REVISION ADVICE 2013

How to Revise To do well in exams you need to spend time on revision. To do well in exams you need to spend time on revision. Use these SMART revision tips to help: Use these SMART revision tips to help: –Put information into your memory –Keep it there –Get it back out in an exam

Smart Revision S – Summarising S – Summarising M – Memorising M – Memorising A – Active A – Active R – Revising R – Revising T – Testing T – Testing

When? Start now. Start now. Long term memory more reliable than short term memory. Long term memory more reliable than short term memory. Don’t cram. Don’t cram. Regular revision is best – the odd hour here and there is not enough. Regular revision is best – the odd hour here and there is not enough.

Revision Plan Realistic/achievable targets – break week/evening into slots. Realistic/achievable targets – break week/evening into slots. Up to 40 mins per subject. Up to 40 mins per subject. Make provision for breaks/meals/social activities/ any other arrangements. Make provision for breaks/meals/social activities/ any other arrangements. Mix up strengths & weaknesses – don’t do all your nightmare topics at once. Mix up strengths & weaknesses – don’t do all your nightmare topics at once. Do weaknesses early in your schedule. Do weaknesses early in your schedule. Set reasonable targets that you can reach Set reasonable targets that you can reach –Tick them off when you accomplish them –Reward yourself on completion of a target.

Week Commencing: StartTimeMonTuesWedThursFriSatSun 9.00 am 10.00am 11.00am 12.00pm 1.00pm 2.00pm 3.00pm 4.00pm 5.00pm 6.00pm 7.00 pm 8.00 pm Example of a Revision Timetable

What to do now! Use Planner. Use Planner. –when no homework is set in a particular subject spend 30/40 mins revising a topic in that subject. Keep a record of revision. Keep a record of revision. –in subject notebook or folder create a record of revision. –note date, topic revised, any difficulties to follow up with teacher.

Active Revision DO NOT simply read your notes over and over again. If you do this: DO NOT simply read your notes over and over again. If you do this: –you are using little or no brain power. - it is boring. – it doesn't fix things in your mind. – after doing it, you have no idea whether or not you have committed the essentials of the topic to your memory.

Have a large quantity of paper to hand. Have a large quantity of paper to hand. Have a pen or pencil in your hand. Have a pen or pencil in your hand. Study a section of your notes, making key points as you are reading – main ideas, facts and key terms creating summary notes or mind maps. Study a section of your notes, making key points as you are reading – main ideas, facts and key terms creating summary notes or mind maps. MEMORISING. Put your notes out of sight and from your memory write down the essential points or do questions (Maths/Science). MEMORISING. Put your notes out of sight and from your memory write down the essential points or do questions (Maths/Science). Look again at your notes. Check that the notes/questions you did are correct and complete. Look again at your notes. Check that the notes/questions you did are correct and complete. Note any points that are wrong or omitted, concentrate on committing these to your memory. Note any points that are wrong or omitted, concentrate on committing these to your memory. REVISING. Keep going back to your notes to check that you still remember them. REVISING. Keep going back to your notes to check that you still remember them. INSTEAD, revise ACTIVELY, that is, DO something as you revise:

Use lots of colour Use lots of colour Use highlighter pens to pick out key points Use highlighter pens to pick out key points Use coloured topics cards and sort them into topics and headings Use coloured topics cards and sort them into topics and headings Use symbols and pictures instead of words Use symbols and pictures instead of words Make colourful mind maps or spider diagrams Make colourful mind maps or spider diagrams Put these topic cards or colourful diagrams up in your house Put these topic cards or colourful diagrams up in your house Read your notes out loud Read your notes out loud With summary notes try to keep them to one side of A4 paper With summary notes try to keep them to one side of A4 paper TEST yourself or a friend TEST yourself or a friend Get parents to test you Get parents to test you Go to help clinics. Go to help clinics. Try teaching a topic. Try teaching a topic. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – parents/siblings/staff/friends Don’t be afraid to ask for help – parents/siblings/staff/friends

Example of Topics cards

Mind Maps or Spider diagams Start off with a topic keyword in centre of page. Start off with a topic keyword in centre of page. Surround it with related keywords & ideas, linked by lines. Surround it with related keywords & ideas, linked by lines. Helps aid revision and links topics together. Helps aid revision and links topics together.

Coping with Pressure Achieve revision targets. Achieve revision targets. Find time to relax Find time to relax –Friends –Sport/drama –Hobbies –Fresh air If feeling low talk to parents/friends/staff If feeling low talk to parents/friends/staff

Get enough sleep. Get enough sleep. Regular meals and plenty of fluids (water/juice). Regular meals and plenty of fluids (water/juice). Don’t drink lots of strong coffee as it increases anxiety. Don’t drink lots of strong coffee as it increases anxiety. Finish your evening revision at a reasonable time. Finish your evening revision at a reasonable time. Relax/unwind before going to bed. Relax/unwind before going to bed. Think positively and believe in yourself. Think positively and believe in yourself. YOU CAN DO IT! YOU CAN DO IT!

Exam Timings Internal exams start Monday 19 th May. Internal exams start Monday 19 th May. Subjects to be examined: Subjects to be examined: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English, Latin, Greek, History, Economics, MFL Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Maths, English, Latin, Greek, History, Economics, MFL