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Do you feel like you’ve been revising FOREVER but you're still not getting anywhere? And do you feel like every time you put a new in to your brain, another one falls out?
Don’t panic! Whatuni is here to help. Here are seven revision tips to help you smash your A-levels and get the grades you need to get into your dream uni…
Go with the flow
If you’re struggling to get information to stick by just reading your notes over and over, try making it all a bit more visual.
Make flow charts, diagrams, flashcards, charts and mind-maps – that sort of thing – and post them everywhere. Then try recreating them from memory – it might work better for you.
Another way to kick start the old grey matter is by defining a colour coding system – highlight important facts/dates and names. Also, sticking post-it notes (colour-coded by subject) everywhere with important facts so you remember them.
Say it out loud
If making things more visual doesn’t work, you might like to try a more verbal approach. A good revision method is to describe what you are learning out loud, as well as explaining the meaning behind what you're learning.
It’s all down to something called the Production Effect, where the process of ‘producing’ a piece of information, rather than simply observing it, improves your chances of retaining that material. Being forced to not only recall but generate/write/draw/speak answers cements them in your mind much better than simply looking at words on a page.
They may say that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness… but it could also be the first sign of a A* grade student, so give it a go!
Take notes the ‘write’ way
If you are going to stick to writing notes when revising, then at least make sure you’re taking notes in the best way: by hand.
Now, you might hate your handwriting, but if you want to remember something, you should write it down, not type it. Science has shown that students who type up their notes on a laptop had more trouble recalling the information than their paper-and-ink peers.
The logic is that because scribbling with a pen requires more effort we don’t copy the info verbatim, and it’s this shortcutting that helps the facts stick. Clever, huh?
For those who can’t resist a bit of tech, there are plenty of useful note-taking apps to help you organise, edit and combine your notes with other work such as images and recorded notes:
Chew gum
If you’re feeling sleepy because you’re reading a boring textbook, pop a stick of gum in your mouth. Research shows it makes us feel more awake. Plus, your study buddies will appreciate your minty fresh breath!
Revise in the mornings
Some people leave revision until the end of the day after school. But you're likely to be tired then, which makes understanding and remembering the information difficult.
Revising in the mornings (if you can) when you're refreshed allows the neurotransmitters in your brain to regain their sensitivity and consume information easier.
Switch places
Always working at the kitchen table, or in the library, or at the bedroom desk you got way back in year seven? Well, maybe it’s time to switch things up a bit.
Research from way back in the 80s – and students don’t change, after all – shows that a change of environments during the learning process can aid memory retention. Think about it: if you study in the same place all the time, your visual, aural and sensory cues are the same for all the information you ingest.
Switching things up creates variety in environmental prompts, and associative memory has been proven to be a powerful thing.
7. Walkies!
It’s well known that walking is good for your body. But it turns out it works for your brain, too.
A 2012 study from the University of Illinois found that “short bouts of exercise may be efficacious for maintaining cognitive performance, which may have implications for scholastic achievement.” Basically, taking short walks between revision sessions will help you concentrate. Plus, people who are fit are better at remembering stuff. It’s a win-win!
NEXT:
- More revision techniques for students
- Top tips for exam day success
* These tips have come from Susanna Quirke and Beth Leslie, who both write for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and giving out graduate careers advice.
