Some revision strategies in the run up to your exams Dr Paterson – Aldenham School, Elstree

With a handful of days/weeks left until the exam period, ensure you are using effective revision strategies. Based on Dunlosky et al (2013) Improving students’ learning with effective learning techniques, Psychol Sci Public Interest https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26173288

Highly useful strategies Self testing Use your summarised notes / flash cards to quiz yourself Practice papers / questions Complete past papers – use those from other exam boards to add variety Distributed practice Revise each subject regularly over time – don’t just focus on the first exam

Moderately useful strategies Elaborative interrogation Read a specification statement and write an explanation stating why it is true Self explanation After answering practice questions, write a summary of your thinking / problem solving techniques Interleaved practice Revise different areas of the specification within each study period. Summarisation If you haven’t summarised your notes – make short summarises now from memory then check against your notes

Low use strategies Highlighting Keyword mnemonics / imagery Re-reading Marking important sections of your notes / texts Keyword mnemonics / imagery Developing a mental image linking objects to keywords Re-reading Re-reading large sections of the textbook