Exams are always stressful and sometimes it's hard to revise effectively to get the marks that you deserve. I also find that it's difficult to set aside time so that you can properly focus with no distractions. After sitting my exams last year I found some tips that really helped me and with more exams just around the corner, I thought that I'd share them with you to help reduce stress and improve your performance in your exams.
Here are 10 revision tips to help you achieve the best possible result:
1.Make a revision Timetable
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. That's what I've heard anyway. By creating a revision timetable it will help you keep on track of everything you need to revise and for when. When I make one, I put in revision blocks of 30 minutes and then around 15-20 minutes in between each one. This helps me to focus and not get stressed out by a tonne of revision books, notes and papers (also scientists are now saying that to concentrate better you should do short revision sessions with frequent breaks).
2.Find a quiet space
You need to create a space at home where you can just get down to work and not have distractions everywhere. If you can't you could also go to the local library or find a place at your school, college or university to work. This will allow you to have a peaceful space where you can revise and work with no one to distract you.
3.Start early
Stick to your revision timetable but the sooner you start revision, the less you will have to revise closer to the time of the exam. This will reduce stress and put you at ease knowing that you're ahead of everyone else. Also if you start early in the morning you will have more time in the afternoon for socialising and this way you won't have to sacrifice your life for your exams.
4.Make it fun
Add some colour and pictures to your notes and timetable. Using coloured paper, pens or pencils can help you to memorise the facts and this way it is personal to you. Diagrams, mind maps, tables or just notes on a topic are all great places to use colour.
5.Past papers are your friend
Doing past papers before your exam will help to familiarise yourself with the types of questions that will be asked and which topics are popular. You can get past papers from your teacher or directly from the exam board's website as well as the mark scheme to check as you go along.
6.Summary notes
Summary notes are an amazing way to remember lots of information without being bombarded with textbooks filled with information. It also helps you use your time effectively rather than staring blankly at a page full of words or numbers. Colour, pictures, diagrams and statistics can all be put on summary notes to help you remember the important information.
7.You friends and family can help
Take a break from writing notes and reading textbooks and spend some time with your family/friends. Give them your summary notes and ask them to test you on facts, figures or translations on words (scientists say that by teaching someone about what you are learning, you will have a better understanding of it).
8.Exercise
You may not be an active person but trust me, it relieves so much stress you
might not even know you have. Although it may seem like spending less time
revising is a bad thing, spending your time moving or exercising is beneficial
to your exam success. Any physical activity - walking round your neighbourhood
to having a full workout at the gym - will help you because it will increase
your heart rate causing your blood to circulate faster. This allows more oxygen
to get to your brain, resulting in increased productivity as well as a reduction
in stress and tiredness caused by doing the same thing every day.
9.Reward yourself
After revising you need to take breaks so that you can carry on taking in information, otherwise it will just go straight over your head. Spend your breaks doing something you enjoy. This could be being with friends/family, a sport, playing a video game or you could treat yourself to the next episode in your favourite tv series or your favourite food/sweet. Whichever way you decide
to treat yourself, just make sure you are in the right mindset in time for your next revision session.
10.Believe in yourself
If you put in the work, you will do well in your exams, so all you have to do now is relax and try not to get too stressed about it. Believe in yourself and know that you will do as well as you can. Don't forget to socialise and take breaks (as well as actually revising or course) and you will be ready for your exam in no time.
I hope that these help you. Good Luck in your exams!
Fiona xx
