Walk into that exam room with confidence with our top revision tips. From the very basics of writing good lecture notes to finding the perfect revision spot, we have it covered.
Starting point
Preparation starts from the very beginning of your course. During each one of your lectures be sure to write clear notes and ask plenty of questions.
Decide on a system for organising your notes from the start of the course so that they remain consistent over the term.
Afterwards, read over your notes again and recall the information making sure that you have not only remembered it but understood it.
Talk it over
Whether it’s talking to your family, friends or your classmates, it’s good to share ideas and thoughts on what you have learnt as this consolidates your knowledge and understanding.
Try explaining a new concept that you have learnt to someone that doesn’t know the subject – this is a great way to reinforce new knowledge and will help you remember the concept when it comes to the exam.
Planning
Before creating a revision plan to help manage your time, it’s worth knowing the value of your exams. If a high percentage of your final mark is not reliant on the exam, take this into account.
Whether it be reading, hearing or writing things down, know your revision style and how you best learn. Once you have done this, find a revision environment that works for you and where you are most productive, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the library. However, it may be worth separating your work environment from where you relax, as this will make it easier to switch off from revision. Also figure out if you are a morning or evening person and set a revision schedule accordingly.
Make use of your network and resources and remember to incentivise yourself to keep the momentum going!
Practice makes perfect
Do past papers to familiarise yourself with the types of questions asked and to manage your expectations of the exam process. These can usually be found via your department, faculty or university website.
In the final push before your exams, look for any gaps in your knowledge and familiarise yourself with these ahead of the exam. Compare notes with your classmates and practice together if this revision style suits you. Alternatively, test yourself using flash cards.
Team you
It’s important to take your mind off revision sometimes and allow yourself to relax. Make sure you have regular breaks, whether that means booking a gym session or taking a walk to get some fresh air. This time out should help maximise productivity when you are revising.
A good diet is also important during revision; try to avoid energy drinks which provide a quick fix and stock up on foods which are a good source of omega 3, such as fish and eggs.
Revision and coursework are open-ended tasks and it can feel like there is no end point. Accept that you will never know everything and be confident in what you do know.
And finally, remember to enjoy yourself! You are studying a course you have chosen and you have a novel array of resources at your disposal, waiting to be made the most of.
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