Revision. We all have to do it at some point of our lives. Like I said in last weeks post, sharing 11 Revision Tips & Tricks, it is a pain in the bum. But now that exam season is right around the corner, the dreaded r word is being said left, right and centre by parents, teachers, friends, yourself...
There will be students who are well on their way with studying and there will be those that still have an untouched textbook somewhere in their room. Im probably classed as somewhere in the middle - theres still quite a lot to do but hey, at least Ive made a dent in the work. For me, that is pretty darn good to be at where I am, as Ive never been the best at revision. In the past, I have usually started a little to late to be able to get a good amount of studying in. On top of that, I had no idea how to go about revising and would be all over the place; index cards one day, a half finished poster on the same topic the next day.
But, this year, I have finally found a method that works for me. I get bored of doing the same thing over and over so by doing index cards, mind-maps, answering questions etc, I find it more enjoyable as Im learning the information from different approaches. It may be best to find out what type of learner you are first, so that you are able to tweak the steps to suit you.
How to revise
Start big. Narrow the information down. Learn it. The blow it back up.
1. Write down a list of topics for each subject, then create branches off each topic and list the sub topics. Through doing this, you have a clear idea of what it is you need to know all in one place.
2. Go through the list and pick out areas that you find most difficult, dont know much about etc.. and focus on these first.
3. Create a poster, a powerpoint, a good set of notes (whatever your chosen method) for each subtopic.
4. Condense the information, from no 3, into index cards or a mind-map. It is probably best to do index cards as you can carry them around with you. But if you prefer a more visual piece, a mind map may work better. Or have both.
5. This should be a continuous step, just keep going over the information. For example, I like to flick through my index cards whilst walking to college or waiting for the kettle to boil instead of scrolling through instagram (but instagram still slips in there because breaks are important). I also like to have my mind-maps hung on my wall so that I can look at the whilst brushing my hair or getting dressed.
TIP - Imagine you are teaching your notes. Your family may think you have gone a little bonkers talking to yourself in your room, but actually saying the words out loud, rather than just in your head, helps you remember the information better.
6. Start answering questions from textbooks, doing past papers, writing out essays. This step should play alongside no 5 - continuously until the exam. This is an important part of revision as you are applying and putting into practice the knowledge you have learnt. At first, it may be a good idea to just take your time, but then gradually shorten the amount of time you spend on the task until you are doing it in timed conditions - so you are prepared for the exam.
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