Revision Techniques for GCSE students. Advice for parents- How can you help your child achieve success?

Revision techniques 0 Index cards, mind maps and notes 0 Use to record key points 0 Incorporate pictures, colour coding, highlighting 0 Learning posters and visual material 0 Use patterns, colours, symbols and drawings 0 Cover key points and topics 0 Develop diagrams or mind maps for your course or topic 0 Pin them up where you’ll see them often 0 Key words, phrases, themes or concepts 0 Use the course introductions, summaries, key questions to understand a topic or unit of work 0 Highlight key words or phrases to help remember them 0 Summary tables or grids 0 Compare or evaluate competing theories or key ideas in a spread sheet 0 Teach someone 0 Teach a topic to a fellow student or a friend 0 Thinking it through is effective revision 0 Fill in the gaps in your knowledge as you identify them 0 Reinforce your memory 0 As you end a revision session, review key points k/skillsforstudy/revisi on-techniques.php

Where to study? 0 Find a quiet place to study and make sure you are sitting comfortably 0 Make sure your desk is well lit and clean 0 Keep background noise to a minimum 0 Avoid studying in an area where there will be distractions like television! 0 Have everything you need to do your revision to hand before you start 0 Have your revision timetable nearby

Studying Tips 0 Turn your notes into revision tools 0 Study with a friend and test each other’s knowledge 0 Work through past question papers – and use a watch to time them so that you can practice timing your answers. 0 Choose study and revision guides sensibly. Save valuable time and get recommendations from your teachers 0 Remember course notes are also a valuable source of extra help 0 Keep yourself more alert by changing revision methods during a session. 0 Attend any revision classes that your teachers may be running at school and get their advice on revision methods 0 Look after yourself – Sometimes revision can become a competition – who stayed up latest, who worked longest, who’s worrying the most. But the more tired you are the less efficiently you’ll work. You need to rest as well as study, eat well, drink lots of water and make sure you pace yourself. Don’t rush, and equally don’t over-revise by doing too much too soon.

Revision Timetable 0 List all your exam subjects and the amount of time you think you will need for each one. It is unlikely that the amounts will be equal. Many people find it advisable to allocate more time to the subject or topics they find the most difficult 0 Draw up a revision plan for each week 0 Fill in any regular commitments you have first and the dates of your examinations 0 Use Revision Checklists or Syllabuses for each subject as a starting point. Look at what you need to know and try to identify any gaps in your knowledge. 0 Divide your time for each subject into topics based on the units in the revision checklist or syllabus, and make sure you allow enough time for each one 0 Plan your time carefully, assigning more time to subjects and topics you find difficult 0 Revise often; try and do a little every day 0 Plan in time off, including time for activities which can be done out in the fresh air. Take a 5 or 10 minute break every hour and do some stretching exercises, go for a short walk or make a drink 0 You may find it helpful to change from one subject to another at ‘break’ time, for example doing one or two sessions of maths and then changing to Geography, or alternating a favourite subject with a more difficult one. It helps to build in some variety 0 Write up your plan and display it somewhere visible 0 Adjust your timetable if necessary and try to focus on your weakest topics and subjects 0 Don’t panic; think about what you can achieve, not what you can’t. Positive thinking is important!

Dealing with exam nerves! 0 Create a revision plan to help you feel in control of the process 0 Find out what is involved in the exam: 0 where and when it will take place 0 how much time is allowed 0 how many questions you need to answer 0 Do past papers for practice 0 Think positively 0 Keep the exam in context – even if you do badly, there will be other options open to you 0 Allow yourself some fun-time each day to relax 0 Eat sensibly – your brain cells need energy to function well. Make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. Dehydration makes you tired and reduces concentration 0 Ensure you get enough sleep

Tips for sitting the exam 0 Check you have the correct equipment 0 Leave for the exam in plenty of time 0 Look through the paper first and highlight key words in the questions 0 Look at the marks available and read the questions carefully, following instructions given in the paper 0 Pace yourself and allow enough time to answer all the required questions 0 Write as neatly as possible to help the examiner to mark your work. Marking untidy writing is difficult 0 For longer answers, take a few minutes before you begin to produce a structured plan of what you are going to include in each section on scrap paper provided 0 Allow yourself ten minutes at the end to read through your answers and correct any mistakes 0 Check you have answered all the questions on every page of the exam paper

How can parents help? 0 Encourage your child to revise but don’t hassle them 0 Ensure they have breaks and a good work life balance 0 Ensure they eat, drink water and sleep properly 0 Ensure they have all the tools they need for revision. eg: post it notes and coloured pens 0 Ensure they have a quiet area to study in 0 Remind them to attend revision lessons at school 0 Recognise that not all students are brilliant at all subjects 0 Be realistic about your child's level of ability 0 Never get angry if they have tried their best but have not done well 0 Give them encouragement and praise at every opportunity