This document provides strategies and tips for effective exam revision including: 1. Creating a revision timetable that schedules topics, breaks, and commitments over several weeks leading up to exams. 2. Organizing notes by topic, color coding files, and backing up computer files to ensure well organized materials to study from. 3. Setting goals for each study session like the amount of time to focus without distractions and sticking to the revision plan. 4. Managing stress and health with exercise, relaxation techniques, balanced diet, enough sleep, and studying in a good environment.

1. rEVISIONaND eXAMsTRATEGIES
Mary Wickham
IN1
HOUR

3. Getting started
First
Things
First
Find the best
place to study
Organise and
files your notes
before revising
from them
Which topic need
more revision
than others? The
hardest one.

4. Drawing up revision timetable
what to include in your timetable?
1. How long before the exams begin will ur revision
start? If u hv an xm term, allow urself to take a break
at the end of the second sem and get down revision
about six weeks before exams start.
2. What time of day u most productive?
3. Do u prefer to separate ur revision topics/integrate
them?
4. How long can u concentrate on ur revision before u
take a break?
5. Will ur revision timetable will be interrupted by other
commitments, 4 e.g, an important cports competition
or a friend’s bday party?

5. • Using ur ans to the que above, u can create a
template, find the time and date of ur exams n
start planning
• U shud also factor in:
– Fixed activities such as part-time job or a sports
club – it’s not necessary to give up everything else
that u do
– Revision session arranged by your college /
university
– Relaxation time and family activities

6. Filing and organising lecture notes
• Hints and tips filing:
– Set up a filing system at the beginning of term, or arrange one
b4 u revising
– Hv a separate file for each module
– Use different colors 4 ur files so that u can locate what u’re
looking 4 quickly
– Use file dividers for different topics
– Date all ur notes and number the pages so u can match them to
the lectures easily
– Use headings based on the topics and make them stand out.
When u revising 4 exams u’ll find what u;re looking for much
quickly
– Back up any assignments and notes on ur computer with a
memory stick. If u only hv one copy and computer crashes,
they’ll be gone forever

7. Setting Goals
• Types of goals to think about:
– Organising ur notes b4 starting to revise
– Reading section important texts and make sure
u’ve understood them
– Revising 4 a set period of time succumbing to
distractions
– Sticking to ur plan 4 each session on ur revision
timetable
– Deciding ehen to take breaks and resisting to
temptation to relax before reaching the set time

8. Tips for score
Exercise is a good way to start each day as long as it’s
not too strenuous. It wakes u up, stimulates blood flow
to the brain and helps u to focus on ur revision
Don’t spend more time planning ur revision than doing
ur revision. It’s easy to get carried away with the
process of revision rather than actually getting down to
revision itself
Keep a non-caffeine based drink beside u while u’re
revising. Ur brain is made up of 75% water and if
ubecome dehydrated, ur concentration will be affected

9. Dos
 Remember u still hv a life
beyond revision and that ok to
phone ur friends for a chat or
arrange a game footbal every
so often
 Gives urself rewards, both big
and small. When u get to
theend of stressful week, go
out at the weekend
 Make sure at the end of each
day that u’ve covered what u
intended to do, so that u keep
track of ur progress. If u need
more time, u can make
changes to your timetable
Don’ts
o Give up if u hv a bad day and
cover very little from ur
revision schedule
o Schedule revision right
through the night. Sleep is
important
o Make the mistake of
thinking the first exam is
more important than
theothers just because it’s
first
o Forget that the real world is
still out there and u’ll be
back there before long

10. 2. Using revision resources
• Identifying the subject
areas:
– Reading lists
– Lecture handouts
– Ur own lecture notes
– revision and course notes on
the virtual learning
environment
– The course outline given to u
at the beginning of the
module
– Assay tittles and the
coursework topics
– The assignments and
coursework that u’ve written
• Past xm papersand
assignments topics:
– 3 common of accessing past
papers:
• University’s library
• Virtual learning environments
(Vles)
• Online.

12. Revision strategies that suits u
• Making notes
– Linear notes (
advantages/disadvantag
es
– Mind-maps
– Tables
– Flow charts
• Using notecards
• Study group
• Memory thecnique (
mnemonics)

13. Looking after yourself
• Managing revision stress
– Techniques for de-stressing
• Complete break from study.
Watch movies/play games
• Doing physical activities
(dance/run)
– Breathing technique
– Relaxation techniques
• Close ur eyes and breathe
deeply and slowly
• Locate areas of tension and try
relax those muscles; imagine
the tension disappearing
• Relax each part of ur body,
from ur feet to the top of ur
head
• As u focus on each part of ur
body, think of warmth,
heaviness and relaxation. Try
and visualise a situation that
helps uto feel calm, such as
lying on a beach or chatting in
a favourite place with friends
• After 20 mins, take some ddep
breaths and stretch

14. • Looking after ur health
– A well balanced-diet
– Enough sleep 6-8
hours/day
• Study environment
• Always keep urself
motivated

15. The day before exam
• Checking the exam regulations
• Getting enough sleep night before
• Getting to the exam on time
– Make sure u wake up intime
– Check the time of the exam
– Leave home plenty of time
– Know where the exam will be