Nobody likes exams; that’s normal! But the key to
success is being as prepared as possible and that
means revision!
How can I revise?
Summer Term
To start:
With a partner, list as many ways of revising that you
can think of!
Objective
To identify effective ways of revising
To describe some revision methods
To decide which revision method (s)
are suitable for me
The rules of revision
Before we start to look at different revision
strategies, it is important that we
understand the “rules” of revision.
There are five things that you need to do!
Rule 1
Don’t panic!
Worrying and getting stressed will put you off
and stop you from doing anything at all. The
exam is going to happen whether you worry or
not so it is better to approach revision in a calm
and focussed way than panicking about it!
Rule 2
Don’t take the easy option and revise things that
you already know.
It might make you
feel better but is of no
benefit at all.
Rule 3
Find out exactly what you need to know!
Look at your textbook, exercise book or revision
guide as this will often summarise what you
need to know. If you are still unsure, ask your
teacher what topics you need to revise…
Rule 4
Plan your revision
carefully and organise
your time.
You know when your
exam is. What will you
need to cover by that
date? When do you need
to start?
Rule 5
Be prepared!
Make sure that you have a
comfortable, well lit space
to work in with everything
that you need in reach.
Try and remove anything
that is likely to distract
you such as your mobile
phone or games console.
Revising = Remembering
• If you spend 5 hours working but you still can't
remember anything in the exam, you may
have spent 5 hours working, but you've not
done any revision.
What not to do…
Simply reading a text book is NOT a
good way of revising!
So, here are some effective ways of
revising for ANY subject…
First of all, you need a revision timetable
Spend chunks of time on each subject
and take regular breaks
Revision Cards
Read through the
work you’ve done
and write the key
facts down in bullet
points. Shuffle
them so you don’t
always start with
the same card.
Buzz Words
This is a great
method which
involves
highlighting the key
words in a text.
Wordle.net is good
for this
An Example of a Wordle
Mind Maps
Story Boards/Cartoon Strips
Write and draw the key stages in a
process or story.
This engages both sides of the brain.
Flowcharts
A flowchart is a
word-only version
of the story boards.
Voice Recordings
Record yourself
reading your notes
and play it on your
MP3 player.
Work in Groups
Test each other on
your knowledge
using quizzes and
buzzwords
Past Papers
These will make you
feel more
comfortable in the
exam and will help
you to practise your
technique.
Annotations
Read through the
text you want to
learn and highlight
or write notes
about key words
and phrases.
Watch this video for more inspiration…
http://www.curriculumbits.com/prodimages/details/misc/mis0001.html
Revision takes time…
• There is no 'instant' fix to doing revision.
• The more quality revision that you do, the better
the outcome will be!
• There is no substitute for time when it comes to
revision providing that you are using the right
techniques.
Learning styles
We are all different so it stands to
reason that not all styles of learning
suit everybody!
Read the three statements on the next
slide and decide which one best
applies to you…
Learning styles
When I try and remember something, it comes back as
pictures.
I can hear a song once and remember the words.
I am great at hands-on subjects but glaze over when faced
with a page full of text.
What kind of learner are you?
1) This indicates a strong visual memory so try converting notes
into storyboards and pictures. You may well be able to recall
information during an exam by visualising a page of notes from
your memory and “reading” it.
2) You have strong auditory skills so try recording your notes and
playing them back to yourself. Listen to relevant clips online but
you may need to do so several times for the information to “fix”
properly into your head.
3) You retain information best when revision involves moving a
muscle. Handwriting provides muscular feedback so you will
improve retention every time you refine and improve your notes.
You could also try turning text into a practical activity.
Revision ideas to suit your needs
Visual Learners
• Maps
• Posters
• Charts
• Spider diagrams
• Cartoons
• Summary notes
• Mental pictures
• Mind maps
Revision ideas to suit your needs
Auditory Learners
• Record ideas on tape
• Say keywords aloud
• Tell another person
• Make a presentation
• Get someone to test you
• Exchange ideas with your friends
• Play quiet, relaxing background music
Revision ideas to suit your needs
Kinesthetic Learners
• Walk ‘n’ talk
• Draw cartoons
• Posters & storyboards
• Make a model
• Role play/drama
• Make a mind map
• Write a story
• Annotate diagrams
• Make cue/flash cards
Keep your brain active
Anything that gets your brain ticking over is
good, even if it is unrelated to the subjects that
you study. Thinking about interesting topics and
articulating your ideas is a really good way to
keep your mind working!
Thunks!
A thunk is a simple-looking question about
everyday things that stops you in your tracks
and helps you start to look at the world in a
whole new light.
Use the thunks on the next slide to stimulate
your brain and get you
thinking and discussing!
Thunks!
• If you took all of the books out of a library, would it still be a library?
• If you are on a plane from Australia to Scotland and you walk up and
down the aisle the whole way, can you say you walked from Australia to
Scotland?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Are you man made or natural?
What colour would a zebra be if you took away its stripes?
Does lined paper weigh more than plain paper?
Is it better to play well and lose, or play badly and win?
Is a broken car parked?
If no-one is there to look in a mirror, does it still reflect?
Do noses smell?
Is there such a thing as an evil person, or is it just the choices they make
that are evil?
• If a blonde person dyes their hair brunette, are they blonde or brunette?
• Would you rather be remembered for all the wrong reasons, or
completely forgotten?
Let’s warm up our brains before we
start…
With a partner, try to come up with a definition for
one of the following things:
◊ Oxyputer
◊ Kangastep
◊ Aquadigger
Share your definition with another pair to see
whether you agree!
Well?
In actual fact, they are all made up but what a
great way to get you thinking. Here are some
other ideas to help you warm up your brain
before you start to revise!
