The approaching of the holiday excited every bone in my body. I honestly can't tell you how stressful I find school so a holiday was highly needed, yet at the same time 'a holiday full of revision' wasn't exactly what I was intending. Urgh great...
Revision time.
When it comes to revision if you don't have motivation then it's just not going to work. I have to confess (even me being a massive proud nerd) that I seriously lacked the urge to begin. I mean, personally I feel that should be 100% understandable: I'd just completed a 7 week term filled with controlled assessments and coursework deadlines. Surely I deserved a break? I gave myself until Monday and then I forced myself to start. And guess what it worked!
It's like desiring a full set of toned abs. If you don't set a target and plan exactly how you're going to get there then guess what: you won't get there. With you I'm going to share some of the revision tips which have helped me in order to do my best so far...
>•Invest in a revision guide•<
They cost like £3 to £5 and are totally worth every single penny! My favourites are 'York Notes' and the 'CGP' make. I particularly enjoy these as they contain a condensed version of the relevant information that you must know.
> •Organise•<
Let me start by telling you something more important than the revision itself. If you don't plan what you’re going to revise on which day then how are you going to know the direction in which you are striving for. Getting organised is so easy. All you need to do is sit down with a cup of tea, a note book, and a pen. On that first piece of paper write all the mini topics you need to revise for each exam. Then write out the days of the week and plan which topics you plan to revise each day. Easy peasy!
Now you know what you’re doing when, shall we move on to the ways you can choose to revise? Yes, you heard me right: you get a choice. Awesome.
Revision is one thing. But knowing how to revise is a complete other. How completely scary it can be knowing you have to revise but not having a clue how to do so effectively. Fear not...
1) Write down revision notes. This is more than likely the most common way you hear of revising. This is something I do and it really helps me but just remember you don't have to write boring notes. Make them colourful and highlight important information; as long as your notes are eye catching then the easier it's going to be to learn from what you've written!
2) YouTube videos. This is particularly helpful for people who learn by listening. And it is an excellent way of embedding the difficult parts into your brain! The key to finding a useful YouTube video is searching. Just to warn you, be prepared to listen to some strange voices with extremely boring images!!!
3) Some of my friends like to type up their revision notes. It's a good way to impose the correct answers into your fingers!
4) Finally I recommend practicing exam style questions so you know what to expect when you get to the exam. You can find past exams on your exam boards website. This is particularly helpful for math tests as when it comes to maths practice makes perfect!