Revise your Revision Techniques REVISION MATTERS Don t be passive! There is no point just passively sitting there reading your books and hoping that what is swimming before your eyes will eventually stay in your mind. It s boring and it doesn t help you to understand or even remember what you are revising. After a few minutes your concentration will start to wander.. What should you do? Active revision is the way forward..! Read on! Very important. Very important. Very important. Very important Attend all revision sessions planned for you. Write down the details in your planner so you don t forget. Attend all support sessions
First of all let s think about preparations Start planning your revision in good time. Plan ahead Relying simply on last minute revision doesn t work Draw up a trial timetable lasting one week and then review this at the end of the week. This will enable you to find out how much revision you can do. Create a new timetable and then review it at the end of each week. Put the timetable in a prominent place on your wall. Continue until your final exam. When planning your revision timetable.. Vary the subjects you revise each day Try to mix your weaker subjects with those where you are more confident Space out the revision for each subject over the week. Plan to do 30 60 minutes at a time and then have a break before returning to your revision Leave some blank sessions in your timetable in case you need extra time on a topic Give someone at home a copy! Make use of the library facilities in school. Remember that it is open 3.30 5.00 pm How should you start your revision programme? List the topics to be revised for each subject Make a checklist of the major topics covered in each of your subject. Ask your teachers if you are unsure Pin up the list of topics that you need to cover Look at the list and decide what order you would like to study them Choose an easy topic to start, as this will give you confidence. Work out how much time to give to each topic Tick off the topic when you have revised it. This will help you to see that you are making progress Treat yourself to some stationery Pens, coloured pens, highlighters, cards, coloured paper, post-its, any maths equipment missing from your supplies all add variety and help to relieve the monotony of revision.
WEEKLY REVISION TIMETABLE 8-9am 9-10am 10-11am 11-12 2-3pm 3-4pm EVENING 4-6pm 6-8pm 8-10pm MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT SUN
WEEKLY REVISION TIMETABLE (work out the time slots that suit you) Morning 8am- 12noon MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Afternoon 1-5pm Evening 5-9pm
Doing your revision Getting the basics right Find a good place to revise where it is Quiet Uncluttered Light and airy Away from all your usual distractions. Switch off your mobile & don t log onto Facebook to socialise! Vary the venue. Even consider going out for a walk to learn a particular topic or a particular part of a language presentation Try working on topics in the morning when your mind is fresh. Set yourself realistic targets. If you need to listen to music, keep the volume down Make sure you pick a good time not to be distracted Make sure you have correct kit/food and drink around you Ask others to respect your right to revise. Be honest with yourself. For those who find concentration a problem Start with a short revision period and gradually build up. Have regular breaks e g 10 minutes for every hour you work Walk around whilst revising, as this may help you Talk to yourself. Talk to others. Explain a topic to a willing listener Change your revision technique. Change the colour of your pen/paper (see also penultimate page) Ways to wise up in lessons and at school: 1 Be there! Attendance and punctuality are vital to your success. 2 Be prepared with the right equipment and mental attitude. Make sure that you have reviewed the work from the previous lesson and done any work set. 3 Make time to write up notes and review them whilst they are fresh in your mind. Reviewing work helps your learning. 4 Get involved. Answer lots of questions in class. 5 Avoid any inappropriate distractions. 6 Ask if you need help or information. 7 Go to the library remember that it is open 3.30 pm 5.00 pm M = Movement R =Respiration S= Sensitivity G= Growth and Repair R = Reproduction E = Excretion N = Nutrition.