Imagine if…?
◊ The moon was made of
cheese
◊ All the grass
disappeared overnight
◊ Water was poisonous
Invent A Name for
◊ A shampoo that instantly
gave you curly hair
◊ A robot that takes your dog
for a walk
◊ A pair of glasses which
show you what’s happening
behind you
Plus points and Minus points
for …
◊ Everyone should wear a
mood badge
◊ All children should adopt an
elderly neighbour
◊ All cars should be painted
blue
Sometimes it feels like exams and tests are never
ending! The key to coping with exam stress is being as
prepared as possible!
What is ‘stress’?
Stress is anything that
places a demand on us
physically, mentally, or
emotionally. It makes us
change the normal way
we live.
Most of us think of
stress as a crisis, but
not all stress is bad.
Exams are stressful…
…but they do not need to cause negative stress.
“Eustress” is the medical term for “good stress”!
Yes, there is such a thing as good stress!
Achieving something that you have worked really
hard at is an example of “eustress”, such as taking
an exam that you know you have revised
thoroughly for. This, in turn, can help motivate you
even more!
How can you get
100%
out of life?
If
is equal to
LUCK = 47%
12+21+3+11 = 47
This is no coincidence….if you are waiting
for luck to play its part and help you on
the way to exam success, you are likely
to be waiting a long time!!
Try these ones on for
size instead:
Hard Work = 8 + 1 + ….
AND
Knowledge = 11 + ….
Hard Work
H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
Knowledge
K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
Every problem has a
solution.
To reach the top, what
we really need to do to
go that bit further is
consider
our…
ATTITUDE!
ATTITUDE
A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
It is our ATTITUDE towards life
and work that helps us to
achieve 100%.
Try a bit of Positive Thinking…
I CAN do this!
This is my chance to show everything
I have learned.
Positive
Thinking
This is my chance to achieve.
I am capable of doing very well in this
exam.
I deserve to do well, because I have
worked hard.
I know what is expected of me in this
exam.
I am as prepared as I can be.
Planning your
revision…
Revision plans
Here are five reasons why you should design your
own revision plan:
1)
2)
3)
4)
You know when you are at your best.
You can plan around existing commitments.
You know what you should be doing.
It allows you to prioritise the subjects which
require the most effort.
5) It puts you in control of your own revision!
How to Revise…
Think of a ‘session’ as a third of a day - it could be 3 to 4
hours long
Here is a possible pattern that might suit you:
Saturday
Sunday
MORNING
Revise
Revise
AFTERNOON
Revise
Free
Free
Revise
EVENING
Break your
session into
half hour slots
consisting of 25
minutes work a
5 minute break!
This will help
to stop you
from burning
out!
MON
TUES
WEDS
THURS
FRI
SAT
SUN
Morning
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
HIST
- WW2
FRENCH
- writing
Afternoon
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
RELAX
RECAP
- WW2
Evening
How to Revise…
MATHS
- algebra
ENG
– poems
BIOL
- nerves
RECAP
– algebra
- poems
CHEM
– salt
RECAP
- nerves
- salt
RELAX
Spend time making a thorough revision timetable and STICK TO IT!
There are loads available online!
How to Revise…
What kind of person are you?
Some of us are early birds and are definitely
better at working in the morning!
Late risers will avoid mornings like the
plague! You work better later in the
day.
Night owls will do their best revision in the
evenings.
How should you revise?
Where:
• Somewhere warm but airy
• Well lit (a reading lamp
reduces eye-strain)
• Have a clock or watch
nearby (time your revision
sessions)
How should you revise?
How:
 Have a definite finishing time
 Plan regular breaks
 Get up and walk around during
your break
 Drink plenty of water
 Have a tick list of topics to
cover
 Gradually aim to summarise
your notes
There are many ways to revise
Choose the right way for you!
We have already looked at learning
styles so you should aim to revise using
the techniques that will be best for
your learning style.
It can also be helpful to use a
combination of ideas from all learning
styles as this will give you a balance.
Look after yourself!
Revision is physically and mentally
tiring! You need to look after
yourself both before and during
examinations!
A balanced diet…
• A balanced diet is an important part of being in
control of your study habits:
• Fresh fruit and vegetables will give you reserves of
energy and increase your ability to concentrate.
• Avoid junk food and foods high in sugar. Energy
drinks and caffeine only give you temporary relief
from tiredness. In the long run, they actually make
you feel worse and also affect your mood by making
you irritable and preventing you from sleeping
properly.
Sleep and relaxation…
You may find you nearly fall asleep every time you sit
down to study.
• Keeping a regular sleeping pattern is very important.
• Don't stay awake all night trying to study.
• Get a good night's sleep and try to study in the morning when
you are fresh.
• If you are finding it hard to sleep, wait until you have calmed
down before going to bed.
• Wind down after study and try some relaxation exercises.
Exercise…
Having regular exercise will keep your mind
active, help you to sleep at night and is a great
way to have a break when you find your
concentration is dropping.
• Just jump on the bike, run around the block or take
the dog for a walk.
• It is worth investing the time in exercise for the
mental boost you will receive.
Reward yourself…
Build some fun into your schedule. It will give you something to look
forward to!
If you have achieved a goal, let's say three hours of study, reward
yourself with something you like doing.
A very quick recap…
Do a revision plan
Eat and sleep well
Be as organised as possible
Use a learning style that suits you
Set mini targets and reward yourself
when you achieve one
• Give revision the time it needs
•
•
•
•
•
Good luck in your
forthcoming exams!
But remember that “attitude”
goes a lot further towards
achieving exam success than
luck will ever do!