For many of our students, the end of a semester of learning means it’s time to put that knowledge to the test during exam season. With these assessments beginning in the coming months, it’s smart to have some revision techniques and exam study tips so you can ace them with confidence.
Here are our best tips on how to revise for exams!
During exam season, the worst mistake you can make is cramming all your revisions last-minute. Trying to study everything a day or two before the final exam not only feels stressful and overwhelming but also doesn’t help your brain retain the information effectively.
The main goal of exam preparation is in the name: feeling prepared. Instead of cramming, start your revision process a couple of weeks early. Implementing spaced repetition is a scientifically proven method involving reviewing information at various intervals, and it can significantly boost your memory retention. You can begin this process up to 18-20 days before the exam, and it will significantly enhance your brain’s ability to remember the information. By alternating course material on different days, you’ll set yourself up for success, and by starting early enough, you’ll be able to devote more attention to the curriculum areas that need it.
Exam study is more than just knowing information — it’s also about knowing how that information will be assessed. Preparing for the particular format of your exam can help you decide what material to revise and how in-depth you should go.
For example, if you’re supposed to compose an essay, it’s crucial you understand the main topic on a deep level and have the ability to elaborate on the concepts and how they relate. Now, if it is a multiple choice exam, it’s more advantageous to have an understanding of each concept and be aware of the kinds of material that could be used to confuse you.
Making use of the best revision strategies comes down to how well you can deploy them practically. Once you know exams are coming up and what types of exams to expect, it’s then time to recreate a revision timetable that consists of all the material you are going to revise and what times you will revise it at. It’s important to try and revise at a time when your mind is at its most active and alert. This will vary for different people, with some students ready to revise first thing in the morning before school, while others will have more efficiency in the afternoon. Identify your sweet spot to maximise your learning.
Studying for exams is about consistency, which a revision timetable will help to create, particularly if you start using it well before your first exam is scheduled. It will also block out specific allotted revision time, minimising distractions such as socialising, watching tv, or going on social media.
There are many revision methods to help you learn successfully — it just depends on what works best for you. Here are some of the best ways to revise according to experts for you to see what works.
Pomodoro is a simple revision style that follows a pattern of revising for 25 minutes and then taking a 5 minute mental break. If this is done 4 times in a row, students are then encouraged to have a longer break. This method works well because you retain higher amounts of information in shorter sessions, and you don’t have to punish yourself when you take a break. Instead, breaks are treated as essential for refreshing your motivation and restoring some energy.
Some suggested activities during your 5 minute break include taking a short walk, having a snack, or doing some stretches. When on a break, it’s recommended to avoid using your phone or another device, but to instead do something more active to refuel you.
The Feynman technique consists of breaking down a concept into simple components and then explaining it in your own words to ensure you understand it. There are four main stages of revision. Firstly, you choose the concept you want to learn or revise, and write down everything you know and research anything that you don’t. From there, you should attempt to teach this concept to someone else — specifically, to someone who isn’t familiar with it. The best way to revise with this technique is to teach it to a child, which tests whether you are able to simplify a complex concept and make it easy to comprehend.
This simplified explanation is your new knowledge basis, and you should review it and return to the source material if you get stuck. Finally, continue to simplify your explanations and create analogies that can help you remember and reflect on the information more easily. This method improves brain processing and memory retention rates.
Similar to the Feynman technique is blurting, which is where you choose your topic, set a timer for 10-15 minutes, and then write down everything that comes to mind. When the timer goes off, you take a break. After that, you spend time reading through everything you’ve jotted down and then organise the content into a coherent outline.
This method engages ‘active recall’ — a quick way to see how much of a topic you remember. It also helps you overcome writer’s block because, instead of trying to format everything perfectly, you first get all the key information onto paper and organise it afterwards, showing you what you know very well and where any gaps are.
There are many visual exam revision techniques you can use, depending on what you’re learning. Flashcards, for example, are an excellent cue that work well for memorising words, definitions, facts, or quotes. Writing flashcards by hand can enhance learning, memory, and brain connectivity. However, you can also create them digitally using websites like Quizlet or Anki.
Another effective option is a Mind Map, which organises your thoughts and ideas visually. These are typically hand-drawn visual maps that show connections between various topics and their relation to a main concept. For digital creation, you can use tools like Canva or Xmind.
Even if you know how to revise, there are still many important aspects to the process outside of the revision itself. As you get into the swing of revising, it’s important to still maintain a healthy routine and take care of your body. These are the most important things to keep in mind during revision time:
With these five exam tips in your back pocket, your exam prep will be made much easier and more effective. At St Francis Xavier College, we support our students’ revision to help them succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Get in touch to learn more about our programs and opportunities for student growth, and how we create a pathway for every child.