular techniques include:

quizzing yourself on key points;

spaced repetition (reviewing material at regular intervals); and

switching between different subjects or topics.

The process of creating study materials itself can enhance your understanding of the topic matter – remember, subjects are taught to us as children using repetition, so the more you go over your notes the more will sink into your brain.

If you have a list of facts to learn, set them out in a way that suits you – you could turn them into:

a list, or, perhaps more exciting;

a poem;

a song; or

a rap.

Adopting a combination of techniques could also enhance your understanding and long-term retention.

And once you find a technique that works for you go for it!

Seek help and clarify doubts…

When writing out revision notes, if you get stuck on a concept don’t spend time worrying and don’t hesitate. Make a note, move on and at the first opportunity, seek help.

You could reach out to teachers for assistance or the internet (not available when I was your age!). On-line videos can be watched and rewatched until the moment a lightbulb moment happens, and it all makes sense.

Your school may also hold revision sessions or study groups. If so, take advantage of them – they’re held to help you. And don’t be afraid of putting your hand up if you need to, it may well be that your colleagues have the same question in their heads too.

Prioritise time management…

Effective time management is crucial during your revision period to keep you on track. Reading my article ‘Mastering Time Management’ could help.

Note: There are so many aspects to consider regarding revision, planning and exams, that putting them all together would have created far too long an article, hence me breaking them up into smaller chunks!

Understanding the exam structure and requirements…

Familiarise yourself with the structure and requirements of each GCSE exam you’ll be taking. Reviewing past papers will give you valuable insight into the format, language, and the way questions are asked. This understanding can enable you to tailor your revision techniques accordingly.

Read my article on ‘Cracking Exam Techniques’ which gives pointers for what to watch for. (Smaller chunks!)

Practice past papers and mock exams…

Practicing time-based exercises will help to improve your speed and accuracy.

As you get nearer the exams, allocate time to complete full-length practice exams under exam conditions. Do them in peace and quiet, and time yourself. Remember when you take your exams they will be held (if it’s the same as when I took mine) in a school hall or some such and you’ll be spaced out, with no sound at all. Reproduce these surroundings so that when you take your exams you’re already used to the conditions.

Review your performance. For instance:

Did you take into account how many marks were allocated to each question or jump straight in?

Did you answer the questions you found easier first?

Did you face a challenging question and waste valuable time trying to think, rather than moving on and coming back to it?

Did you find any particular areas challenging?

Can you identify areas for improvement?

If so, ask for help if needed or add a note to follow up.

Take care of your well-being…

Maintaining your physical and mental well-being is vital during the revision period.

Get enough sleep to ensure optimal brain function and eat nutritious meals, staying hydrated to fuel your body and brain.

Engaging in regular physical exercise can help to reduce stress and improve concentration. Also, make sure to take breaks to relax and rejuvenate your mind.

Stay positive and believe in yourself…

Maintain a positive mindset throughout your revision journey. Believe in your abilities (I do!) and trust the efforts you’re putting in place.

Do not allow negative thoughts to creep in, even if you find one particular subject challenging. Replace them with positive ones as you revise and seek help where necessary to remove each and every obstacle.

Visualise success and imagine yourself performing well in the exams.

Remember, hard work, dedication, and belief in yourself are the keys to success, the effort you put in now will pay you back over and over in the long-term.

I’d love to hear how you’re getting on and, where possible, if we can help more.

Lastly, I wanted to both wish you luck and say that I know you can do it.

Success is within your grasp - good luck!