Making The Most of Revision Time

When the sun starts to come out it can be challenging for everyone to get on with the task at hand. Everything else can seem so tempting. But: you owe it to yourself and all the effort you’ve put into your education so far to prepare properly for the exams ahead. Making the most out of study leave and revision time isn’t a question of working all day and night, but rather, strategic planning, solid technique and the formation of healthy habits.

When you put things off, they start to loom like ever-burgeoning storm clouds. The future starts to feel scary, and your internal stress-master thrives on this. So, when you are preparing for exam period the first thing you’ve got to do is assess the situation and demystify it. Break it into smaller pieces. Divide and conquer!

Spreadsheets are your friend.

Make a timetable starting from today until your last exam.

First put in all of your exam dates.

Make sure you note whether the exam is a Paper 1, Paper 2 or Paper 3.

Add in any other fixed commitments that might affect your study regimen.

e.g. a mock test coming up that you need to study for, or an all-day event that might prevent you
from revising.

Once all that is done, its time to plan in advance what you are going to revise each day.

Deciding what to study can be a challenge in itself, so if you do this beforehand, you will eliminate the kind of daily doubt which tends to lead to procrastination and feeling lost. As you schedule subjects, try working backwards from the end to make things simpler for yourself.

Some days, your study assignment will be obvious.e.g. you know that the day before your History exam you will almost certainly need to devote all your attention to History, so put that in – easy decision!

Make sure your spreadsheet is clear about which one – or two – subjects you will be doing each day.

Make sure you are studying a balance of everything, and that you devote more time to the subjects that need more fo your effort.

And be specific about the topics you will be doing when. Don’t just write “Physics”. Write “Waves”.

It is a bit like designing a puzzle for your own success. When you are done, press print and take a break!

Whilst on the topic of taking a break, its worth considering – how long should your breaks be? How long should you study for in between breaks?

I love the “Pomodoro” Technique for answering these questions.

At the beginning of your revision time, consult your spreadsheet to see which subject/topic is on the docket for the day.

Then, turn your phone onto airplane mode – to eliminate distractions (and make sure all your notifications are turned off if you are working on a computer!).

Set a timer for 25 minutes. Focus on the task. End work when the timer rings. Take a break for 5 minutes. Leave the room, go outside, make a cup of tea. But make sure you are back in 5 minutes (set another timer if you like).

Break is over – do it again!

After you have worked for four-25 minute intensive chunks take a longer break.

Give yourself 30 minutes – eat some food, indulge in an episode of something, meditate – then come back – and repeat!

There are plenty of apps to help you apply this method to your work – “Focus Booster” or “Pomodoro Keeper” are great options.

If you have a good plan, and know how to manage your time once you get down to revising, your foundations will be solid and you will feel more confident, but you’ll be missing the most important step if you don’t open your textbook!

Approach the material as though you will need to explain it to someone you care about. Transform it into a format that your brain can process and that you could clearly explain. This can be different for different learners. Some find breaking topics down into lists or spider-diagrams effective. Others work best by reading out loud and then writing down from memory. Flashcards can be wonderful, because you can carry them with you and check things throughout the day whenever you get a free moment, or in the car on the way to an exam. Whichever method you choose, make sure you are not just ‘skimming’ the surface of the book, but ‘doing’ something to it. Turning it into something that you have processed. Make the knowledge yours! Cover your walls, love your notes.

This said — the biggest thing I’ve learnt from my own experience of being a student, and working with students, is that performing well on test day comes down to frame of mind. Planning well and preparing thoroughly can help to create this optimum mindset but you can do more.

Meditate. I cannot emphasise enough how sitting down and focusing on your breath for just ten minutes a day can transform your experience of a potentially stressful time and turn your mind into a clear, creative, effective space.

If meditating is new to you, there is no better time then now to give it a try. Download the “Headspace” app straight away and it will guide you through. What a great way to spend one of your revision breaks! or to wrap up a long day’s work before bed…

Everything is going to be alright. Treat your body and mind well through the upcoming weeks — speak to yourself kindly, plan well, stay on task, keep a sense of perspective, maybe even have fun —and you will be surprised at how you breeze through your exams into a summer of relief and rewards.