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Asked by dust1bake on 31 May 2024.
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Neil Barnby answered on 31 May 2024:
Organisation is the key. you need to make sure you have your revision organised so that you have set aside plenty of time to do it and you focus on one thing at a time. Create yourself a timetable to do revision and as you do the revision, make notes. This will help to make the knowledge stick. I personally like to change my revision into diagrams like spider diagrams pointing out the key facts. That is because I like to visualise things and it helps me to see the picture in my head during the exam. You will find what works for you.
It is really important that you put time aside for revision, sometimes it is tempting to spend the time with friends, but you can timetable that time in too.
Another important thing is not to revise a subject on the day of the exam, no last minute revision. You should spend the time before the exam having a walk and clearing the mind rather than cramming facts in last minute.
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Nicolette Beggache answered on 18 Jul 2024: last edited 18 Jul 2024 8:21 am
“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail…”
This saying is from a quote somewhere, but my parents always told me that. They have always been my biggest supporters and funny – but they are right, most of the time 😉
Being prepared is very important.
Allow yourself enough time to do little bits often. If you try to cram a lot of information in only a few days before your exams, you will likely be stressed and have memory blocks. Little and often is my best advice.
Also – do loads and loads of practice exams. They are freely available online – so do as many as you can, and try to identify the areas where you need more focus.
It is essential to have a ‘focus’ space to clear a desk away from the everyday routine, a space to sit, read, write, and repeat.
While you still have a bit of time – ask for support when you need it. It is not a time to shy away from what people think when you ask questions… it is a time to focus on your own success, not that of others around you.
Do not measure your success against others. Measure your success in your improvements, and how you progress.
“Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can’t – you are right” is another famous quote, and again I don’t know who said it – but it is true. You need to stay optimistic and positive. A negative mind will never produce a positive outcome.
Last but not least, CELEBRATE your successes, whether they are big or small, it is about YOUR LIFE, not that of others, so when you studied for the time you planned, got the ‘PASS’ that you were aiming for, or just if you wanted to improve a skill and you achieved it… CELEBRATE the moments in life that you are proud of. Good Luck!
Comments
Amber VW commented on :
A piece of advice I will give you about studying for any exam (GCSE, A-Level and even your degree).
There is absolutely No Way you can learn everything about a subject….
I’ve studied and worked in engineering particularly the electrical side of things for 20 years and there are still topics about this subject that I don’t fully understand or haven’t even covered, and it’s highly likely there will be topics I never learn about in electrical engineering!
The key thing about each exam is to understand what are the Key learning objectives and make sure you cover those elements.
The best way to do this is to look at past papers and what you will find is sometimes the numbers change but what you are being asked remains the same (i.e the way you work something out is what the learning objective is).
✅ Revision Trick 1
A trick that I found realllllly helpful when studying for exams, especially if there are facts & figures you need to remember or equations, it to write them on post-it notes and stick them in the bathroom so you can see them when you go to the toilet (a bit strange I know, but as you sit you will be exposed to the information and you will end up reading and memorising).
✅ Revision Trick 2
I did this for my chemistry A-level is to get a small book (the size of a pack of playing cards) and to write on each page an equation or element that you need to remember, so that when you are waiting for a bus, train or just hanging around you can flip through it.
✅ Revision Trick 3
Make up rhythms to remember equations (it doesn’t matter if they are silly as long as they work) such as
(V)ery (R)idiculous (I)dea
V = R x I
(F)at (P)amela (A)nderson
F = P x A
From those two examples I can create the equation triangle to work things out.
✅ Revision Trick 4
This one is not really a trick, more advice
Make sure you set yourself up for success.
The world we live in today has so many more distractions that there was around when I was studying for my exams. So the key thing especially around exam time is to limit this distractions while you revise.
Lastly be kind to yourself, try your hardest but know that sometimes things don’t go according to plan or we don’t get the results we expect. Sometimes this just means we need to analyse, rethink, maybe switch up our plans and expectations.
There are many paths to being successful, just don’t stop trying. 💪
Steve P commented on :
Revising can be very hard, and motivating yourself to revise can be very hard. One trick I wish I’d learnt a lot earlier is to be aware of when I’m trying to (or inadvertently) find excuses to delay revising. If you’re aware of it you can counter it, and resume focus on revising. Don’t try to kid yourself that your natural talent will ensure success, or that luck (in the questions being easy for you to answer) will help you. A great sportsman once said “the more I practice, the luckier I get” ! Be diligent and determined, and you’ll get more out of your revision.