How to Revise

Introduction

Revision is the bane of most teenagers’ lives. And unfortunately when studying for GCSES, A levels, degrees or any other type of exam it is a necessary evil. If you don’t revise how else are you going to get good grades? Let’s face it you can’t “wing it” and get an A. Here are some tips on how you can make revision less boring and how you can tailor the revision to suit your own needs. 

Remind yourself that you HAVE to do it.

 If you don’t revise the chances are you will fail the exam and not get the grades you deserve. Picture how you will feel if you fail because you didn’t study. This should give you the motivation needed to revise.  

Make a timetable

Secondly, revision takes time and it can be hard to fit it into your busy day. To help you plan the time you are going to spend on revision make a timetable of your day. In the timetable include every activity that you do and how long you do it for.  Then fill in any gaps with revision sessions. If there are no gaps in your timetable don’t worry there is a way to find time to revise. Rank all your activities on a scale of 1 to 10, (10 being the most important) then swap the lowest scoring activity with a short revision session. If all your activities score 10 then  if all else fails just get up a hour earlier and revise then.  
 
Tailor the revision for your specific needs.

To do this you need to know what type of learner you are. If you don’t already know this no need to worry there is information on the different learning types, designed to help you decide how you learn best.  

Visual Learners

   
Visual learners are those people that prefer to use images, pictures and color to organize information. If you are a visual learner you will find it easy to visualize objects, plans and outcomes. Typically this type of learner is good at art and is creative. If this sounds like you see the revision tips for visual learners.

 
Revision tips for visual learners 

1. Copy out any notes in color; using different colors for each paragraph or topic.  
2. Put the information in an interesting format, such as in a timeline or grid.
3.  Use pictures to enhance the meanings of texts. 
4. Make posters of information that you are revising.

Audio Learners

If you are an audio learner you are the type of person that understands things once you have heard someone speak about it. Audio learners find it easy when they have things explained to them by another person but much harder when having to learn things only using textbooks. If this sounds like you see the tips for audio learners. 

Revision tips for audio learners 

1. Tape-record important lessons and record yourself speaking your notes and play them back.  
2. Use things like online podcasts on the topic you are studying for revision.
3.  Read your notes out loud over and over again. 
4. Discuss what you are revising with friends and teachers.  

Tactile Learners

These are the people that best learn from experiencing and doing things rather reading or hearing someone talk about it. Tactile learners can often remember complicated instructions if they act them out beforehand.  If this sounds like you see the tips for tactile learners. 

Revision tips for tactile learners: 

1. Act out the information you need to remember as a role-play or by turning notes into a speach.
2. Transform reading notes into a physical activity. Try walking around as you read them.
3. Make up your own learning games. Make a set of cards with key-words written on them.
4. Tactile learners will most benefit from revising in short bursts and taking lots of breaks.

Good luck 

I hope these tips will help you find some revision techniques that will work for you and get you the grade that you deserve. Try to remember that the end result will be worth all the hard work and boredom.  
Good luck in all future exams and happy revising!