1. Agenda What is revision? The three steps to successful revision
Getting Organised
Some revision techniques
Using past papers

2. What is revision?
“The looking back over of one's (previously learnt or written) notes in preparation for a test or examination”

3. How to be a successful ‘reviser’..
How do you get:
From here..
To here...?

4. Three steps for revision
(1) Get organised
(2) Fill gaps in your knowledge
(3) Prepare answers using past papers

5. 1. Get Organised
Research suggests that some students do better than others at A levels because they:
Start their revision earlier
use better techniques for learning work
Get help from others
have a planned revision timetable - which they stick to

6. 1. Get Organised Work out where you are going to work
When you are going to work (yes, that weekly schedule again!!)
Start early (6 weeks before your exam!)
Get all the notes/textbooks/revision guides you need BEFORE you start
Get your ‘revision pack’ ready - highlighter pens, coloured pens / pencils, index cards, folders, stickynotes, paper, coloured paper, ruler and rubber

7. How to start your revision timetable
1. Get a copy of the specification (you should have this already, but if not you can get one from or
2. Work through the specification and colour the different topics/sections:
RED –
Really not sure (will need to spend a lot of time)
AMBER -
Not too bad, some parts to go over
GREEN -
Understand no problem
3. Plan to Spend more time on Red topics than Amber, than Green

8. How to start your revision timetable
4. Factor in time to revise each topic at least twice
5. You learn best at the beginning and the end of a revision session – so allow planned 5/10 minute (timed) breaks

9. Example Revision Timetable
Surface learners can replicate information learnt in a slightly different context
Deep learners understand what is going on – it has clicked, they have made the connections with prior learning and gained a greater understanding

10. Step Two: (3) Prepare answers using past papers
(1) Get organised
(2) Fill the gaps in your knowledge
(3) Prepare answers using past papers

11. Start with the ‘helicopter’ view
Stand back from the course and develop an overview
Link topics and themes together – draw a spider diagram or mind map
Identify the specific aspects of each topic you are not sure about – start with these
A single neuron can simultaneously receive signals from thousands of other neurons....

12. How to remember things
The strength of a memory and how easily it is retrieved depends upon the strength of the initial input
When several senses are simultaneously involved the message is received through a number of channels in the brain and stand better chance of remaining prominent

13. Key Principles Use colours – different colours for different subjects
Don’t rely on ready-made meanings and notes – you have to understand it
Use many different inputs and methods – your notes, different textbooks, internet (reliable sources)

14. Revision Techniques (1) Flash Cards (Coloured) Questions and answers
Consolidate key facts
List of key definitions
Summarise a topic into your own words
Try and consolidate each subject down to 10 cards. Then go over and over them.

15. Revision Techniques
(2) Use diagrams or mnemonics

16. Revision Techniques (3) Display key facts where you will see them
- Write out key definitions or important words.
- Every time you see them think about what they say
- Change the facts every couple of days

17. Revision Techniques (4) Explain a key concept to someone
When you explain something to some one else, you have to get it clear in your head first
You have to be clear and concise

18. Revision Techniques (5) Location Learning
Associate key facts with locations (e.g. Journey into school.
Getting into car represents electrons leaving the battery having gained energy driving down the park represents the electrons transfering energy to a lamp in the circuit.....

19. Step Three: (3) Prepare answers using past papers
(1) Get organised
(2) Fill the gaps in your knowledge
(3) Prepare answers using past papers

20. Practice Answers Fill in gaps in different colours (using notes)
Answer with no notes
Fill in gaps in different colours (using notes)
Focus on gaps – LEARN and then TEST again

21. Look After Yourself – Get Into Control
Practice Answers
Time yourself doing questions
Use mark schemes to identify key words, techniques- see where marks are allocated
Look After Yourself – Get Into Control