Revision is as easy as A, B, C
A
Prep
B
Practice
C
Review
We tend to think of revision as a process of putting things into our heads, hoping it will stick
Then, in an exam, we try to pull it out again
But the research tells us that this method is flawed …
Read on to discover how to make your revision as effective as possible
Revision Phase 1 - PREPARE
Organise the information you need to learn into a format that works for you and your subject, e.g.
Creating materials …
You could use simple paper and pen
Or an app such as Quizlet
Now - To make things stick in your memory…
…practise pulling them out of your memory.
This simple task is called retrieval practice
Revision Phase 1 - PREPARE
There are lots of ways to do this - my favourite way is BLURTING. Check out this video from Birmingham City University that explains what the blurting method is and how to use it:
Charlotte from BCU explains BLURTING
Revision Phase 1 - PREPARE
TOP TIPS FOR THIS PHASE
Use the POMODORO METHOD - a basic timetable of 25 minutes studying followed by a five minute break. Do four of these in a row and then have a long break. Your brain and memory work better in short sessions.
Use SPACED REPETITION - plan in a series of shorter sessions for each topic over a period of days/weeks. When you space them out, your brain forgets information then has to actively recall it - helping to make things move into your long term memory.
Revision Phase 2 - PRACTICE
Now is the time to move on to phase 2 -
PRACTICE
You need to test your knowledge by applying it to exam questions and seeing how well you do
Revision Phase 2 - PRACTICE
Complete as many exam questions / full exam papers as you can - ideally complete at least one full paper every week in the lead up to your exam
Try to recreate the exam environment - find somewhere quiet, where you won’t be disturbed and make sure you only use the amount of time you will have in the exam
Revision Phase 3 - REVIEW
This is often the phase the students miss out completely
REVIEW
Use the mark schemes to assess how well you have done, where your gaps in knowledge are, and what you need to work on
Revision Phase 3 - REVIEW
Then you can begin the cycle again, PREP new materials focussing on the topics/questions that you need to improve
Then repeat the
PRACTICE AND REVIEW