Everything you need to know, including:
 What revision is
 Time management – timetable of exams
 Tactics and activities to help you revise
 Stress Management and general tips
 Useful resources and contacts
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What is revision?
What it isn’t:
Revision is not, simply 'looking again' at the
material covered in a course - it is a more active
task.
Tip 1: Do not simply just re-read the
notes/books/text books.
.
What it is:
Finding a way of studying and organising material in a way that works
for you.
The approach you adopt and the techniques you use to revise are
more vital than how long you spend on it.
Sometimes the thought of having to revise can seem daunting, but be
reassured, revision skills and techniques can be learned and practised
– and can often actually be quite fun.
Tip 2: Try not to simply memorise work. It will always
be more useful to understand it clearly.
Tip 3: If you’re not sure you understand it: ASK!!
(See contacts page).
2
Planning your Revision
inside of school
Tip 4: You cant do everything. Prioritise the subjects you are struggling with
and use teachers intervention sessions to help you. Don’t just go there and waste
time.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
PE D001
FRIDAY
Drama
DT
LUNCHTIME
THURSDAY
DT
Geography
Art & Photography
drop in
Art & Photography drop
in
Photography/Art
Art & Photography drop Art & Photography drop Art & Photography drop
in
in
in
English
Music
Geography
History
History C/W
A/S RE
AFTERSCHOOL
DT
Science
Art drop in
Mon
RE
DT
DT
Science
Science
Maths drop in
Maths drop in
Tue
Wed
Science
Art drop in
Thurs
Science
Maths drop in
Fri
Lunch
Afterschool
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Planning your Revision
outside of school
Tip 5: Don’t simply sit down at a desk and hope for the best! You need to allocate
specific times for each subject and area within that subject.
Use your revision calendar and the following guide to get yourself sorted:
1) Stick your calendar on a wall where you can clearly see it each day.
2) Add in the dates of all your exams.
3) Add in dates that you know you’re not going to be able to revise. BE
REALISTIC.
4) Think about how much revision you want to allocate to each subject
based on what your priorities are.
5) Add the subjects that you want to revise to the days on the calendar.
Tip 6: Remember, you aren’t going to be studying one subject for one whole
day. You want to split the subjects over a period of study sessions.
Mon
Tue
English
Lit
(OMAM)
Geog
Wed
Thur
Fri
Sat
Sun
Biology
Maths
Paper 2
Maths
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Time Management
It’s really important that you don’t simply sit down at your desk and revise
for hours on end because
You will get bored.
You won’t take anything in.
And your brain will fall out of your ear. Fact.
FIVE FOOLPROOF STEPS TO PLANNING YOUR DAY:
1) Look at your revision calendar to see what subjects you’re going to
revise that day.
2) Create a timetable for the day like below.
3) Book in break times. 1 hr work, 20 min break.
4) Allocate specific time frames for each subject.
5) STICK TO THESE TIMES.
e.g MONDAY
Time
To Do
10:00 – 11:00
Of Mice and Men (Eng)
11:00 – 11:30
BREAK
12:00 – 13:00
History (WW1)
13:00 – 14:00
BREAK
14:00 – 15:00
Maths (Paper 1)
15:00 – 15:20
BREAK
15:20 – 16:00
Geography
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The BIG question: How
do I revise?
As mentioned before, the key is to create imaginative ways for you to
take in information.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SIMPLY READING YOUR NOTES OR A
TEXTBOOK.
Try these techniques out:
MAPPING: This helps you organise ideas and thoughts.
1. Start with a theme/main idea in the centre of the page – work
outwards.
2. Each branch must relate to the branch before.
3. Use only key words and images.
4. BE CREATIVE
Function of
these parts
Heart (PE)
Parts of the
heart
Effects on the
heart
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Posters/Flowcharts/Timelines
You could create posters
to show your ideas and
have them around your
room.
Remember, be creative:
use images and key
words.
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Thought Trees
Get your ideas into a large thought tree that is clear and quick
to see the information.
USE QUESTIONS AND IMAGES AS WELL
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Some other ideas:
•
Competitions: Find a study buddy and create a competition
between each other.
Quiz each other, write essays and mark each others and decide
who’s the winner.
Create genuine prizes for the winner!
•
Glossaries: Create a ‘word bank’ of words you don’t
understand but need to use. Make a poster/personal
dictionary of these words.
•
Memory Games: create card games that will help you
understand your subject.
•
Flash-cards and post-it notes: Bullet-pointing information
can be a great help in organising your ideas.
•
Make a film! Try and find creative ways to explore your
subject. Whether it’s making a short film, an advert, a poster
or turning it into a story – it’ll all help.
•
Make a comic strip: www.pixton.com to help visualise your
ideas.
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Past Papers
•
Do not underestimate the power of practise papers. Just
don’t. They are absolutely the most effective way to
improve exam technique and understand what the examiner
is looking for.
