for benefit of students

1. www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service
Revision and exams – get ready

2. Start thinking about…
How to do as well as possible in your exams:
• Planning your revision
• Revision skills
• Exam techniques
• Essay writing in exams
• Online exams
• Managing exam stress
This is a general introduction, other skills development
sessions offer specific guidance on each of these topics.

3. Planning your revision
You will need to:
• Find out about the exams you will be taking
- modules, topics, number, dates, weighting, credits.
• Get organised
- files, notes, workspace (revision HQ)
• Create a long-term revision schedule
- setting out a program of revision leading up to each exam
• Draw up realistic weekly revision schedules
- to carry out this program in a focussed and achievable way

4. mon tues wed thurs fri sat sun
8 - 10
9:00 Dentist
W
O
R
K
W
O
R
K
10-12 Proof-read
& submit
final essay
SA300
Note-take
journal
article C
MA301
Crib cards:
topics 5-8
MA301
Review past
papers
MA301
Review
week’s
notes and
create crib
cards
EC302
12 - 1 Note-take
journal
article A
MA301
Review
notes
EC302 G
Y
M
Test paper
SA300
Refine
lecture notes
EC302
2 - 4 Review
lecture
notes
EC302
Practise
10-minute
essay
plans
Re-read
Core text
Ch 1-2
EC302
Test
Paper
EC302
4 - 6 Chapters
1-3 Book B
SA300
Crib cards:
topics 1-4
MA301
Food shop
and
Sue’s
BBQ
Plan next
week’s
revision
eve Tidy and
organise
all module
notes
Online
Revision
Group
MA301
Review
next
week’s
schedule
Sample: short-term schedule

5. Revision skills
As well as planning, effective revision involves:
• Understanding the module
- structure, purpose, sequence of topics, links between them
• Working with your notes
- Organising by topic, identifying key issues, terms and examples
- Convert to forms that help you understand and remember.
(e.g tables, charts, spider diagrams)
- Portable versions (index cards, memos on your phone) to revise
on the move

6. Revision skills
Effective revision also involves:
• Memorising (find what works for you, and suits the subject matter)
- Mnemonics (Rinse Out Your Greasy Bottle In Vim = colours of rainbow)
- Reading out loud, reciting ideas, formulas, dates
- Portable notes, movable post-its on a wall (unlearned > learned)
- Repetition
• Reviewing and practising (to help find and plug gaps in your knowledge)
- Question cards (question one side/answer on reverse)
- Working in pairs (testing each other, online or in-person)
- Past exam papers

7. Exam techniques
• Read instructions twice – be clear what you have to do
• Choose questions carefully (if given a choice)
• Plan and work tactically
- Multiple choice (answer easy questions first, then not sures, then no ideas)
- Essays (highest points/easiest questions first)
• Draw up a schedule to ensure you complete the whole paper
• Allocate time according to points value
• Allow time to check and tidy your work before submission
• Keep moving - work right up until the end

8. Essay writing in exams
• Choose essays carefully (if given a choice)
• Work to a schedule to complete them all
- allot time according to points weighting; easy/high points questions first
• Plan your essay before you write (5-10 minutes)
- understand it, list what you know about it, order key points logically
• Stick to your plan
- brief introduction, key point + support, key point + support (etc), conclusion
• Write clearly, economically (avoid waffle) and legibly
• Allocate time at the end for checking and tidying
- delete rough workings, ensure amendments are clear, label accurately

9. Online exams
Prepare in advance
• Know when, how and in what format each exam will take place
• Understand the relevant university exam policies
• Ensure you have the required technology up and running
The day before
• Create a quiet, comfortable workstation in which to sit your exam
• Check IT equipment is fully charged (keep charger to hand)
• Check you can upload documents
• Assemble other equipment - pens, notepads, calculator (if approved)

10. Online exams
On the day
• Check everything is ready and as expected
• Ensure you will not be disturbed (‘exam in progress’)
• Turn off phone (unless instructed otherwise by convenor)
• Keep track of time using your computer clock
• Stay hydrated – have water to hand
• Apply effective exam techniques
Other resources
• See SLAS study guide: ‘Planning, Revision and Preparation
for Online Exams’ (which includes links to online exam policy
guidance and technical support)

11. Managing exam stress
• Prepare well (revision, technology) and in good time
• Stay healthy (sleep, exercise, good diet, rest and relaxation)
• Do not revise up to the last minute
• Eliminate potential sources of stress (e.g. ensure your phone is off)
• If overwhelmed pause (breathe, review progress, plan next step, continue)
• Additional support (Student Support Officers, ILPs, Student Support and
Wellbeing) https://www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport/

12. Summary
Key considerations:
• Understand what, when and how your exams will occur
• Plan your revision schedule accordingly
• Create a workspace to revise and take your exams (if online)
• Ensure you have the necessary technology in place
• Develop and use revision skills and exam techniques
• Pace yourself to arrive (at the exams) in good shape
Above all, start your revision as early as possible

13. Further resources
For guidance on the broader range of revision and exam skills
please go to the SLAS webpages
http://www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service
where you can:
• Book a one-to-one appointment with a SLAS adviser
• Attend a range of Online Bitesize Skills Development sessions
which include the topics outlined here.

14. www.kent.ac.uk/student-learning-advisory-service
SLAS
CONNECT
To book an appointment:
learning@kent.ac.uk
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