How do I revise for exams?

But why are exams so tough? How do I revise for exams? But why are exams so tough? Without doubt, exams are among the most difficult things which you will face in Strabane Academy–WHY? There’s loads of them! Taking exams in a lot of subjects is very hard. There’s lots of pressure to them! Often, you will be asked to tackle perhaps 3 exams in one day – that’s really hard to do too.

Working STEADILY and CONSISTENTLY Learning from MISTAKES CARING enough about YOUR MARKS Having ABILITY and INTELLIGENCE Taking ADVANTAGES of opportunities for EASY MARKS The KEY THINGS that lead to EXAM SUCCESS

The seven rules of revision How do I revise for exams? The seven rules of revision 1. Make your own revision notes. You’ll learn as you write and, once you’ve got them finished, you’re halfway there! 2. Be sure! Be certain that you know exactly what you need to revise – use your revision list. 4. Try new things. Experiment with new ways of learning eg: mind maps variety beats boredom! 3. Concentrate on the positives. Revise by thinking that each time you do it, you are making the exam easier. 5. Don’t overdo it. Concentration goes after a short period of time, so make sure that you take regular breaks. 7. Focus Avoid making pointless notes. Look at last years exam papers and see how questions could be asked. 6. Be confident. Think positively about exams and you will take in more information.

How do I revise for exams? Managing your time! One of the key skills you need to master in exam periods is time management – or how to use your time best! One way of organising this is by use of a revision timetable – and these can be effective for some people. However, they can be unrealistic until you get them right. Nevertheless, you need to plan revision well in advance.

How do I revise for exams? Another of the key skills you need to master in exam periods is concentration – or how to use your head best! FIND YOUR BEST TIME OF DAY! Do tasks that need most concentration at times when you are mentally and physically fresh. If you are tired and hungry, your ability to concentrate will be reduced! REMOVE DISTRACTIONS! Noise, uncomfortable surroundings and interruptions from other people all affect your ability to concentrate. Find a quiet, comfortable place to study, away from people, the computer and the TV. Keep this space as uncluttered as possible. SET A GOAL! Decide on a goal for each revision session. Try to achieve this by the end of the time. Keep breaking revision down into smaller pieces and reward yourself when you do exactly what you planned. BREAK TIME Take short breaks, get up and walk around. When we move, blood is pumped around the body and more oxygen is sent to the brain.

How do I revise for exams? One way to avoid distraction when revising involves your MP4 player – but music does not help everybody! Nevertheless, your MP4 can be useful when revising. Look on itunes for podcasts to help you with subjects that you might find harder – most are free! If you’re really keen, try www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3 – this is a great website for loads of stuff on exam preparation.

How do I revise for exams? Here’s a few other things which help to improve your concentration... CHANGING THE SUBJECT It’s better not to concentrate on the same subject for too long. You will absorb more information if you change subject or topic every one or two hours. LOOK AT PAST QUESTIONS! A way of getting away from reading notes and textbooks is to look at past questions – work through and test yourself on what you know. Seek answers to gaps in your understanding. REWARD YOURSELF Give yourself an incentive when revising. By having something to look forward to when you finish your work, you are more likely to get stuck in and learn more!

How do I revise for exams? Quick revision hints Don’t think that revision is something that always has to take ages – you can sometimes use very short periods of time for revision. 5 or 10 minutes may be enough to remind yourself of a part of a course. Short periods are useful for revising word lists, dates or formulae – use revision cards here and you can look at them on the bus. For some people, 3 or 4 short sessions like this might be more useful than one big block.

Where can I find out more? How do I revise for exams? Where can I find out more? You’re not on your own with revision – Strabane Academy can help in lots of ways. Ask your teachers for help ASAP if you require some help – don’t be shy or leave it too late! Look for revision tips and materials on the web – they’re free for everyone to use.