The Low-Down on Revision Techniques

There are so many different ways to revise something for your exams, and no one method works for everyone or every subject. You might find one method works well for maths but doesn't work at all for English.

The first thing you should do when exploring different revision techniques is to find out what kind of learner you are. Generally speaking, there are three types of learners (though this can be broken up into even more groups):

1. Visual - those who learn best by watching videos, reading notes and creating visual aids such as mind maps and flashcards.

2. Auditory - those who learn best by listening to podcasts, teachers or even just speaking aloud.

3. Kinesthetic - those who learn best by walking around, doing physical exercises and games.

You can take quizzes online to work this our or just decide based on your own opinion of yourself. You may find that you fit into more than one of these categories (or maybe all three!) but this can help you identify which revision methods might work best for you. It's also worth noting that some techniques work well for more than one kind of learner. For example; flashcards work well for visual and kinesthetic learners, videos work well for visual and auditory learners, and listening to recordings works well for both auditory and kinesthetic learners. With that in mind, here are a few popular techniques that might work for you. Bear in mind that there are so many different techniques and there is no right or wrong way to learn something, as long as it helps you do your best in the exams!

Flashcards

Flashcards are a classic revision technique that works in two ways. Firstly, they help you learn the material when you're writing them onto the cards. Secondly, they help you remember key pieces of information in bitesize chunks. Flashcards are also great because they're so much more portable than your chunky textbooks! Simply write questions, events or keywords on one side and then the answer, date or definition on the other. Now you can test yourself or have someone else test you! If you aren't able to buy physical flashcards, there are loads of free apps which you can download that allow you to do the exact same thing on your phone.

Past papers

Practising past papers is a great way to test your knowledge and allow yourself to adjust to an exam-style environment. If you find exams particularly stressful, this can be a great way to help you become more used to it. However, make sure you only do past papers once you've done a bit of revision already, otherwise you will find it too difficult and you won't learn anything from it. Speak to your teacher about finding some past papers to practise on.

Watch videos

Watching videos is an excellent way of gaining a better understanding of the subject matter. Having something explained in a different way or by a different person can make a world of difference if you were really struggling to get the hang of a topic. Make sure that the videos you're watching are based on the same examiner or textbook that you're studying or it could do more harm than good.

Work in a group

This doesn't work for everyone, but working in a group can make revision so much more fun - provided you don't get distracted! You can test each other on the subjects and work things out together when they're a bit tricky!

Post-it notes

Post-it notes can function both as your main revision technique (especially if you're a kinesthetic learner) and as a side technique. Write key formulae, dates or facts on post-it notes and stick them around your room and other areas that you use such as the bathroom mirror. You can then walk around your room revising these points or just read them while you're brushing your teeth!

Revision guides

Revision guides are a great option if you're trying to tackle a particularly large or complicated topic. They break down the key bits of information into bitesize chunks and make it much easier to remember. Just make sure that you get the right ones for your examiner, and double-check with your teacher if you're not sure.

Recordings

If you have to memorise large chunks of information, recordings are a great way to do it! Simply record yourself reading through your notes and then listen to it while you're on the bus or out for a jog.

Help a friend

If you have a good understanding of a particular topic, helping out a friend is a great way of making sure you really know it. It may seem counterproductive, but forcing yourself to explain things in a simple, easy to understand way will cement the concepts in your mind. Not only this, but it could really help a friend who is finding that subject a bit more difficult.

Whatever method works best for you, make sure you use your mocks to try out a few different techniques. This way, you can know what works (and what doesn't!) when it comes to the real thing!