Revision tips

Gett ing to grips with revision ahead of exams

When your child starts secondary school, you will probably be wondering how to encourage them to take responsibility for revision and get into good habits for the years ahead.

Starting revision can be more than a little daunting and, let’s be honest, poring over piles of notes and textbooks is probably the last thing they will want to do.

But don’t forget it’s all for a good cause – their future – and there are many ways to help them make the task more manageable and less overwhelming. n Allow plenty of time. The later they leave it to begin their revision, the more they are likely to panic as their end of year tests and exams draw near. They should speak to their teachers as they will be able to advise them on a suitable time to start hitting the books. n Make sure they have somewhere at home where they feel comfortable to work and make sure it’s quiet and uncluttered as this will help them to focus. But make sure they don’t revise in front of the television or computer. n Draw up a revision schedule. They should set aside certain times and days for their revision and stick to them. It can help to plan to revise at a time when they know they work well – if they’re not a morning person then they shouldn’t schedule early sessions. n Split revision into small chunks – they can’t expect to concentrate for hours and take everything in. Set an alarm for 45 minutes and then encourage them take a short break away from the books. n Review and summarise notes. Pupils should pick out the key points and write them down again. One of the best ways ways to memorise information is by making notes over and over again. n Organise a study group. If their friends are taking the same exams then they can arrange to get together to do some occasional group revision. They will be able to review notes and test each other. Talking to their mates, who understand what they’re going through, will make them feel less stressed. n Do plenty of past papers This will help to familiarise them with the exam style and the type of wording used for the questions. n Keep testing them. Once they have completed a topic, they shouldn’t just put it to one side. They must keep going back and reviewing it again as repetition will improve their memory. n Eat well and drink lots of water. Keeping blood sugars level will help their concentration and motivation. n Get plenty of sleep. Make sure they are well-rested because being tired will not help them perform at your best. n Allow time to exercise. Keeping active is important and will provide them with a good break away from their revision. Even if they just go for a quick walk – the fresh air will clear their head and perk them up. n Find ways to relax. When they are planning their revision schedule, they should leave some time for their hobbies or seeing their friends because this will help them to switch off their brain for a bit and properly unwind n And finally, stay positive. If they go into it expecting to fail and letting themselves get stressed, they are going to find the whole experience thoroughly miserable. They need to put it all into perspective, they can only do their best and as long as they do that everyone will be proud of them, no matter what happens.