HOW TO REVISE

Practice recall, also known as retrieval practice, is a highly effective learning strategy that involves actively retrieving information from memory. It’s been shown to significantly improve long-term memory and understanding. Here are some evidence-based revision strategies based on the principle of practice recall:

SUMMARISATION AND SELF-EXPLANATION

After a practice recall session, summarise the key points or explain the concepts in your own words. This requires active thinking and reinforces your understanding.

RETRIEVAL PRACTICE WITH PAST PAPERS

Practise past exam papers under timed conditions. This not only helps you retrieve information but also familiarises you with the exam format and improves time management skills.

FILL IN THE BLANKS

Create fill-in-the-blanks questions from your notes or study materials. Attempt to fill in the blanks without referring to the material. This encourages active recall and helps identify gaps in your knowledge.

MNEMONICS AND ACRONYMS

Create mnemonic devices or acronyms to remember complex sequences or lists of information. These memory aids can be particularly helpful for recalling detailed content.

SELF-TESTING

Regularly test yourself on the material without looking at your notes. The act of recalling information from memory strengthens neural pathways and improves retention.

IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK

After attempting a recall question, immediately check the correct answer. This provides immediate feedback, which helps correct misconceptions and reinforces accurate knowledge.

REFLECT AND SPACED REVISIONS

Reflect on what you’ve learned in each session. Space out your revisions of the same topic over time to reinforce your memory. Regular review prevents forgetting.

ONLINE QUIZZES AND TOOLS

Use online platforms that offer quizzes or practice tests. Many of these tools provide immediate feedback, which enhances the effectiveness of retrieval practice.

Remember that while practice recall is highly effective, it’s also important to incorporate a variety of learning strategies to maintain engagement and cater to different learning styles. Experiment with these evidence-based strategies and adapt them to your individual needs for the best results.

TEACH SOMEONE ELSE

Teaching a friend, family member, or even an imaginary audience about a topic forces you to retrieve and organise information in a coherent manner and helps solidify your knowledge. This strategy deepens your understanding.

FLASHCARDS

Flashcards are a classic tool for practice recall. Create flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other. Regularly review and test yourself using these flashcards to reinforce your memory of key concepts.

INTERLEAVED PRACTICE

Rather than focusing on one topic at a time, interleave your practice recall sessions with different subjects or topics. This technique helps you differentiate between concepts and enhances overall understanding.

DUAL CODING

Combine verbal and visual information when creating study materials. For example, pair a verbal description with a relevant diagram. This technique enhances memory by using multiple pathways for recall.

SPACED REPETITION

Spaced repetition involves revisiting information at increasing intervals over time. Distribute your practice recall sessions over days or weeks. Research shows that this method is much more effective in enhancing memory retention compared to cramming.

Research suggests that incorporating practice recall into your revision sessions for A Level or GCSE exams can significantly enhance your learning and retention. Here’s how you can structure a revision session that focuses on practice recall, based on research-backed techniques:

ACTIVE RECALL

Begin your revision session with a ‘brain dump’. Try to recall key concepts, facts, or formulas related to the topic you’re studying. Try to do this without looking at your notes or study materials.

CHECK YOUR RECALL

Look at your notes to see what you missed.

USE FLASHCARDS

Create flashcards or post-it notes with questions on one side and answers on the other. This can be done with index cards or online, using an app such as Quizlet.

TEST YOURSELF

Test yourself by answering as many of your flashcard questions as you can. Check your answers by looking at the back of the flashcard.

PRACTISE PAST PAPERS

Solve past exam papers or practice questions relevant to the topic. This exposes you to the types of questions that might appear in the actual exam and helps you understand the exam format and requirements.