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Revision tips for students When you’re preparing for GCSE, AS or A2 exams, sometimes it seems like you can’t move for revision tips.

And while most of the tips for revision you get offered are well-intentioned, it can be hard to sort the useful revision tips from the useless.

To help you get off to on the right foot with your revision, we've created these useful revision tips. They are equally valid for GCSE, AS and A2 exams.

Revision tip one: Plan your revision It’s important to take a structured approach to exam revision, because it means you can be sure of covering everything you need in the time available.

People who do not plan their revision often end up spending most of their time covering areas they already know well. A proper revision plan will help you focus revision on the subject areas you really need to cover: 

When creating your revision plan, work backwards from the date of your first exam.



Do you know what you need to do in each subject to help improve your grades? If not – ask your teacher.

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Allocate more time to tricky subjects/topics and areas you don’t know well. These will have the biggest impact on your eventual results.

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Be realistic when creating a timetable. You can’t spend every minute revising – build in time for breaks and other commitments too.

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Stick your revision timetable up somewhere and tell your friends and family about it so they can help you focus on sticking to your plan.

Revision tip two: Create the right environment When you revise at home, follow these revision tips to build surroundings that will help you revise effectively: 

Try and set aside an area that’s just for revision. Avoid your bedroom if possible – you want to create a space you associate only with revision.

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Make sure your desk is lit well (with natural light, if possible) and in a quiet spot, away from distractions like the TV.

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Most people revise most effectively in a quiet environment. However, at certain times playing music may motivate and inspire you.

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Find a spot where it’s easy to avoid distractions. Turn your phone off, move away from the TV and shut down your internet connection

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Have everything to hand before starting. That means pens, pencils, paper, textbooks, exam papers – anything you need to revise.

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Use the school or public library.

Revision tip three: Think about your technique Without the right revision technique, your meticulously-planned revision schedule and revision materials will be useless. These revision tips will help you make productive use of every minute of your revision time: 

Simply reading textbooks and notes is not enough for effective revision. You need to be active, making notes and diagrams.

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Short chunks of revision work best for most people. For instance, revise for 30 minutes, then take a ten-minute break.

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Use past papers, textbooks and syllabuses to work out what you should be revising.

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Use a whole variety of materials: notes, textbooks, online resources – and create mind maps, diagrams and posters.

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Past papers are a really valuable way to test your knowledge. When you work through questions, make sure you have the mark scheme too.

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Go over material more than once, but leave a day or two in between. This will help reinforce knowledge and fix it in your mind.

Revision tip four: Don’t overdo your revision Push yourself too far and you’ll burn out, get tired or simply become less-effective. It’s important to think about your mind, your body and when you perform best: 

Take frequent breaks. Ten minutes off every 30 – 40 minutes is a good balance for most people.

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Stay hydrated and don’t get too hungry. Keep a glass of water on hand, along with healthy snacks like fruit and nuts.

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Set a tangible goal for each day, such as learning 12 quotations. This will improve learning efficiency.

Small steps will have a big impact. You can’t do everything at once!

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Remember your friends and family. Spending time with them will keep you stimulated and stop you going ‘stir crazy’!

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If things aren’t going quite to plan, don’t panic – just re-evaluate what you can cover in the remaining time, and focus on what you can achieve.

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Ask for help! Your subject teachers and tutors are always willing to help. Don’t panic in silence!

Constructing a Revision timetable – GCSE/A Level Step 1 Economics

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Write all your subjects down on a piece of paper.

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Next to each subject write out the three/six units you have studied.

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Subdivide each of these units into topic headings.

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Record these headings at the front of your notes.

Unit 1 – Religion and Human Experience

Religious Studies

English

Unit 4 – Ethics

Unit 6 – Religion and Science

Step 2

 



Mon Tue Wed

6.00 – 6.30 Kant Transport Economics Hamlet

6.40 – 7.10 W.H. Auden Pollution

Thurs Bentham Fri

Step 3: The Holidays

Price mechanisms

Aquinas and Natural Law Supply and demand Sylvia Plath

Revision sessions should now be longer, 40 minutes is a good length.

You should aim to work for at least six hours (including your built in breaks).

Try to cover each unit at least twice in a fortnight.

9.00 – 9.40 Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri

Literary criticism Mill

9.50 – 10.30

10.40 – 11.20

11.30 – 12.10

1.00 – 1.40 Lunch

  

Markets

7.20 – 7.50 Profit Margins Jane Eyre Break

   

 Environmental You will need to construct two timetables.  Kantian ethics Issues – The first one you can see below will be for School  Utilitarianism; pollution, nights.

