“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows” - Ralph Marston

Revision is critical, so why do we not talk about it more, share what works and what doesn't, so we all don't waste our time on ineffective revision:

So, here are 8 ways to improve your revision ! 👊

1. Be clear on your 'why'?

Motivation is something that comes and goes, depending on so many external and internal dynamics at play in our busy lives. Having a clear sense of what you want to achieve and why it is important to revise can help keep us going when natural motivation dips. The science is clear- regular practice at retrieving knowledge over a period of time develops the neural pathways in our brain. Imagine walking through long grass; if done once you may just about be able to see where you have walked, but walk that same path every day over a week and it might start to be really clear. Walk it every dat for a month and it will be worn and easier to tread. It is the same in our brains, we create pathways to recall the knowledge and so the more we try to recall it, over a period of time, the firmer and clearer the pathways are, which means the easier and more guaranteed it is for us to remember and easily recall it. What the science won't tell you is what it is that is really driving you personally? What is it that you need to achieve to make you even to want to remember the information. Why do you want to do well in your exams? What is it that you are trying to achieve in the long run? Developing your aims and ambitions for the future can really help you to commit to regular revision and drive you on when motivation seems lacking.

2. Revision is a habit, and is not just for exams

Revision should not be something that is only taking place in the run up to exams. It certainly is impossible to suddenly learn everything you want to learn in a month before the summer exams. Revision should be a weekly habit, started right at the beginning of Year 12 and done every week, so that it is not a huge, impossible mountain to climb at the end of Year 13. If you are reading this in Year 13 it is not too late to start some really good revision habits today! Ten minute reviews of topics can help remind ourselves of things we learnt two day, two weeks, or two months ago. Try making a little list of topics that you can revise in ten minute blocks, and then get the satisfaction of ticking them off your list every day. Habits help build momentum in our studies and are proven to improve performance through a regular practice. Try to link study habits to your day. For example, can you get into college or school ten minutes earlier and sit down in the library to do a ten minute blast of a old topic. Can you make some flash cards and sit on the bus home with them every day. Can you record mini revision reminders on your phone and play them in your car on the way in every morning. Whatever works for you and your day, but make it something that can be done every day and every week.

3. Get creative

Creativity comes in many different ways, but we all have it and it can really help with revision. For some this will be working with different colour pens, working on large pieces of paper or making booklets to fill. But not all of us love a set of colour pens, but this does not mean we can't get creative. Find something creative that you enjoy and see if you can incorporate some revision into it. Are you learning the guitar? Then make some little tunes up to remember stories or events. Do you like writing? Why not write a poem, book or novel that includes key details you need. Do you like acting? Maybe try doing voices, making characters and plays. This might sound daft, but it can really help reignite some passion and flow in our work. It may include watching or listening to things like plays and films, reading novels, looking at painting. Often these can be linked to the history you are learning and can be a great form of relaxation too!

4. Make it social

Revising can be a lonely process, so can you find some fellow students and set up a space and regular time where you can work together. You don't need to be interacting all the time, in fact I would suggest you create clear rules/boundaries that allow you to be focused and not disturbing each other too much. This reminds me to talk about phones. Whilst these are a great way to connect with each other, they can also be a massive distraction. So I would recommend putting them out of arms reach. This is why is is nice to revise around a table with others as you can see each other all working hard and feel the collective sense of focus and ambition. It will inspire you to do more. Try to inspire others to work hard, try to be the trend setting, and show your commitment to yourself and your future goals.

5. Take breaks in the fresh air

Revision is hard on your brain, and you need to rest and restore well. Again, science suggests that even five minutes in nature and moving can help reset out brains and restore a sense of calm that is conducive to learning. When our brains are stressed they stop working well, so make sure to take time out to relax effectively. This is not scrolling through social media, but instead, doing some exercise, going for a walk, listening to music, dancing around your kitchen. Five minutes of fun and then back to it will make your long-term memory more accessible and easier to access.

6. Ask for help

This sounds silly, but teachers and tutors are there to help, and it is important we reach out and ask for help. This can be more than just technical questions about the exam. It might include ideas of books to read, ideas of podcasts to listen to, ideas of how to revise, ideas about writing skills help. We all need help but something I have learnt is that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. You are seeking to be the best, achieve your dreams, and there are people out there who want to help you do this! I'm one for sure, so do reach out to me if you need either on social media or email.

7. Recall, recall, recall again

I have talked about the importance of recall earlier, but not so much ways to do it. I think there are many, and that a varied approach is important. Flash cards seem to be the most commonly suggested in schools, but so often I see students making the cards and then not using them effectively. Make sure you put a question or prompt on one side, and then the details on the other that you need to recall, so you are able to go through them time and time again and check your memory. Other methods include folding up an A4 sheet of notes, and making a simple mind map on the back of the fold, and then folding it again and reducing the mind map to five key words. Then try and work backwards to remember the mind map you did, and from that remember the page of notes. What ever way you do it, it has to be done more than once and over a period of time.

8. Track yourself

No matter what it is you are doing, flash cards, past paper questions, quizzes, you need to keep track of what topics you have covered and when. This is a reverse exam timetable, so you start with the list of topics you need to cover and next to the one you have studied put the date. The over a period of time you can see the topics you have not looked at in a while and go back to them. You can also use a knowledge organiser to RAG rate the topics. Red for topics you don't know at all. Orange for topics you need to revise a lot, and green for topics you are happy with. Again date when you do things, and over time the red turns to orange and then to green. This does take time and so should be started early and kept going.