Revision

Quick quiz – True or false Now is the time to start revising for your mock exams However nervous you are, good exam preparation will help you Reading over a revision guide or your notes is an effective way of revising Revision should be ‘active’ Effective revision is hard work Now is the time to start revising for your mock exams However nervous you are, good exam preparation will help you Reading over a revision guide or your notes is an effective way of revising Revision should be ‘active’ Effective revision is hard work

Quick quiz – True or false Now is the time to start revising for your mock exams – False! You should already have started but it’s not too late. However nervous you are, good exam preparation will help you – True! Reading over a revision guide or your notes is an effective way of revising – False! This is never an effective way of revising. Revision should be ‘active’ – True! If you want to make the most use of your time – keep revision active, alternatively, waste your time by just reading over notes Effective revision is hard work – True! No getting away from it, but it is worth it. Now is the time to start revising for your mock exams – False! You should already have started but it’s not too late. However nervous you are, good exam preparation will help you – True! Reading over a revision guide or your notes is an effective way of revising – False! This is never an effective way of revising. Revision should be ‘active’ – True! If you want to make the most use of your time – keep revision active, alternatively, waste your time by just reading over notes Effective revision is hard work – True! No getting away from it, but it is worth it.

Recognise your revision style Which of these revision styles describes your pattern?

Bit-here-and-there style Tends to sit down with a book and do ten minutes or so before getting bored. Problem: Fooling yourself into thinking you’ve done more than you have. Tends to sit down with a book and do ten minutes or so before getting bored. Problem: Fooling yourself into thinking you’ve done more than you have.

Over-the-top Tends to read everything for hours and hours at a time without really taking it in. Problem: Doesn’t really understand and then is upset when the marks don’t seem very high. Tends to read everything for hours and hours at a time without really taking it in. Problem: Doesn’t really understand and then is upset when the marks don’t seem very high.

Just-do-the-interesting bits Tends to study the interesting bits and ignores the rest. Problem: Never does the hard work and knowledge is patchy and shallow. Tends to study the interesting bits and ignores the rest. Problem: Never does the hard work and knowledge is patchy and shallow.

Just does the bits I already know… Doesn’t realise it, but always starts with the bits that they already know and doesn’t get onto the hard bits Problem: Will not do well because they do not know enough – knowledge is patchy Doesn’t realise it, but always starts with the bits that they already know and doesn’t get onto the hard bits Problem: Will not do well because they do not know enough – knowledge is patchy

I’m not going to pass Tends to have no self confidence and no self belief, doesn’t really revise Problem: There really is not any point because with such low self-belief, success can’t happen. Tends to have no self confidence and no self belief, doesn’t really revise Problem: There really is not any point because with such low self-belief, success can’t happen.

I’ll do it later There is always something more important now which must be done. Problem: tomorrow never comes! You can’t put off things that must be done. There is always something more important now which must be done. Problem: tomorrow never comes! You can’t put off things that must be done.

I deserve some time off Does loads of revision one night in a mad flash of enthusiasm. Problem: Gets too tired to keep up the effort and gives up after the first night. Does loads of revision one night in a mad flash of enthusiasm. Problem: Gets too tired to keep up the effort and gives up after the first night.

I’ll do it the night before Puts it off till the day before the examination. Problem: There is not enough time to do a thorough job. You might get lucky, you probably won’t. Puts it off till the day before the examination. Problem: There is not enough time to do a thorough job. You might get lucky, you probably won’t.

Wonderful memory I can remember really easily so I don’t need to worry. Problem: This may work for some topics, but memory is patchy and the details often go quickly. I can remember really easily so I don’t need to worry. Problem: This may work for some topics, but memory is patchy and the details often go quickly.

What does work? Plan your time Use different strategies Don’t put off revision! Plan your time Use different strategies Don’t put off revision!

Ways of revising….. Making notes Key cards Make colourful posters Spider diagrams/mind maps/concept maps Condenser Flow charts Test yourself Explain it to other people Teach someone else Past questions Making notes Key cards Make colourful posters Spider diagrams/mind maps/concept maps Condenser Flow charts Test yourself Explain it to other people Teach someone else Past questions

Useful tips…. Read for meaning…. Make notes as you read Write key words Use colour if you can Make bullet points Read for meaning…. Make notes as you read Write key words Use colour if you can Make bullet points

Spider diagrams/memory maps/concept maps A very good way of putting a lot of information onto one piece of paper Constructing spider diagrams/memory maps, helps you to understand the material because you have to focus on the links

Mind Maps All on one page Brainstorm Make ideas visual Can replace notes Can connect ideas

This is an example of a KS3 concept map, but it shows the idea. You can make them much larger and use colour.

Use a Flow Chart Food Digestion Nutrition Energy

Flow Chart 2 Macbeth brave hero in suppresing Cawdor’s rebellion Macbeth ambitions for crown Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle Macbeth has vision of dagger Macbeth kills Duncan Macbeth to become King Macbeth Duncan makes Macbeth new Thane of Cawdor Duncan makes his son Malcolm Prince of Cumberland Witches prophesy the future of Macbeth and Banquo Lady Macbeth schemer and ambitious. Wants Macbeth to be King Lady Macbeth puts pressure on Macbeth Malcolm and Donalbain flee for safety Macbeth fears Banquo Banquo suspects Macbeth

Colour It Forces Genetics and Inheritance Environment Waves and Radiation Write key points on coloured card or bits of coloured paper Arrange the items on the floor or on a table in a way that makes sense to you. Turn the pieces of paper over to use as flash cards to test yourself Patterns of Chemical Change