Mill, Bentham conservation, Highlight the topics – red, amber, green. creation,  Situation Start work on the red and amber topics. responsibility Ethics Try not to set yourself unrealistic topics.  Medical Issues  Natural Law As you will probably have homework, aim to do one – abortion,  Christian and a half hours per evening. euthanasia, Ethics and Split the evening into 30 minute revision sessions with embryo use, sources of a ten minute break in between each session. transplantation, moral In an empty slot place one of your topic headings. Do allocation of authority this over the whole of your timetable until you have resources every topic from every unit from every subject listed.

This may take you three weeks to get through so remember revision needs to be constructive as you will probably only revise each topic a handful of times.

Break

 

1.50 – 2.30

2.40 – 3.20

WEEK 1 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 2 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 3 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 4 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 5 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 6 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday HALF TERM HOLIDAY Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 7 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 8 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 9 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 10 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 11 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

05/01/2015 06/01/2015 07/01/2015 08/01/2015 09/01/2015 10/01/2015 11/01/2015 12/01/2015 13/01/2015 14/01/2015 15/01/2015 16/01/2015 17/01/2015 18/01/2015 19/01/2015 20/01/2015 21/01/2015 22/01/2015 23/01/2015 24/01/2015 25/01/2015 26/01/2015 27/01/2015 28/01/2015 29/01/2015 30/01/2015 31/01/2015 01/02/2015 02/02/2015 03/02/2015 04/02/2015 05/02/2015 06/02/2015 07/02/2015 08/02/2015 09/02/2015 10/02/2015 11/02/2015 12/02/2015 13/02/2015 14/02/2015 15/02/2015 16/02/2015 17/02/2015 18/02/2015 19/02/2015 20/02/2015 21/02/2015 22/02/2015 23/02/2015 24/02/2015 25/02/2015 26/02/2015 27/02/2015 28/02/2015 01/03/2015 02/03/2015 03/03/2015 04/03/2015 05/03/2015 06/03/2015 07/03/2015 08/03/2015 09/03/2015 10/03/2015 11/03/2015 12/03/2015 13/03/2015 14/03/2015 15/03/2015 16/03/2015 17/03/2015 18/03/2015 19/03/2015 20/03/2015 21/03/2015 22/03/2015 23/03/2015 24/03/2015 25/03/2015 26/03/2015 27/03/2015 28/03/2015 29/03/2015

Upper Fifth Mock Exams Upper Fifth Mock Exams Upper Fifth Mock Exams Upper Fifth Mock Exams Upper Fifth Mock Exams

EASTER 1 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday EASTER 2 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday EASTER 3 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 1 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 2 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 3 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 4 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 5 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday HALF TERM HOLIDAY Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 6 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 7 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 8 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 9 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 10 (B) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday WEEK 11 (A) Monday Tuesday Wednesday

30/03/2015 31/03/2015 01/04/2015 02/04/2015 03/04/2015 04/04/2015 05/04/2015 06/04/2015 07/04/2015 08/04/2015 09/04/2015 10/04/2015 11/04/2015 12/04/2015 13/04/2015 14/04/2015 15/04/2015 16/04/2015 17/04/2015 18/04/2015 19/04/2015 20/04/2015 21/04/2015 22/04/2015 23/04/2015 24/04/2015 25/04/2015 26/04/2015 27/04/2015 28/04/2015 29/04/2015 30/04/2015 01/05/2015 02/05/2015 03/05/2015 04/05/2015 05/05/2015 EngLang 06/05/2015 07/05/2015 08/05/2015 EngLang 09/05/2015 10/05/2015 11/05/2015 12/05/2015 Bio 13/05/2015 14/05/2015 Che 15/05/2015 16/05/2015 17/05/2015 18/05/2015 19/05/2015 20/05/2015 21/05/2015 22/05/2015 23/05/2015 24/05/2015

13:30

13:30

13:30 09:00

EngLit

09:00

Phy Maths EngLit

13:30 09:00 09:00

01/06/2015 02/06/2015 03/06/2015 04/06/2015 Maths 05/06/2015 06/06/2015 07/06/2015

09:00

25/05/2015 26/05/2015 27/05/2015 28/05/2015 29/05/2015 30/05/2015 31/05/2015

08/06/2015 09/06/2015 10/06/2015 11/06/2015 12/06/2015 13/06/2015 14/06/2015 15/06/2015 16/06/2015 17/06/2015 18/06/2015 19/06/2015 20/06/2015 21/06/2015 22/06/2015 23/06/2015 24/06/2015 25/06/2015 26/06/2015 27/06/2015 28/06/2015 29/06/2015 30/06/2015 01/07/2015 02/07/2015 03/07/2015 04/07/2015 05/07/2015 06/07/2015 07/07/2015 08/07/2015

