Year 11 Revision Techniques

There are less than 9 weeks left until your exams. Revision Techniques There are less than 9 weeks left until your exams. How should you be using your time?

Revision Techniques But do they really work? Suggested techniques: Spider diagrams Mnemonics Revision guides Highlighting Revision timetables Online revision But do they really work?

Revision Techniques Research shows that the following are ineffective : Highlighting/underlining Useful for starting more effective techniques but often means you focus on one concept at a time Mnemonics Useful for specifics, but little use for long passages or chunks of information. Re-reading Summarising Surprisingly, no more effective than re-reading. Mind Maps are better as they include links between concepts.

Revision Techniques Research shows that the following are of moderate use: Self-explanation Explaining to yourself how a problem was solved. Elaborate questioning Explaining a point or fact Changing practice Switching between different types of problems

Revision Techniques Research shows that the following are really effective: Repetition Going over facts/points several times Distributed learning Spreading study out a long time Practice testing Self testing to check knowledge

Revision Techniques Repetition Your brain remembers things by making links between neurons. These links are strengthened every time you go over the information so the memory gets stronger and easier to access.

Revision Techniques Distributed learning Spreading out revision over a long time means you can repeat the work more often. It is better to do little and often than to cram just before the exam. The mock exams is where this process should have started. This is the time to write a revision timetable to make sure all subjects are equally covered.

Revision Techniques Practice testing Read through your notes, then make flashcards of the critical concepts and test yourself. Testing yourself can include completing relevant past paper questions and then checking against the correct answers. Then test yourself again! “Students who can test themselves or try to retrieve material from their memory are going to learn that material better in the long run” Prof Dunlovsky, Kent State Uni.

Revision Techniques Flash cards

Revision Techniques Flash cards

Revision Techniques Flash cards

Revision Techniques DON’T Leave it to the last minute Revise all of one subject and move on to another Waste time revising the things you already know Put off getting started by completing displacement activities Revise late at night Revise for hours at a time

Revision Techniques DO Start early – NOW! Revise little and often Take regular breaks Look after yourself – eat properly and get plenty of sleep Write a revision timetable Test yourself over again – including lots of past paper questions

Revision Techniques DO Ask for help! Your teachers are here to help and give advice. Remember, they have taken exams before and helped hundreds of other pupils to suceed.

GOOD LUCK!