Think about how you learn best. Is it by Using an ipad? Reading and/or writing things down? Listening to information? Doing something, e.g. drawing a diagram, walking as you read information, etc? By a mixture of these? Plan to revise in the way that suits you. Remember that variety is the spice of life... If using an ipad helps you.. 1 Skitch is good for use as a whiteboard. You can use a photo from your photo roll and then highlight, put shapes around certain words or pictures, add your own text and more like drawing over your work. You can mark up maps, screen captures or photos/videos, you can save or share your annotation to help others see and understand your ideas. 2 Explain everything good for annotating and speaking at the same time 3 Popplet and Simple mind for mind maps good for revision and you can make changes to amend your revision. The latter is understandable, good for taking notes, choice of different layouts and colours, particularly good for geog revision, you can have branches, sub-branches, you can add cross links, export it to emails, print it off and the hard copy can be in your book. You can delete when you make a mistake ideal if you cannot cope with messy work, easy to store on ipad. Suggested use -for planning CA in English and what sort of language would gain a better grade. Popplet is faster than pen and paper, you can add pictures and its less messy. 4 Revision App the ultimate revision tool and flash card app You can click on a subject and it will give you a selection of different areas within that subject and it will give you a choice of video lessons or flash card lessons. Recommended by the IChamps 5 Rover works by sending the web address to a server then back to your ipad which means you are able to go on applications which would originally need flash player. This is better as you don t need to be in a computer room to go on my maths or linguascope. 6 Notability allows you to download document. Once you have the app, you are able to draw, highlight and add text on it. You can then organise all your documents and notes you create by saving them into different folders. Reduced use of paper, can undo errors, edit it afterwards, store it for later, easier to access than just an unorganised pile of paper. 7 Pages useful app where you can prepare your own word documents, It can also be used to open other documents and edit them. You can peer assess. Share documents you have created. 8 Quick voice record notes, practise presentations/pronunciation 9 Sticky board 9-12 variations on post -its 10 Evernote Peek 11 Sticky notes 12 Keynote create power points for revision purposes 13 Flashcards+ - Revision tool with ready-made revision flash cards or make your own If reading & writing things down helps you.. Read the information and then make your own notes short, sharp & to the point. Leave gaps in your notes read and fill in the gaps Make lists of key facts in a topic on a card or post-it (use bullet points to jog your memory)
Highlight important facts/words using a highlighter pen Write on different coloured paper Make up mnemonics (words or phrases made from a set of letters) Make a set of cards with definitions of key words Label diagrams, make flow charts, do gap filling exercises. Write quotations/definitions on post-it notes and pin them on your wall Test yourself. Try answering questions on past papers. Re-do Maths questions Give yourself a list of headings and find out how much you know. Each time you make a statement always try to explain because, because, because. Try answering examination questions without your notes and in the time allowed. If Listening suits you. Make key notes and ask someone to read them to you Record yourself reading the notes and play it back Listen to recordings made by your teacher Read your notes aloud, cover the notes and try to repeat what you just said. This will help to fix the information Ask someone to test you in a question & answer session If doing something suits you... Write key facts on post-it notes, stick them around the house and plan a circuit Use highlighters Play with blu-tac or playdough as you read through notes Record yourself reading the notes & play it back on headphones whilst walking Record important facts/languages presentation etc onto your phone. Make up songs to help you revise. Use revision websites like http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/maths/ Or http://getrevising.co.uk/ - you can make wordsearches of definitions, key people etc Draw mind maps, diagrams and symbols Go for a walk and learn different facts at different stages on your walk. If a mixture suits you... Choose the best mix ALWAYS END YOUR REVISION SESSION BY TESTING YOURSELF KEEP TESTING YOURSELF DURING THE REVISION SESSION
Other words of wisdom!! Have a bottle of water nearby when you are revising and have regular drinks Get a change of scene in between revision sessions. Relax and stay calm and plan something to look forward to Make sure you drink plenty of water! During the examination period... The night before... Look through your notes but don t go to bed late Do not do an excessive amount of learning. Try not to do any totally new revision. Get all your equipment ready the night before. Get a good night s sleep On the day of the exam... Get up early Check that you have all you need for the exam Have a quick look at your revision notes, if this will give you more confidence.
Remember Worry is like a rocking chair. It keeps you going but gets you nowhere. Coping with any worries Talk to friends/family/a teacher and ask for help Make sure you take time to relax Exercise will help to clear your head and help you to relax. Always be positive your glass is half full not half empty Always look on the bright side of life. Think of solutions to any setbacks. Eat a variety of healthy foods. Breathing techniques can help. Breathe in slowly whilst counting to ten, hold your breath counting to ten then breathe out slowly, again counting to ten. Repeat this three times. Remember to smile Recognise what you need to know Make sure you know it Show that you know Be confident. You ll be fine Good Luck