‘How should I revise for my examinations?’
This is a very frequent question asked by students. The answer is
‘whichever way is best for you’. Such an answer is not
very helpful but it does emphasise that different way of revising
suit different people.
You must find out the method which suits you and then use it. We
will try and identify some general principles you should follow.
There are three R’s we should consider. They are Review, Revise
and Recall.
Planning for your examination
At least three months before your examination you should carry
out a review. You should identify exactly what can be tested in
the examination. Borrow a copy of the syllabus from your teacher
or buy a copy from the Examination Board. Make a list of all the
topics.
You should then engage in some self-review. Divide all of you topics
into two lists - topics you feel confident about and topics you
would prefer did not come up in the examination. Your task in revision
is to convert the topics from the second column to the first column.
Decide how many hours you can spend in revision. Do not allocate
more hours than you are sure you can spend. Plan a programme for
two or three weeks covering the topics you find most difficult.
At the end of this period, review your progress. Have you moved
any topic from the second column to the first? Pick some new topics
to concentrate on in the next two weeks.
When you are within about six to eight weeks of the examination,
look at some past questions. Modern questions do not rely just on
your recalling knowledge but require other skills such as comprehensive
application and evaluation. Some students make the mistake of looking
at questions before they have mastered the content. This can be
depressing.
The mechanics of revising
Now let us consider the process of revising. Your brain cannot
work for a long period without rest. You should spend no more than
thirty minutes in intense revision before having a short break.
Even a five minute break will bring you back refreshed and you will
be working more efficiently. It is also a good idea to change the
activity at least every hour. Do not spend the whole evening on
a single topic but break up your study so that you are doing a variety
of topics.
When you start to revise a topic read through your notes, a testbook
of a revision book. Write down the main points on a postcard or
a small piece of paper. Often a list of numbered points is best.
These points should include basic definitions, formulae, laws etc.
Later in the revision session, look at the card again and try to
write down as much as you can from memory. Go back and check what
you have written and compare any differences with the card. If you
feel you did not make a very good attempt first time, try writing
the card out again from memory. Only when you are confident that
you have learnt these basic facts should you go back to your main
notes of a book. You should find the main points on the card jog
your memory and bring back much greater detail. The cards you are
preparing are very useful for last minute revision.
It is very disappointing to realise that if you spend time revising
a topic, you will forget most of the knowledge you thought you had
learned. The good thing, however, is the fact that revising the
topic again very quickly brings it back.
In you revision planning close to the examination you should plan
to go through all of the topics and recall the major points in each
topic. Doing this should quickly bring back the knowledge you thought
you had forgot.
There are different views about the importance of last-minute revision.
Some people think that it is best to work late right up to the night
before the examination. Generally, however, you must not exhaust
yourself so much that you do not do justice to yourself in the examination.
If you must do some revision the day before, and it might take your
mind off the examination, spend your time recalling the important
facts and improving your confidence. At this stage do not try to
find things you cannot do.
If you start your revision early, plan your revision carefully
and follow your plan, your chances of success are greatly enhanced.
Good luck!
Author: Bob McDuell, Letts Educational,
This article first appeared in Which Course
