London Science Tutors

Supporting your child during revision and examination period

The period leading up to exams can understandably be very stressful and difficult for your child. In this article, we discuss ten different suggestions for studying effectively during the revision period.

1. Draw up a revision timetable
The revision timetable should be realistic and allow for all of the required topics to be covered and revised well before the examinations, allowing for the final weeks to be spent focusing on practicing past papers.

Research shows that shorter 20-30 minute spells of revision work best, because concentration is much higher. We therefore recommend students taking short and frequent breaks. We also advise to mix the order order of the topics. Take a look at the proposed timetable:

9.00-9.30 Topic 1
Break 5 mins
9.35-10.05 Topic 1
Break 5 mins
10.10-10.40 Topic 2
Break 5 mins
10.45-11.15 Topic 2
Break 30 mins
11.45-12.15 Topic 3
Break 5 mins
12.20-12.50 Topic 3
Break 1 hour
13.50-14.20 Topic 1
Break 5 mins
14.25-14.55 Topic 2
Break 5 mins
15.00-15.30 Topic 3
Break 5 mins
15.35-16.05 Topic 1

etc.

This structure allows for a significant amount of content to be studied with regular breaks without overloading one’s concentration.

A tutor can work with you to develop a realistic and comprehensive revision schedule, ensuring that all topics are learned and practiced in good time before the exam. Some students can feel overloaded without a formalised structure in place.

When developing a timetable, it is important to ensure that the topics and modules that need the closest attention are prioritised. It is useful to use  a copy of the examination specification to identify which areas require further work. These can be downloaded from the London Science Tutors website.

2. Get down to it in the morning

You have to make a start at some point and doing it sooner rather than later is a very good idea. Try to stick to the draft revision schedule above and start revising in the morning – research shows that you are more likely to do all the planned work if you start early, because as it gets closer to the evening, there is bigger tendency to get outside.

Some students find that they may work better at other times of the day. However starting early is a useful habit to get into; especially as many exams start at 9am! The night before an exam it is important to finish revising early as it is vitally important to get a good night’s sleep.

3. Exercise
Physical activity is very important, in particular during intense study time. Even going for a small 30-minute jog after a day of revision will make a huge difference to your wellbeing. Physical activity increases heart rate which makes the blood circulate faster. This in turn ensures that brain gets more oxygen which increases productivity whilst reducing tiredness and stress.

4. Find a quiet space
This is a pretty straightforward one: you desperately need a place where you can be uninterrupted for a few hours. Your room, local or your school/university library will do. Be careful with revising in a coffee shop such as Starbucks. It is a popular option, however it does not work for everybody and people often get distracted!

5. Spice up your revision
Use a bit of colour! Drawing colourful learning maps will help you to memorise facts. What is even more interesting is the fact that colourful notes are often easier to memorise than plain black and white ones as they stick in the memory. Give it a go!

Re-reading the same notes can be frustrating and uninspiring, change tactic and write past exam questions on large sheets of paper and answer them in a brainstorm or bullet point fashion.

6. Make summary notes
Making notes is by far the best way to memorise lots of information. We all have been there, sat down reading a textbook and lying to ourselves that the time is being used productively – it is not! The best way to memorise information is by making notes over and over again. It may be incredibly tedious but the thing is that the most successful candidates often make as many as three sets of the same notes in a run up to the exams which help them to memorise the required information.

7. Make use your family, friends and tutor

Ask people around you to test you and give you feedback. You should already have made handy revision notes (note above). Why not give these notes of the reactivity series to your parents and ask them to test you? This is not only a good way to revise but also a good way to have a break from the hard work.

8. Do plenty of past papers
Past papers are available for download from the London Science Tutors website. Most exam boards nowadays put a lot of emphasis on exam technique and simply familiarising yourself with it before the exam can often save you time and help to earn marks at the exam. Many examiners do not bother with inventing terribly innovative questions once you have done three or four past papers chances are that some of questions that come on the day will look familiar.

Completing past papers also allows you and your tutor to identify any pain points in your exam technique. Some students may find that they are running out of time whilst completing the papers and may need some assistance in adapting their strategy and approach. This could include writing answers in bullet points rather than in paragraphs towards the end of the exam, using diagrams in their exam paper to illustrate points quickly and effectively, or learning to use ones calculator effectively and efficiently.

9. Reward yourself
It is not all about the work; you need good breaks too. People who manage to find the right balance between study and leisure are the ones who get the top marks. For instance go to a cinema with friends after a productive day of revision or treat yourself to something sweet. Work hard, play not-quite-as-hard is the motto here.

10. Think positive!
At the end of the day, it’s not all about studying. There are plenty of people who did well in life without 100 per cent in every single exam, or who were actually pretty useless at school and university. Your life isn’t over if you don’t ace the exams, so take the pressure off yourself..

The night before an exam

• If on the night before the exam, there are still some points or vocabulary your brain refuses to absorb, write them down on a flashcard to look at in the morning.
• Make sure you know when and where each of your exams are being held.
• As you’re going into your exam, try not to talk about revision with other students, as someone is bound to make you feel uncertain. Remain confident, you have worked hard for each exam!
• Make sure you have all the necessary stationary: pens, calculator, pencils, rulers, geometry set etc.
• Remember which exams are in the afternoon and morning – arrive on time for each exam.Read the question carefully, noting how many marks each question carries – allow this to guide your answers.Make sure you know how long you have for each exam and manage your time accordingly.
• Leave 5 -10 minutes at the end of each exam to check your answers and any spelling and punctuation mistakes.

Following these tips you will be sure to get lots of work done effectively, feel great about yourself and still have plenty of time to relax with your friends and family. Good luck in your exams!