GCSE exam season is already underway, and hopefully your revision is progressing well!
This can be a very stressful time no matter how prepared and hardworking you are, so we have prepared a few helpful tips.
Make it active
Making your revision active can really help. This might include making flash cards, using post it notes or drawing out mind maps to connect ideas and theories. Making associations by connecting ideas through mind maps helps to memorise information more quickly and easily.
Use Past Papers
Ask your teachers for past exam papers. Using these papers under timed conditions can help highlight areas that need additional study as well as practicing your exam technique. This can help give an idea of how much time you can allocate to each section.
Often, revision notes are in bullet point form, so testing yourself using past papers could be the first opportunity to put these points into coherent sentences!
Take regular breaks
Overdoing the studying will not only leave you exhausted and stressed, but it reduces the quality of your work. Research has shown that studying for 50 minutes and resting for 10 minutes increases the chances of remembering what you have been studying! Also, having occasional longer breaks can be helpful such as taking a walk, playing sport or having a chat with a friend or family member. Returning to your revision from these breaks will help you feel refreshed.
Rewards
Building in rewards for achieving milestones in your revision can be useful for keeping motivated. This might include completing a past paper and rewarding yourself with your favourite snack or using social media.
Mix it up
Rather than simply sitting down and reading through notes, it can be helpful to mix up your study habits and methods. This could involve watching videos or documentaries, listening to audio recordings or podcasts. Also, physically moving to study in a different area or even using different colours for your study notes can result in your brain recalling where you were or how you revised a topic which will help you remember more information.