Revision Tips

Joseph Chamberlain College’s students have been busy preparing for their upcoming AS/A-Level exams. The College’s students commented on the incredible assistance that their teachers have and continue to provide them with during this time before final exams, such as the many grade booster sessions that took place over the Easter break.

Some of the students have shared their own useful revision methods that they utilise outside of lessons. Farida stated that she likes to use past papers and flashcards, expressing that both of these have aided her in remembering content. Farida also mentioned that she has found revising with a group of friends who she works well with and will not distract her helps with revision, as they assist each other with filling in gaps of knowledge.

One of the students also discussed how past paper questions have aided them greatly with their revision; they recommend going through the subject material for 30 minutes before doing 1 hour of exam questions, stating that this continues to help them greatly during the build-up to exams. This student also recommends watching short, helpful YouTube videos in between the exam questions to break up revision, and mentioned that they like to go beyond the curriculum, as it helps deepen their understanding of the current content. Another student detailed their use of the ‘blurting method’, discussing how, in short bursts, they familiarise themselves with the content by reading it until it is understood, and then cover it up before writing down everything they can remember.

Another of Joseph Chamberlain College’s exceptional students, Zohair, also mentioned the usefulness of past papers to assist with his revision, stating that they are key to helping him memorise the content. Zohair also stated that he finds putting Post-it notes filled with short pieces of information on the wall to be useful as it allows him to familiarise himself with the content often.

Joseph Chamberlain College would like to thank teachers for their hard work during the exam period and the students who shared their revision tips. The College would like to wish all students the best of luck with their upcoming exams.

Here are some further revision/exam tips:

Craft a Plan

If your revision is unorganised, the amount you have to get done can seem daunting. However, with good organisation and timetabling, you can break revision down into easy-to-manage chunks. This will prevent stress and save time in the long run.

Stay Hydrated & Eat Healthily

Both staying hydrated and eating healthily are crucial to performing well in your exams. Some foods are known to boost brainpower and catalyse your memory, and eating a healthy meal before an exam will mean you will not be distracted by hunger during the exam. Water has similar benefits; it will aid in your revision, and if you bring a bottle to the exam, you will not get thirsty.

Take Breaks

With exams fast approaching, you may feel like you should be revising continuously, but weaving in short breaks can increase productivity overall.

Create an Ideal Study Space

While regular, short breaks are useful to avoid burning out, you need to make sure that when you do revise, there are no distractions. Create an ideal study space (at home or at College) which is free from distractions such as your phone and has everything you need (pens, notebooks, textbooks, etc.) in one place, so you will not have to leave the space and risk being distracted.

Past Papers

Going into an exam will be much less daunting if you have done past papers at home under exam conditions. You will already have an idea of the exam’s layout and the type of questions that will be asked. After marking, it will also give you a good idea of where you are at and show you your weakest areas, which will help you focus your revision efficiently.

Remember to Sleep

A good night’s sleep helps your brain function properly and retain more information. It will also make you less tired and more motivated to revise the next day when you are adequately rested.

Arrive Early

Make plenty of time not only to eat a healthy meal beforehand but also to get to the exam venue with time to spare. You do not want to add unnecessary stress by running late.

Do Not Rush the Exam

While it is crucial to finish your exam on time (past papers can help you set the right pace), it is also vital not to rush; ensure you read each question properly, at least twice. If you do not read the question properly, you may end up losing marks on a question that you actually knew how to answer.

Stay Calm

Remember to stay calm and not panic during the exam. Take deep breaths, and do your best.

Bring Everything You Need to the Exam

Make sure to bring everything you need for your exams, including pens/pencils, a calculator (if required), a bottle of water (with the label removed) and anything else you are allowed to take in. Also, be sure not to bring any items that are not allowed, like mobile phones, into your exams.