Revision Tips for History
Revising Revision
There are as many ways to revise as there are exams! You will find that some work better
than others. You may revise for hours and gain little.
Here is our WWW guide: What? Where? When?
Whatever you do, try to keep in mind what you have to look forward to. Exam success will
make your future brighter. Aim to do your best, and be happy with yourself.
Drink plenty, rest plenty, and play often (but less as the exams approach - they'll be time for
social lives afterwards!)
Revising: What?
Get a copy of your syllabus. If your teachers have not given you one, find one online. The
History ones are on the school website. Don't waste time learning stuff you don't need to
know!
Put a line through sections of your syllabus you are happy with, and write additional notes in
its margin. By the time of your exam, your syllabus should look knackered!
How you revise is most important. Some don'ts:
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don't just read your syllabus, books or class notes
don't just work through questions
don't forget to take a break!
Revising will always get tedious. Remember:
Nothing easy is worthwhile.
Nothing worthwhile is easy.
So, fire yourself up and do:
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use lots of ways to revise
plan your revision with a timetable
read, and write summaries of, your notes
draw diagrams
sketch mind maps (spider diagrams) of key issues
use mnemonics (rhymes of word lists) to prompt you
revise with a friend: ask and answer questions
work through past exam papers
answer guided questions in revision books
Revising Where?
Try to find somewhere where you won't be disturbed. If you can work with music on, this
can help you relax. It can also drown at noises around you.
Make sure you have an empty desk to work at, with everything you need at hand for the
session ahead. Have plenty of scrap paper handy.
If you're using the web to revise, make sure you know what you want to improve on before
you start.
Revising When?
You can never revise enough might be true, but don't sit for hours on end working at the same
subject—your revision will be most effective in the first hour.
So make sure you:
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plan revision slots of between 40-60 minutes
have something to look forward to, e.g. a TV show
tick off things that you have done, and note things you have to do
Once you know the date of your exam, aim to start revising at least a month before. Too
many of our visitors leave it all until the last minute—our usage statistics go through the
roof the night before exam days.
Sourced from www.gcse.com