Revision Advice for Students
Coping Skills for Examinations
POSITIVE TALK – avoid negative discussion with your friends. Don’t be put off or intimidated by anything other people say.
CHECK EQUIPMENT – and make sure you have it all with you. Pens, pencils,
rubbers, felt tip pens, calculators. Know what you are allowed to use.
ARRIVE IN TIME – not too early, not too late. Avoid hysterical discussion and keep calm.
KEEP A CLEAR HEAD – things won’t always go perfectly, but if you keep your
mind focussed and as relaxed as possible you should be able to adapt to any awkward questions or challenging situations.
If you get stuck, re-read the question, think back to studying the topic in and out of class and don’t just give up.
IF THINGS GO BADLY? - It’s not the end of the world!
Remember that using a variety of revision techniques will save you from getting bored and switching off. Store your revision resources carefully in an orderly way.
Active Revision Strategies
1. Refresher Cards
One topic per card, Key points Only. Colour code to make links and associations.
2. Testing
Ask family and friends to test you.
Use previous examination questions
Choose topics and questions that you are uncertain about
Get used to working under timed conditions.
Check your answers. Do some questions with your notes and others without.
3. Learning Maps
Start in the centre with the topic title.
Main points about topic as thick branches, smaller points as smaller branches.
Don’t crowd the paper.
Use colour, pictures and symbols.
4. Highlighting Notes
Must be selective. Highlight only key words and ideas.
Colour code to make links and associations.
5. Posters/Post-it Notes
Display around your study area.
Particularly useful for important vocabulary and key statistics.
6. Key Word Listing
Begin with a blank, landscape piece of A4 paper.
Choose a topic and write down what you know, following the instructions below.
Use a different colour for each section.
Thank you to Culford School for use of the tips above.
Revision tools
Parents and carers
Parents and carers can pick up tips on how to aid their child's revision by clicking here.