How to Revise: 21 Effective Revision Tips

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The exam period might be fast approaching, but there's no need to panic. It is, however, time to start revising. We all learn differently and there's different ways to approach revision. A lot of people just do past papers, but there are lots of other active revision techniques that might work better for you. Finding revision methods that works for you can be the difference between a productive study session and one where you struggle to focus.

To plan your revision effectively, check out our recommendations below on how to get into that revision mindset with these techniques and tips to remember. The best revision techniques are different for everyone, so don't worry if some of these aren't for you. We've got so many revision tips here that we're sure something will be perfect!

1. What type of learner are you?

Every brain works differently and the revision techniques that suit you may not suit your friends. Past papers might seem like the best revision method, but that isn't the case for everyone. You may learn best visually, auditorily, verbally, through demonstration or a combination of these. Many online tests let you know which type you are, and it’s a valuable starting point towards creating effective revision methods.

Once you know your learning style, you can start to plan the best revision methods for you. If you learn best visually, you might want to try making mind maps or using post-it notes. Auditory learners might want to listen to a podcast summarising the key points, while verbal learners might want to teach someone else or explain the key concepts out loud.

2. Plan ahead

Planning is one of the most important parts of revision. You want to be under as little stress as possible come exam day. Plan the revision techniques you’ll use, gather the resources you’ll need and create a realistic revision timetable before you start studying. It's also useful to look at the exam board website to get an idea of what topics regularly come up, and what hasn't come up for a while.

Planning also allows you to revise multiple subjects in one day, which is crucial when the exam season rolls around. You don't want to realise that you've only focused on your essay based exams and done nothing for your science exams.

3. Schedule your day

Girl planning her study timetable

One of the best ways to make sure you actually start revising is to have a plan in place. Although you’ll have time during school hours, you’ll need to study outside of school hours too. Planning your revision methods as well as what subject area you'll cover helps you to get everything you'll need to revise ahead of time.

Have a daily schedule or revision timetable so you know what topics to cover, what hours to work, how to juggle multiple subjects, when to take breaks and how to cover everything you need to revise. Be mindful when scheduling your study time, to make time for breaks, food, exercise and sleep.

Learn how to revise effectively.

4. Take breaks

If you've started early in the revision period, this one will be easier than if you're only getting started right as your exam dates approach, but that doesn't mean it isn't still really important. Splitting up your study time with breaks is essential, so plan them into your revision timetable. Make sure you're taking regular short breaks as well as having a longer break every so often.

Don’t feel guilty, as short breaks give your brain a chance to consolidate the information you’ve been learning. Set aside your revision time and your self care time to make sure you're looking after your body and brain as well as preparing for the exam season. This revision technique is easily forgotten, but super important.

5. Watch YouTube tutorials

You’ll be surprised at how effective watching videos is for revision. YouTube is flooded with educational content, making it a great resource. If you think you learn best through video, and you find this strategy more engaging, give it a go.

Depending on what videos you watch, you might get the chance to see someone else go through practice questions or talk through the key concepts of the subject you're revising.

6. Flashcards

GCSE Physics Flashcards

Of all the revision techniques out there, you’ll hear this one frequently. Flash cards or revision cards use keywords or questions to test your knowledge. To keep each subject separate and avoid confusion, use different colours for different subjects. If you don't have coloured card to hand, trying using post-it notes.

This revision method is particularly good for people with a visual learning style, and breaks down the information you need to know into small, easy to remember chunks.

7. Make PowerPoint presentations

Creating a presentation about what you’ve learnt not only tests your memory but your ability to retrieve information from memory and verbalise it. This will solidify the knowledge you need to retain. You could use your PowerPoint to teach someone else, or just present it to yourself.

If you're especially creative, you could create mind maps on PowerPoint to include in your presentation, or draw them out on paper and insert an image into your presentation.

8. Test your friends

Why not test your mates? Group revisions sessions are a great way to support each other. Ask them questions from past papers and see how they do. You’ll have the chance to see where you’re at with your revision while being able to learn from them in the process.

Learning alongside friends makes the experience more fun and also lets you hold each other accountable to actually revise.

9. Get your friends to test you

Group of teenagers revising together at home

It’s a two-way street. If you test your friends, they owe you the favour of testing you. You can make this revision technique fun, social and productive.

