Revision Guidelines

Preparing for SAT’s, GCSE’s or University final exams is basically the same, always allow your self plenty of time. You should begin to summarize your work after each topic or module.

Around 4 months before the start of your exams

Draw up some revision time tables. Click here to download an example.
Prepare a quiet place to work away from distractions.
Purchase any materials you may require, revision guides and past exam papers.
Used revision guides can be purchased very cheaply from Amazon.
Past exam papers can usually be purchased by year from the exam board who controls your exam.
Use a table with enough room for all your revision materials.
A comfortable chair.
A bright light to prevent eye strain.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses for each subject give each topic a score between 1 and 5. This helps you to target specific areas.

Usually 10 weeks before

Have a look at the exam summary.
Highlight your preferred learning styles.
In your favourites folder of your web browser save all the links to your revision websites like champs, BBC Bitesize, and SAM learning, to save time add subfolders for each subject.

Usually 4 weeks before

Practice exam questions from past papers. Pay particular attention to the types of questions that come up each year.
Information you find hard to memorise put into diagrams and read out loud.
Always test yourself by covering up what you have written and then asking yourself questions on what you have just revised. Understanding a particular subject matter is the key to remembering it.

Other useful tips

Use a small index book for each subject. Write reminders in the book to help you better understand topics you are struggling with. These books are a great size for carrying around, enabling you to go over topics you are struggling with on the bus or during lunch for instance.
If you are really struggling with a certain topic, don’t spend too much time on it as it might not even be on the exam paper.

During the exam period

Read through the exam paper carefully paying particular attention to what questions you may answer. You would be surprised how many candidates answer to many questions in a particular section. Make notes on paper identifying questions you feel the most confident about. Answer these first not only will they probably give you the most marks, but they will help settle your nerves and build up your confidence.
Spend around 5 minutes at the end of the exam checking your work.