1. Revision techniques for post-16 students

2. Don’t panic! Prepare properly and take you exams with confidence.
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3. Before we start….
Please complete the questionnaire to assess your study skills.
Answer as honestly as you can – it is important to see which areas you need to develop when it comes to starting your revision.

4. Study skills scores meanings…
Mostly 1
You are far too laid back! You need to get yourself more organised and develop some serious study skills before your exams come around! It’s about time you kicked yourself into shape!
Mostly 2
You are probably working too hard. You need to take some time out between study to relax and do something you enjoy. Taking breaks and relaxing now and again will actually help your studies in the long run. There is only so much information you can absorb!
Mostly 3
You have excellent study skills. You are organised and well prepared but you realise the need to relax and enjoy yourself in between. With this kind of attitude you should go far!
University of Huddersfield quiz

5. Start as you mean to go on…
There are some key ways that you can help yourself to get ready for your exams as early as possible.
The key is to GET ORGANISED ASAP!
Keep your notes neatly organised into folders and subject areas – date your work and keep things in order (you’ll thank yourself later when it comes to revising!)
Stay on top of your workload; make sure you are attending your lessons and following up on any work that you miss – remember that anything you miss now could come up in the exam.

6. Start as you mean to go on…
There are some key ways that you can help yourself to get ready for your exams as early as possible.
The key is to GET ORGANISED ASAP!
Make sure you ask your teacher if you don’t understand something – they will be able to give you a recap or set you some extra work to help you grasp the topic before it comes to revising for your exams.
REMEMBER: Revision is about revisiting something you have already learnt, not scrambling to understand something by yourself – so make sure you have all your notes in place to give yourself the a head-start.

7. Top tips for time management
Starting revision: Managing your time
Top tips for time management
Start revising as early as you can.
This way you will avoid the stress of cramming and find that you are able to revisit topics multiple times before the exam.
Make a list of the topics you need to revise.
This will make it easier for you to create a comprehensive revision timetable.
Create a REALISTIC timetable for yourself.
Leave time for your usual activities (such as sports) and figure out what time of day you work best.
Make sure you allocate time to revise all of your subjects thoroughly.
It is important not to neglect any of your subjects. However you could set aside a block of time each week where you focus on a subject or topic that you find particularly tricky.
Give yourself plenty of breaks.
Make sure to take regular short breaks – for example for every hour of revision you do, you could give yourself a 15 minute break to grab a snack, check your phone or go for a walk.
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8. Revision timetable – example 1
Is this a good example of a revision timetable?
What is good about it?
What is bad about it?
Bad timetable – not detailed (doesn’t included subjects/topics to focus on), not flexible (same timetable everyday), doesn’t leave time blocked out for eating/free time activities, long periods of study without short breaks

9. Revision timetable – example 2
What is good about this timetable?
Flexible – they include extra maths revision.
Realistic – they include blocks of time for activities and leisure, allowing them to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Detailed – the timetable is broken down into subject specific chunks which will make it easier for the user to focus their time.
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10. Revision timetable – example 3 (an alternative method)
What is good about this timetable?
Pomodoro Technique
Widely used to increase productivity in the workplace.
Kitchen timer – work for 25mins (1 Pomodori) / distraction for 5mins.
After 4 Pomodori take a 30min break.
Pomodoro is tomato in Italian. Technique is named after a tomato shaped kitchen timer used by inventor.
Specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, timely (taken from Bradford College Revision Skills PowerPoint)

11. Revision techniques How do I revise?
Re-reading things over and over is an ineffective way of revising – try to make your revision as active as possible as this will help you to remember the information you need.
There are many different ways to revise – and not all ways will work for everyone, so it is important to get to know your own learning style and what works best for you.
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Image 2: Shutterstock

12. Revision techniques – visual learners
Flash cards – a fantastic visual learning aid. Write out a topic on a card and then use the “look, cover, check” method to test your knowledge.
Colour coded post-it notes – a brilliant way to remember things as they can also be stuck all over so that you are exposed to your notes when you’re on the go.
Visual flow charts/mind maps can make complicated processes or timelines easier to remember.
Other revision techniques that may be useful for visual learners are diagrams, graphs, pictures, videos, flowcharts, mind maps and colours and highlighters.
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Image 2: Shutterstock

13. Revision techniques – auditory learners
Mnemonic Devices – word association devices such as mnemonics are useful for auditory learners who are better able to make connections when a fact is repeated out loud, e.g Never Eat Shredded Wheat.
Find creative ways to recall information aloud – try making up songs or rhymes to memorise particularly difficult information, as it will help you to recall it during exams.
Other revision techniques that may be useful for auditory learners are attending revision classes, group work and leaving space in your notes for ‘infilling’ after a class – allowing you to listen fully throughout and then make notes when reflecting on the lesson.
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Image 2: Shutterstock

14. Revision techniques – kinesthetic learners
Assemble charts and diagrams – kinaesthetic learners learn by doing. The act of creating a flowchart using post-it notes for example will help you to retain information.
Take breaks when studying - kinaesthetic learners often have a hard time sitting still for long periods of time. Make sure you take frequent (but not too lengthy) breaks while studying to give your mind a chance to renew itself and refocus when you sit down to study again.
Other revision techniques that may be useful for kinaesthetic learners are lab sessions, trial and error, real life examples, field trips, exhibitions, photographs and hands-on activities.
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Image 2 : Shutterstock

15. Revision techniques
Rememberː Most people are a combination of learning styles and many of the techniques, whether visual, auditory or kinaesthetic will work for you. Ultimately, only you can know what works best for you – so go with your instinct!
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16. Revision top tips Get organised Work smart
Plan ahead and don’t leave revision to the last minute. Ask questions and get used to working independently – remember if you are planning to study at a higher level (e.g. university and apprenticeships) this will be expected of you!
Make sure you aren’t revising for too long at a time – take regular short breaks and avoid distraction to ensure effective working. Be sure to reward yourself for your hard work – set aside time for fun!
Remember that all the work you put in now will continue to pay off in the future – by preparing you for higher level study such as university, or by developing skills that will benefit you in a job once you have left school/college!

17. Questions?

18. For further information: https://revisionworld.com/
Information gathered from:
University of Huddersfield
Bradford College
University of Bradford
For further information:

20. Thank you