Study Tips
Revision Timetable
To make effective use of your time, you can make a revision timetable. It doesn't have to be structured hour-by-hour, just make sure you know what you're doing each day. For example, your timetable may look something like this:
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4PM - 5PM | Mathematics | Chemistry | Economics | Biology | Physics |
| 5PM - 6PM | English language | English Literature | Geography | Computer Science | French |
Revision Cycle
Here's a general process to learn stuff:
- Identify what you struggle with. This can be as simple as going through the mock exams or any other test you did in class, and seeing what you got wrong. You can also Google some past papers, do them in timed conditions, and self-mark.
- Re-learn material. Go through your textbooks, watch YouTube videos, ask your teacher, or ask other students, until you get it. There will come a moment when everything makes sense. Now you need to be able to remember this in the exam.
- Practise your new skills. Do as many past paper questions as you can, get other people to quiz you, make flashcards, or draw mind-maps. If you can remember it, try a day later, a week later, a month later, and so on.
- Repeat the whole process. It should get easier each time. Even if you do forget something, once you remind yourself by re-learning, you will remember it again.
Sleep
Sleep is scientifically proven to play a vital part in consolidating memories - it helps your brain store new information. This means that is extremely important to maintain a good sleep schedule - the NHS recommends that teenagers sleep for 8-10 hours a day.
Not only does this make you remember more material, it also means you'll be less tired in exams. As a result, you will be able to do your very best instead of falling asleep in exams.
Focus
It is important to find a quiet, distraction-free environment to do your learning. You may have this at home, at your school library, or somewhere else. Make sure that any distractions are off during this period. Once you get in the zone for revision, you don't want to be disturbed by messages or social media. This way, you can get a lot of work done. You may also find that listening to music helps you concentrate, just make sure that the lyrics aren't actually distracting you.