How to make the most out of your revision time
We as teachers do our best to guide students in the right direction. However, being bombarded with so much information and stress during exam time it is easy to become overwhelmed and forget what you should be doing. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your revision time and keep those nerves under control.
(1) Don’t leave it too late!
An obvious one but time and time again we teachers have come across students doing too little too late. How can you possibly fit a year or two's worth of work all into a few days? As soon as you receive your exam timetable create a wall chart (or buy a large wall planner from any good stationery shop) with the important dates marked on so you can visualise how much time you have. Being prepared and organised will help you feel in control and calm nerves.
(2) Where to revise?
Some people will head to libraries whilst others may find the park on a sunny day a much more motivating place to be. The key is to make sure you are away from distractions (like the television- the cast of Hollyoaks won’t be able to help you with calculus or cell division). Make sure you are able to sit comfortably in a well lit area and have all tools such as textbooks, school notes and stationery to hand.
(3) Don’t try to do too much at once.
Be methodical in your approach- split each subject into topics and revise one section at a time. Once you have perfected a topic move onto the next then eventually use practice papers to weed out any further weaknesses and concentrate on those. You could also try revising with a friend so you can test each other.
(4) Take regular breaks.
Now, this doesn’t mean knocking off for a cuppa whenever you fancy nor is it to be used as an excuse to go out with your friends every night. Doing too much work all at once can be counterproductive as students can become tired, bored and demotivated so schedule yourself regular breaks when you are revising. This could mean taking a break every hour for a 10 minute stretch and some fresh air.
(5) Stay hydrated!
Not many people drink enough water but considering the fact that a large proportion of the human body is made up H20 it seems a crazy idea to be filling it with sugar laden fizzy drinks or nothing at all. Sip water regularly throughout the day as a hydrated brain is a happy brain.
(6) Eat!
You couldn’t drive a car with an empty tank just as much as you can’t expect to do your best on an empty stomach. Aim for a balanced diet with healthy food including fruit and vegetables. Try snacking on nuts rather than crisps and chocolate as they contain essential nutrients and vitamins that help maximise brain power. As the old saying puts it ‘a healthy body equals a healthy mind’.
Remember that everyone is different so your needs and preferences may vary from those of your friends but follow these general rules and you should be on the road to success.
For further information on revision tips and healthy eating have a look at the following website.
