How to Revise Successfully

The upcoming exam might seem overwhelming, but there's no reason to be afraid! By using simple and effective revision techniques, you can stay focused without turning into a zombie!

Choose an ideal spot to study. A quiet, well-lit area is perfect for revising and will help you avoid distractions.

• Log out or temporarily deactivate social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Trying to log in or check them will discourage you, and by the end of the day, you won’t feel like studying anymore – you’ll waste time scrolling! Research also shows that our brains work best at slightly uncomfortable levels – we perform better when we feel a bit cooler than usual or sit on a hard chair. Sitting at a desk or dining table will help you feel more serious, like you're in an exam room. But of course, you can feel free to start your revision in comfy clothes – you can wear whatever feels best for you. Some people prefer to study at a specific spot, while others like to move around between rooms, cafes, libraries, or other places that allow for a change of scene to avoid monotony. Choose whatever works best for you and fits into your routine.
• Research suggests that studying in various locations can help group information, making it easier to recall later when you associate it with the location where you learned it.
• Some students find studying in public spaces more effective since there’s less temptation to watch TV or be distracted by random things at home. Pick the method that works for you and discard any bad habits while revising.

Create a study plan and stick to it. Want to finish your revision by the weekend? By the end of the day? Sticking to a structured plan helps clarify your study goals and allows you to track your progress. Following a revision plan reduces stress and ensures you cover all the necessary topics.

• If a revision outline isn’t your style and you're prone to changing plans, an alternative is to create a tick list or to-do list of all the topics or lessons you need to cover. You can color-code or divide the topics into sections to clearly see what needs to be studied or completed. This method allows you to focus on challenging topics or tackle multiple subjects in one day.

Set realistic goals that are achievable. Attempting to revise all twelve chapters of trigonometry in one night before an important exam may do you more harm than good. Similarly, trying to cover all of Shakespeare’s works just weeks before a test might not be the most effective way to retain the information for the exam. Organize your revision to focus on the most critical material you need to learn.

• You can revise the content you've learned during the year by spending 15 minutes each day writing down key points. Doing this consistently over a short period helps you retain more and reduces stress. A month before the exam, aim to complete all your notes so you can dedicate several hours each day for review and timed practice tests.
• If your exam is a long way off (although about 80% of students don’t find themselves in this situation), after each lesson, write the key points on flashcards (this only takes a few minutes!) and use them to revise. This method helps reinforce your knowledge while saving time and avoiding last-minute panic at the end of the school year. If you're part of the 80% who experience stress when exams are just around the corner, don’t worry – it’s never too late. You’ve already started your revision, and stress should be the last thing you need to worry about.

Master the material in depth. Instead of skimming through boring study material, take a more proactive approach by writing your own questions on flashcards, aiming for about 5 questions per card that cover all the information in the material. You can then use these questions to test yourself or ask a friend or family member to quiz you – if you get an answer wrong, the correct answer is on the back of the card! Use bright colors to make the cards more engaging and categorize them by topic.

• You can also: highlight your notes or books, use mind maps to summarize each page, or TEACH what you've just learned to a friend or family member. The best way to test your knowledge is to see if you can explain it to someone else – remember: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough” (Albert Einstein). By turning revision into an interactive activity, you bring the material to life and help your memory work more effectively.
• Ask open-ended questions for each topic or material you’re revising by writing them in the margins or on a separate sheet of paper. Try to think about what might happen if certain elements of the problem were changed or if specific events unfolded differently. Whether it’s science or history, small changes can create significant differences, and your thought process is a key part of learning.

Recall and summarize the material. During your study sessions, pause after a few minutes to summarize what you've just read. Keep it brief—in a few sentences—on sticky notes or at the bottom of the page. Summarize in your own words. A great way to recall information is to write it from memory and then review it, filling in any gaps with a pencil or pen of a different color. The different color will indicate what’s more difficult for you to remember.

• Try to make summarizing a regular practice. Write down everything you know about the topic or issue at hand without looking at your notes or textbooks. Compare your new summary with the old one, checking what you’ve forgotten and what you still remember.

Draw or free-write during revision. When revising through reading materials, converting textual information into drawings or diagrams is crucial as it helps you retain the information longer. Diagrams, mind maps, and hand-drawn sketches are effective methods to deepen your understanding and serve as memory aids, making it easier to grasp the text than simply reading it. Don’t hesitate to use colors to enhance this process – color your drawings or highlight parts of the text.

Find someone who doesn't know the topic and explain it to them. Even if it feels like you’re talking to a mirror or your cat, take the time to explain the topic as if they are learning it for the first time and you are the teacher. You’ll find it hard to forget what you've taught once you’ve broken it down for someone else, forcing yourself to distill the information and explain it in the simplest and most concise way possible.

