How To Revise For An Exam

Many high school and university students fail to prioritize their education over extracurricular activities or their social life and generally only revise or prepare for exams a week before the exam itself. There are many effective ways to prepare and revise for an examination, but each individual will have his or her own preferred method. Below are some useful methods for exam revision:

• Read your notes in advance – Be sure to take adequate notes during classes and lectures so that you understand the topic at hand and can then just revise through your notes to recap on what was learnt. If you missed a lesson or don’t understand your notes, you should revise with a friend or borrow the required notes from a class mate.

• Ask questions – When in class you should be sure to question anything that you are unsure about. Never be too afraid to ask a question because it could benefit you and the rest of your class. You won’t understand everything the first time around so don’t worry about not understanding the subject as quick as your classmates. It is also useful to ask your subject teacher which modules you should revise for the exam, because some modules will be taught in class but not used in the examination paper.

• Revise in a group – Try to find friends who take their exams and studying seriously to revise with. Ask each other questions and be sure that everyone understands the topic. Working in groups allows you to gain information from other students and can really help you to understand a certain topic if you were previously struggling.

• Quiz yourself – If you prefer to study alone then you should ask yourself some questions related to the subject that you are studying and see if you can give an appropriate answer in an examination form. Write your answers down and see if you cover the basis of the question. Do you answer the question in detail or is your answer too vague? Check your answer by using a subject book and if your answer is wrong or too vague be sure to correct it.

• Go though mock exams – There are plenty of places where you can find mock exams for each subject; online, books and from your subject teachers. By going through a mock exam you can see what is expected from you and what type of questions will be asked. Mock exams are a great resource and should be used in preparation for an exam as they will also calm your nerves a little after you have seen the layout of the exam and know what to expect before the big day.

• Don’t leave it too late – Be sure to give yourself enough time before each exam to revise. Your brain cannot absorb all of the information that you need in a night or two, so be sure to start revising in chunks at least a week before the examination date. Many students leave their revision down to the last minute and then struggle to cram everything in – this just isn’t possible and you may miss out on revising vital modules. Many people also find it more beneficial to not study right before an exam; instead they spend the hour or two before an examination settling their nerves or getting a drink.

Almost everyone gets nervous before their examinations so just be sure to revise in advance and get a good night’s sleep before the big day. Remember to eat a healthy breakfast on the morning of the exam to try and wake up your brain; this is especially important if your exams are in the morning. If you are sat taking an exam and are unsure what the question asks be sure to read it slowly and carefully, if it still doesn’t make sense then leave it out and come back to it at the end.

As you get used to taking exams you will get used to the rhythm and find a revision method which works for you. There is no right or wrong way to revise, just remember to find a quiet place and take breaks in between modules or sub topics.

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