TERM-TIME

16:00-17:00

17:00-18:00

18:00-19:00

19:00-20:00

20:00-21:00

21:00-22:00

9:00-10:00

10:00-11:00

11:00-12:00

12:00-13:00

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14:00-15:00

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16:00-17:00

9:00-10:00

10:00-11:00

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12:00-13:00

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16:00-17:00

9:00-10:00

10:00-11:00

11:00-12:00

12:00-13:00

13:00-14:00

14:00-15:00

15:00-16:00

16:00-17:00

Mon

Tues Weds

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

HOLIDAYS

Mon

Tues

Weds

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

USEFUL REVISION WEBSITES

Subject

Website

General

www.s-cool.co.uK www.revisionworld.co.uk/gcse-revision www.gcsepod.co.uk www.educationquizzes.com www.getrevising.co.uk

Revision skills/grade http://www.vision2learnforschools.com improvement tips Revision Help Site

http://getrevising.co.uk Create your revision timetable here, for example. http://www.revisionworld.co.uk

Biology

www.maniacworld.com/shooting-sheep.htm testing reaction times http://science.howstuffworks.com research website to find out how ADH works www.cellsalive.com/mitosis.htm videos of mitosis and meiosis www.fao.org/english/newsroom/focus/2003/fmo8.htm arguments for and against GMO’s teacherscorner.net www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_11/BL_11.htmlvirtual lab to conduct experiments on effects of temp. pH, etc. on enzymes www.DNAi.org/index.html Interactive activities on nucleic acids www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/neurobiology.html Animation on neurotransmission www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFG-aLidT8s Introduction to homeobox genes

www.plant-hormones.info/ plant hormones www.youttube.com/watch?v=1968Wco1u0s&feature=related comparing sympathetic and parasympathetic systems Chemistry

http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa/ http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/chemistry http://www.chemactive.com/igcse.html iGCSE – bitesize – useful video clips and questions to check knowledge and understanding. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa/ A level- chemguide, knockhardy, labskills (via Gateway) are all good to check information and both labskills and knockhardy have some good multiple choices. Chemgym costs but is good for quick questions on the move. http://www.chemguide.co.uk http://www.knockhardy.org.uk/sci.htm http://www.chemgym.net

Classics

http://quizlet.com

Design & Technology

www.technologystudent.com http://www.mr-dt.com/ http://www.ergonomics4schools.com/learningzone.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/resistantmaterials http://www.the-warren.org/

Economics

www.tutor2u.net www.economicshelp.org www.hsbcukeconomyexplained.co.uk

www.whystudyeconomics.ac.uk www.bankofengland.co.uk www.economist.com www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/economy English

http://www.englishbiz.co.uk/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/ http://www.revisioncentre.co.uk/gcse/english/

Geography

http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/Whats+on.htm http://www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk/ks3-resources/introduction/ http://www.rgs.org/GeographyToday/Geography+Today.htm http://www.geographyinthenews.rgs.org/ http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/GCSE/AQA%20GCSE.htm www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/ www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/geography www.revisionworld.co.uk/gcse-revision/geography http://www.thinkgeography.org.uk/ReviseGeography/ReviseGeography/GCS E_Geog.html www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/gcse/revision.html http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/gcse/index.html www.youtube.com (type in case study or relevant topic)

Government & Politics

http://www.earlhamsociologypages.co.uk/asanda2.html Large archive of AS and A2 resources for all government and politics topics, across all exam board specifications. http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/politics/ Blog, revision materials and general electronic resources. www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics http://www.politicshome.com/ Politics news source

History

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history Nazi Germany http://www.activehistory.co.uk/ username Chigwell, password olu54 http://johndclare.net/ http://schoolhistory.co.uk/ http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ http://www.mrallsophistory.com/revision/ http://www.casahistoria.net/GCSE_history_revision.htm

Maths

http://www.schoolworkout.co.uk/GCSE.htm http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/maths http://www.collinsrevisionapps.co.uk/ This is a link to an app you can purchase for your iPhone to revise your maths. https://go.chigwell-school.org/personal/dmorse/maths/default.aspx http://www.mymaths.co.uk/ http://www.examsolutions.net/index.php http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/ http://www.mathsnet.net www.examsolutions.co.uk/index.php www.mathcentre.ac.uk www.mymaths.co.uk

Modern Foreign Languages

http://www.languagesonline.org.uk http://www.linguascope.co.uk (chigwell / Harsnett) http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize www.vocabexpress.com (most year groups and languages from III Form to UV are covered by our departmental subscription. Further details and usernames/passwords available from Mr Coppell)

French

http://www.frenchrevision.co.uk/

http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/french http://www.languagesonline.org.uk http://www.linguascope.co.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/french http://www.frenchrevision.co.uk/ http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/french Spanish

www.espanol-extra.co.uk (Chigwell / 1629)

We also subscribe to www.kerboodle.com at A Level in Spanish, and students have been issued with individual usernames and passwords.