• If no one is around, pretend you’re on TV or radio answering an interview on the topic. Ask yourself a series of questions and provide clear and simple answers, as if someone is listening and eager to learn everything you’re saying.

Make use of past revision guides and practice tests. Taking practice exams or answering test questions under the same conditions as the real exam—time limit and exam environment—gives you an opportunity for self-assessment. It helps you identify gaps in your knowledge that need reviewing and is also an effective way to see if you can express everything you want to say within the time constraints. You should practice under timed conditions, using a stopwatch on your phone. This way, you may also stumble upon some important questions, you never know!

Take regular breaks to enhance focus. By taking frequent breaks, you’ll concentrate better and find that you retain more information compared to attempting to study nonstop. Don’t waste energy and time revising when your brain is so exhausted that you can’t recall what you just read.

• Stick to your revision plan. Make sure you’ve marked off the topics and subjects you've covered. It’s even a good idea to reward yourself with something enjoyable once you’ve completed a goal, as this provides motivation to keep going. It’s the perfect incentive to avoid thinking about giving up.

Talk to your teacher. Consider your teachers and experts as part of your 'support network' and make use of the resources they recommend. Don’t hesitate to ask for their help when needed. The earlier you realize that you need their support, the easier it will be to reach out to them and get the assistance you require.

Study with your classmates. Find a group that suits you, composed of motivated students who are eager to succeed, and schedule regular study sessions alongside your other revision activities. Discuss the topics you're revising, help each other solve problems, understand the materials, and quiz each other after reading. Group study can be a great way to reduce anxiety and make revision both fun and effective.

• Look for ways to quiz each other, turn it into a game during revision as a challenge. Use flashcards or structure your revision like a quiz game. If you can’t meet in person, you can study online together.
• Make sure the study time with friends is actually focused on revision. You’ll probably find it more beneficial to study with classmates you’re not particularly close to.

Let your family help you. Your family can support you, even if they don’t fully understand what you’re studying. Ask them to quiz you, clarify concepts, read with you, and help you organize your thoughts. Parents and siblings who have gone through exams before might offer useful tips to prepare you for the test. Furthermore, family and friends can provide emotional support when you’re feeling down or anxious about your revision.

• You might need just as much emotional support as academic assistance, and if you trust someone, share your worries with them. It can help you unload unnecessary stress and feel heard. You can even talk to someone online or over the phone, as long as you have someone to talk to.

Relax. Take time each day to unwind, whether it’s by listening to your favorite music, going for a walk or swim, spending time with your pet, or chatting with a good friend. These activities help you relax and connect with others and the world while still staying engaged with your revision. You can also practice relaxation exercises, meditate, or simply lie down and take it easy... Perhaps even hold a flashcard in your hand.

• Don't make flashcards meaningless or just copy large chunks of text. Review past test papers, understand the question formats, and focus on topics that are most likely to appear in the exam. Make your flashcards engaging by using simple symbols or creating songs related to the content you're studying. This will make it easier for you to remember the information. Create revision cards and highlight key points; don't just copy everything from textbooks! Don't overlook the questions in the exam paper. Learn how to answer questions to score the maximum points possible. As mentioned earlier, active revision will yield the best results.
• Ask someone to quiz you or read through the material, summarize the content, and repeat it. This helps boost your confidence and retention. You can also teach what you're revising to someone else – you will learn 95% of what you teach to others. Have your parents or someone you trust regulate your phone use or other distractions during study hours. Make an effort to avoid distractions.
• Be confident. If you're optimistic about the exam, you'll likely absorb the necessary information and remember it when needed.
• Relax. Don't over-stress. The best thing you can do is get a good night's sleep before the exam. This will also help you retain more information.
• Mix up your subjects. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and alternate them in your study schedule. This way, you won't be forced to tackle your hardest subjects all at once, and you can balance difficult topics with easier, more enjoyable ones.
• Try out new revision methods, such as using mind maps or diagrams, to make revision more interesting and engaging. This will help you recall information more easily!
• Concentration is crucial and is a key factor in completing your revision effectively and quickly.
• You can note your revision progress on your phone; before bed, listen to the things you're struggling to remember. This will help you commit them to memory.
• Don't sleep in too late in the morning – digestion happens more easily in the morning.
• Engage both your left and right brain when revising, as it will help you learn more efficiently.
• Trataka (candle meditation) is a yoga practice that enhances concentration. If you practice for 10 minutes daily, you'll gradually develop the habit of staying focused for longer study sessions.
• Focus more on tackling different types of questions. Knowing the concepts is easy, but solving complex exam questions will reinforce your understanding of those concepts.

• Graph paper, A3-sized paper, or notebooks for revision
• Pens and rulers to draw your revision plan (use bright colors and highlighters if you want to make the information easier to remember)
• Use push pins to hang your revision plan in a visible spot