Active revision techniques
With the right revision techniques that work for you, you can feel confident and prepared going into your exam period. Here’s how to get started and make your revision time count.
My advice is to refine your study habits, and develop time management skills using planners, to do lists and google calendar. Start using more effective revision techniques like mind maps, past papers, and summarising notes rather than just memorisation. I use the blurting method, where you choose a topic and write everything you can remember, check to see what information you missed and write it in a different colour then repeat."
Get organised
Start strong by getting your revision in order. If you’ve got your exam timetable and assignment deadlines already, use it to prioritise which to revise first.
Make a list of all the subjects and topics you need to study. More than likely, your exams and assignments will assess you on certain topics. If you’re unsure, ask your teachers or tutors for guidance. It is a good idea to prioritise your weaker areas, but be sure to revise everything.
Next, gather all your materials—class notes, textbooks, and past exam questions to use in your revision. You can then create a revision timetable and use effective, active revision techniques.
Active revision
We all want to work hard, but the key is to work smarter, not harder. That’s why it is important to find the right approach that works for your own learning style.
Remember, exams test your skills in answering questions and demonstrating your understanding, not simply how much you can remember. If you understand something, you will have a better chance remembering it, answering the questions well and demonstrating that you truly know what you’re talking about.
The best way to do this is to use active revision techniques that focus on understanding, not just memorising information.
Passive vs active revision
Practice mock questions or even past papers under exam conditions – challenge what you know. That way, you can spot what you have missed or forgotten, and can go over it again.
Annotate and summarise your notes in your own words, as many times as you need until you feel you remember and understand it off by heart – Add explanations in your own words rather than from materials, as your way of explaining and understanding is personal to you.
Summarise key chapters and topics by creating your own diagrams, mind maps, flow charts, or flash cards. You can even recreate your notes or diagrams multiple times, condensing them down each time as you improve your understanding so that you associate short key words and sentences with your wider understanding and knowledge.
Other techniques
Some other active revision techniques you can try are:
- Big Picture Learning - Learning is linked to meaning, so something that is meaningful to you is learned more readily. Organise notes into key themes, break topics down into main ideas and link them together. Look for patterns, connections, links between different subjects and modules, and even things outside your formal studies. The key is to think of ways to link the boring (but necessary) stuff to subjects you are really interested in (but which might not be on the exam). By connecting what you are revising with what you are genuinely interested in, you will feel more engaged and motivated to revise.
- Record yourself explaining a topic, or teach it to someone else – making the recording allows you to go over the topic, speaking it aloud helps you to remember, and listening helps to fix it in your mind. If you can explain a concept clearly, you understand it well!
- Read out loud – You're more likely to remember your revision if you hear it.