Revision can feel daunting, particularly for children who haven’t had to do it before. It’s easy to tell your child to revise, but do they actually know what that means, or are they using that time effectively?
Revision isn’t an exact science – a method that works for one person won’t sink in at all for someone else, but there are things to consider that will make the time better spent. Here, we share some of our top tips for making the most of your study time.
Make a plan
Set aside time for revision and stick to it. Make sure it’s as realistic as possible and make sure it doesn’t clash with any existing commitments.
Break it down
Whenever possible, try to break down the revision into small chunks. It’s hard to stay focused for long periods of time, so it’s best to have more frequent, shorter revision sessions. Consider your strengths and weaknesses, as well as subjects or areas you need to focus on and prioritise these.
Write it down
It can be difficult to absorb information when reading text, particularly if it’s long and complicated. Write down summaries of information and particular details you need to remember, as this can help transfer it to memory. Using cards, highlighting text and post-it notes can also help.
Find out what works for you
When you start out, don’t just stick to one revision technique. Try out as many as possible to see what sticks. Use a range of tools and resources to help you, and if something works well, see if you can introduce it to other subjects.
Practise past papers
Learning what kinds of questions you’ll be asked and what you need to include in your answer is invaluable. Sometimes, even if you know the information, you can be marked down because it hasn’t been presented in the right way. It’s also easy to be thrown by how a question is worded under exam conditions. By practising past papers, you can get a feel of how questions are likely to be asked and get used to writing answers.
Remember drinks, snacks and breaks
Hunger can have a big impact on concentration, so make sure you have a snack at hand or have eaten well before revising.Drink water and take regular breaks so you’re as relaxed as possible when studying.
