Revision tips that actually help you

We have all been there. It’s late at night, all memory of the reading material has seemingly drifted away, and you are sat in the library attempting to retain anything. Let that be the end of it! Get good grades by practising some of the techniques below, and find out what works best for you.

Here is just some advice from students who know their stuff:

1. The Pomodoro method

Most of us struggle with diminishing attention spans. If this describes you, then try the Pomodoro method. The method involves following a pattern of 25 minutes of solid studying before having a 5-minute break. This improves focus for many students who would burn out with hours of endless revision.

2. Set your own exam

No, this doesn’t mean reading the answers of past papers… but constructing your own questions that you would ask yourself, given the reading material. You’ll be surprised how effective this is as it forces you to think in the mindset of an examiner and understand topics more thoroughly.

3. Start early

Stay away from the last-minute panic. No one can revise efficiently whilst stressed, so save yourself the panic and get ahead. This way, your ability to retain information will double and you’ll do yourself justice on the day.

4. Organise your time and your room

Revision timetable and a tidy room. Something as simple as a deep clean of your bedroom can foster a sense of peace and enhance your concentration. Failing that, our spacious Town House library is a great revision spot, with plenty of space and a vast selection of additional books, if needed. Creating a revision timetable as a first step of the process will also allow you a sense of control and clarity.

5. Repeat, repeat, repeat

Revision tips are great but there is no one magic formula. You must go over the same reading material multiple times before it sticks. Spaced repetition is best where you review topics at intervals, until it is easily recalled. This reinforcement of knowledge can be paired up with Step 2 to really build up confidence and memory.

Not everyone learns the same, but there are common elements which are helpful for everyone, so why not give the above tips a try!