Here are some tips in using them:
 See below to find out what exam board you are studying.
 Get onto their websites: see ‘Useful Information’ page
 Get to know the Mark Scheme: it is important to know what the
examiner is looking for.
 Visit the ‘Assessment Materials/Past Papers’ section for your
subject.
1) Try one paper at your own pace: take your time to answer the
question fully.
2) Use the Mark Scheme to grade it. Even better, ask a friend,
parent/guardian or a teacher to take a look at it.
3) Bullet point a list of what you need to do to improve and what
you’re doing well.
4) Try another one. This time in exam conditions
Here are the exam boards in each subject:
AQA
OCR
Edexcel
Geography
Specification A
ICT
Maths
PE
Statistics
Art
Photography
Food
Resistant Materials
Textiles
Graphics
French
IGCSE English
Literature
Spanish
Religious Education
WJEC
CIE
Sociology
iGCSE English
Language
Catering
Drama
Additional Science
Core Science
History
Level 1/2
BTEC Health and
Social Care
BTEC Business
Studies
BTEC Hair
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Stress Management and
Tips for Revision
Exam stress is a genuine issue. It can really impact
you and your ability to take in information so it’s
incredibly important that you know how to manage
it.
Follow these tips for revision for a stress-reduced
life…
 Plan your revision: Make use of the timetable and plan when and where you’re going to
study. Being clear about this will help keep your mind clear.
 Accept that you must have breaks: Plan breaks into your schedule. AND STICK TO
THEM. Those breaks that you allow yourself should be away from your work, leave the
house if you’ve enough time: have a Kit-Kat if you really must.
 Get some exercise: even a walk around the block, have a swim in the sea, get on your
bike or simply stroll in your garden. A bit of fresh air will bring your thoughts together
and cement what you’ve just revised.
 Talk: to your mates, parents/guardian, teachers or dog. It’ll help you realise that others
are in the same boat as you. It will also help to discuss the work that you’re studying to
help process it in your own brain.
 Eat well: make sure you have some snacks at hand. Don’t make constant excuses to
leave your work– that’s for your allocated break time. A small supply of a mix of healthy
‘brain snacks’ like fruit and some treats as a reward can do wonders for your staying
power.
 Have the correct equipment.
 Be realistic: Don’t attempt to learn everything in one day and whatever you do, don’t
stay up late trying to cram. In the long run, it’s just not helpful.
 Be positive! Tell yourself you can do it. Simple as that.
If you really are struggling to understand a topic, your teachers are there to
help.
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Revision Checklist
Before you sit down to revise, go through this checklist to ensure
you are ready:







Do you have the right equipment? (see next page)
Are you somewhere that you can concentrate?
Do you have refreshments?
Is your phone out of reach – preferably off?
Are other distractions removed? Is Facebook off etc?
Are you clear about what you’re revising?
Have you set clear time frames that you will stick to?
Top Tips
Tip 1: Do not simply just re-read the notes/books/text
books.
Tip 2: If you’re not sure you understand it: ASK!! (See
contacts page).
Tip 3: Allocate time slots for revision and breaks and
STICK TO THEM.
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Revision Equipment Checklist
Before you start any revision, go through this equipment checklist
to ensure you are ready:
Which of these did you have? What is missing?
• Highlighting pens
• Post-it notes
• Record cards (“Revision/ flash cards”)
• A4 folders and ring binders
• Plastic document wallets
• A large wall calendar
• Assorted pens and pencils
• A4 paper pads
• Past exam papers
• Study guides (as recommended by teachers only)
Useful Information and Extra Resources
You can visit the websites below to find extra resources and find
out mark schemes.
Exam Board websites:
AQA:
www.aqa.org.uk
OCR:
www.ocr.org.uk
WJEC:
www.wjec.co.uk
Edexcel:
www.edexcel.com
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Revision Websites:
Well known, lots of notes and questions
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize
Excellent site with good notes, questions and answers
www.learn.co.uk
Very good site with links to a range of revision sites and subject specific www.nabass.org/gcse.html
sites
Good site with questions
www.s-cool.co.uk
Maths
www.mymaths.co.uk
MFL
www.languagesonline.org.uk
AQA GCSE Revision App
Drama
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/dra
ma/drama_wjec/
Support for Macbeth (set
text): https://www.sparknotes.com
Geography
AQA Geography A past papers and mark schemes
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse
/geography-a-9030/past-papers-and-markschemes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geog
raphy/
Music
misswardmusic.com
English
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/engli
sh/
Art
revision boards on Pinterest and also looking at
art2day and tate.org websites
ScienceCORE -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/sci
ence/edexcel/
IONAL http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/sci
ence/add_edexcel/
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualificat
ions/edexcel-gcses/science-2011mixed.coursematerials.html#filterQuery=Pearso
n-UK:Category%2FExam-materials
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