Music

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/ http://quizlet.com www.musictheory.net

Physics

http://www.youtube.com/ search igcse+physics+edexcel. Short films by Ben Ryder

Psychology

www.technologystudent.com http://www.mr-dt.com/ http://www.ergonomics4schools.com/learningzone.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/design/resistantmaterials http://www.the-warren.org/

RS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/ http://groodle/course/view.php?id=63 Logon on to Groodle for more links. http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/religious-studies http://www.thatreligiousstudieswebsite.com www.rsrevision.com/contents/games.htm

1) The Early Bird Catches The Worm Yes, you may sigh at this over-used phrase your parents regularly fire at you but it really does work. Getting up early means you make the most of the day and, if you feel you've done enough, you can take the evening off.

2) Set Yourself Realistic Targets Make sure to set your own targets which suit your capabilities - not your friend's. There's no point in trying to do 10 hours of revision a day if you know you won't, you'll only feel disappointed.

3) Exercise Going for a jog - or any other exercise - is a great way to switch off and renew your energy levels. Your brain may be tired but your body probably won't be.

4) Take Regular Breaks Experts recommend every half an hour or so. Even if it's just getting up to make a cuppa, it gives you an opportunity to re-focus.

5) Work Hard Play Hard Ok, maybe don't play too hard, but planning to see friends or family on your breaks means you have something to look forward to and means you can reward yourself for all that hard work.

6) Steer Clear Of Caffeine If you simply can't survive without coffee, have a couple of cups in the morning and when you do get that low, refuel with high-energy foods such as nuts. Having the full 8 hours sleep has been proven to increase memory retention by up to 35%.

7) Eat Well Resist that trip to McDonald's; fast-food will only make you feel sluggish. Stock up on brain-boosting foods.

8) Know Your Learning Techniques Don't feel you have to join the revision group just because everyone else is. Some people just work better alone. Think about the techniques that work for you – cue cards, mind maps, posters, Q&A sessions, websites etc.

9) Keep Hydrated We all know our brains love water. Keep a bottle of water by your desk and make sure you drink it regularly. If you get really bored, add some squash to spice things up.

10) Ban Facebook/Twitter "But why?" we hear you gasp in horror. How many times have you refreshed your homepage only to realise there's no new updates as you've been glued to Facebook for the past four hours. It's distracting and it serves no purpose.

Department Clinics UV

LVI

Wed/Thurs 4-5.30 Thurs 1.30-2.00 Weds/Thurs 1.30-2.00 Daily 1.30-2.00 Weds 1-1.30 exam Weds 4.15-5.00 practical Fri 1.15-2.00 practical Individual n/a

Weds/Thurs 4-5.30 Thurs 1.30-2.00 Weds/Thurs 1.30-2.00 Daily 1.30-2.00 Weds 1-1.30 exam Weds 4.15-5.00 practical Fri 1.15-2.00 practical Individual Weds 1.30

English

Thurs 12.30-1.00 Thurs 1.30-2.00

French G&P Geography German History

Thurs 4.00 n/a Weds/Thurs 4.15 Tues 1.30 Weds 1.00 Weds 4.15

Mathematics

Psychology

Mon 1.30 Set 1 Individual Set 2 Tues 4.15 Set 3 Individual Set 4 Individual Set 5 Individual n/a Tues 1-2.00 Fri 1-125 n/a

Mon 1.30-2.00 1:1 coursework tutorials with subject teachers by arrangement.

Weds 4.00 Weds 4.15 Weds/Thurs 4.15 Tues 1.30 Viet A Tues 4.15 Viet B Thurs 4.15 French Weds 4.15 Individual

RS Spanish

Thurs 1.30-2.00 Fri 4.15

Art Biology Chemistry Classics/Latin D&T Drama Economics

Music PE Physics

Individual Individual Tues 1-2.00 Fri 1-125 Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs 1.30 Tues 1.30-2.00 Fri 1.30

MVI Weds/Thurs 4-5.30 Thurs 1.30-2.00 Weds/Thurs 1.30-2.00 Daily 1.30-2.00 Weds 1-1.30 exam Weds 4.15-5.00 practical Fri 1.15-2.00 practical Individual Mon 1.30 Tues 1.30 Thurs 4.15 Fri 12.30-1.15

Fri 4.00 Weds 4.15 Weds/Thurs 4.15 Tues 1.30 Thurs p8

Individual

Individual n/a Tues 1-2.00 Fri 1-125 Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs 1.30 Mon 1.30-2.00 Weds 1.00

CHIGWELL SCHOOL