Revision Where to start?

Getting Started This is the hardest part because we all like to Procrastinate. Particularly if it is something that isnt much fun like revising.

Getting Started Prepare yourself to revise by: 1.Creating a tidy space to revise where there are no distractions 2.Having all the resources you need. 3.Deciding WHEN you will do it.

Creating a tidy space to revise where there are no distractions 1.A place in the house or the library where people are not likely to distract you. 2.A quiet place away from your mobile phone or computer…reading a text or just checking facebook can waste more time than you think. 3.No telly. Most people revise best with no music either.

Having all the resources you need In Biology you should have: 1.All of your Learning Outcomes in your jotter 2.Textbook (you can sign one out) 3.Homework (online) 4.BBC bitesize (online) 5.Pens, pencils, calculator and paper 6.Past Papers (online or in a book)

Deciding WHEN you will do it Revising isnt HARD but it is TIME CONSUMING. The key is to make the time and plan your revision so you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

How Long Should I Revise For? Most people can only focus on one thing for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time. This doesnt mean that you can only revise for 20 minutes at a time it just means you need to CHANGE what you are doing every 20 minutes. Take a break every hour for about 10 minutes. It can help to build rewards into your study time. Eg. Revise for an hour (3x 20 min sessions of different things) then phone a friend for 10 minutes. Just make sure your 10 minute break doesnt turn into a 2 hour break!

Planning your Life during revision time During revision time it is essential that you accept that for this short period of time revision has to be the most important thing. You cant revise all the time so you need to build in the other things you need (or want) to do into your timetable. Cut right back on things like TV, socialising, internet (if not for study), video games. Keep some time for sport and socialising (and those things above if it makes you happy!). Plan this time into your timetable.

Planning your Revision Copy and complete this table to plan out your revision timetable. DateTimes I can reviseWhat I will revise Thurs Chemistry 3 x 20 Maths 3 x 20 Geog 3 x 20 Fri Sat Sun Mon

Planning your Revision Once you know how long you have to revise you can structure your revision. In Biology you need to learn and practice questions from the following topics: Topic 1 – The Biosphere Topic 2 – Investigating Cells Topic 3 – The World of Plants Topic 4 – Animal Survival Topic 5 – The Body in Action Topic 6 – Inheritance Topic 7 - Biotechnology

Ready to Revise First Stop – Learning Outcomes! You will have very specific learning outcomes for each topic. You need to KNOW ALL OF THIS! Traffic light them yourself then use some of the following methods to learn the ones you dont know. 1.Flash cards (question on one side answer on the other) 2.Mind map including just the ones you dont know 3.Make a powerpoint to illustrate the things you dont know. 4.Make a quiz for someone else and get them to make one for you. 5.Get someone at home to quiz you again and again until you know them all.

Something you just cant remember? Some Tricks!

Make a poster (or post-its) of the thing you need to remember. Put it up in a place where you can look at it regularly – like the back of the bathroom door or in the kitchen.

Mneumonics Monkeys Eat Pink Bananas My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nothing

Reduction of Information Method Do you learn by writing things out? Try this…. 1.Get someone to quiz you on your learning outcomes and traffic light them. 2.On a new piece of paper write out the ones you didnt get green. 3.Get quizzed and traffic lighted again. 4.On another new sheet write out the ones you didnt get green. 5.Repeat until there are only a few. 6.Move onto the next topic. 7.Repeat then add the few you are still working on to your first topic list. 8.By the end you will have just one sheet for the 6 topics of work. This is just the information you need to work on. Carry it around, look at it, get people to quiz you.

If you dont understand some of the learning outcomes you need to: 1.Use resources to help you. These can be textbooks or online tutorials (there are loads out there) 2.See your teacher and get them to explain it to you again (the day before your exam isnt ideal – this is why starting to revise early is so important) What if theres a problem?

Golden Rule Revise what you DONT KNOW If you already know something you dont need to revise it!

Apply your Knowledge OK, you know all your LOs now its time to try some questions! You have lots of places to get these from and you can do questions specific to the topic you have just studied. Find questions: 1.In your textbook 2.Homework – try these again! 3.BBC bitesize 4.Google Standard Grade Biology and you will find lots of resources.

Easter Revision Easter revision is not a substitute for your revision – it should compliment what you are already doing! Come armed with questions that you need help with!

Past Paper Questions Past papers are IDEAL for revision. Try past paper questions once you have completed your revision of LOs and tried some other questions. The papers themselves can be downloaded for free from the SQA website. It is essential that you mark your questions using the marking scheme. You will learn how the answers should be worded to get a mark. Looking at the answer and saying yeah, thats what I meant isnt good enough. Even if you do know the answer you might not get a mark on the actual exam for it.

Standard Grade Biology 2011 Paper If you havent looked at this already then it is your best ever final exam preparation tool. On Sunday May 20 th or Monday May 21 st take the time to sit the 2012 paper under exam conditions. Give yourself the same resources and time you would have in the real exam. Mark the paper carefully using the SQA marking scheme. This will give you a very good indication of how you will do on the final exam. If you do well it will give you confidence. If you still have gaps in your learning you will still have a few days to learn from your mistakes.

And finally…. JUST TAKE THE TIME AND DO IT!

Your exam is on : Wednesday May 23 rd