10. Rap it

This revision method is a great way to make those dull revision topics more engaging. Record yourself and play it back while going about your day, to embed the knowledge in your memory. It might seem a bit silly, but it's a great way to recall information and make boring topics memorable.

11. Revise in the shower

If you’re prone to having a long shower, why not couple this with some productive revision? Sure, you can't do past papers in the shower, but you can test yourself from your head, explain subjects out loud or even practice those raps you’ve made.

Making the most of these little moments throughout your day can help to save time overall. Rather than setting aside an extra ten minutes to talk through everything you've just studied, do it in the shower!

12. Create insightful memes and videos

Hamster revising

If you enjoy a laugh, try turning your study notes into memes or videos for social media. It seems daft, but bear with us. Revision sessions can get boring, and if you're having fun, it's more memorable. It's also a bit a break from repetitive past papers or mind maps.

This is a chance to be creative and often, when we find something funny, it sticks more firmly in our long-term memory. If you do post your creations, you could also be helping others with their revision too. Hamsters studying is always gonna be a hit with your friends, right?

13. Use post-it notes

Post-it notes can be a healthy alternative to staring at a screen. They act as a reminder on topics you might want to dodge while revising. You can put them up in places you often look at as well to make sure you're taking in the information.

Creative places to put your post it notes include on the bathroom mirror, on the fridge door or somewhere near the dining table so you can look at them as you eat. Having them in places you'll see them every day means you'll have a quick glance over them whenever you see them and get them embedded in your memory faster.

14. Listen to calming music

Calming music, whether it's instrumentals, a bird soundtrack or whatever you fancy can lead to effective study. As long as it isn’t overly distracting, these background sounds can be really effective for helping you stay focused.

Putting on music is a great way to curate your study space and get into the right mindset to revise. YouTube and Spotify have a lot of options for suitable study music to make sure your brain is calm and focused.

15. Have cues that remind you of topics

Girl in yellow-orange jumper writing study notes in class

Try wearing a certain jumper to revise and then wear that same jumper to the exam. This also works with any jewellery, perfume or aftershave. You’ll be amazed at what cues can trigger the retrieval of important information when you need it most.

It might seem like a weird exam technique, but you've got nothing to lose, right? The worst that happens is you're wearing your favourite jumper or scent in the exam.

16. Use actions

A physical cue for a fact can be useful. Hand gestures or full body movements can trigger your brain to remember something important. Learning through association can be used in more ways than one.

This is one you can't really replicate in the exam hall though, so make sure that you practice often enough that it's embedded in your memory without the physical action.

17. Try out different voices

Associations and cues can act as good reminders on different topics. For example, using a lower voice for biology, and a higher voice for geography creates associations in your brain. This can avoid the confusion of topics in your head.

Like the physical actions, you might not be able to replicate this in your exams. Once you've got the hang of using this technique out loud, why not try doing it just in your head so you can use it as a strategy in your exams?

18. Make a video

Girl making a revision video on her sofa

Another creative revision technique is to put together a revision video. Writing is not the only way to revise, so try engaging the creative parts of your brain to consolidate what you’re learning into memory.

This is a great way for both auditory and verbal learners to revise, as you'll be speaking out loud to create the video, and then watching it back to consolidate.

19. Reward yourself

Revision is draining. Having a reward at the end can provide incentive and motivation to revise. This can be anything you want it to be, such as a quick bite to eat, going for a walk or simply laying down.

Make sure you give yourself regular rewards to keep yourself motivated, but don't overdo it to the point you're having a takeaway every time you answer a question from a past paper.

20. Revise outside

Try moving your study outside, to soak in any vitamin D from the sun and stimulate the flow of fresh air through the body. You’ll feel a renewed sense of motivation from the change of scenery.

Studying outside is a good chance to read over any relevant texts or to test your friends using your flash cards. It might not be the ideal environment for a past paper, but there's still a lot of effective revision methods you can use while you're outdoors.

21. Sleep

Young woman sleeping

None of the revision techniques mentioned above is effective without enough sleep. Sleep won’t only consolidate into memory what you’ve been learning, but it’ll put you in a better mood, make you feel more motivated and improve your cognitive performance. Aim for 7 to 9 hours each night, as cited by sleep scientist Matthew Walker.

Header image: Photo by Surface on Unsplash

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