My Revision Process

By Bella

Before I jump straight in, I would like to give you a preliminary message. It has taken me a long time to figure out what is best for me when revising, and it is vital to understand that some methods won’t work for everyone. Nonetheless, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of trying new things and figuring out what works for you, as well as being patient if you are not getting the results that you strive for. As an A-Level student, I have had the time to cultivate these methods and am still constantly learning. Don’t lose hope!

Here are some ideas on revision methods you might find useful:

1. Making a list. My first step, as a person who finds it strenuous to consistently follow revision timetables, is having some sort of system that lets me record the things I need to do in both an organized and non stressful manner. This is absolutely crucial. I do this by using the organisation app Notion, which allows me to keep track of what subjects I need to revise, as well as the different methods I have used to revise for it. This means that I can accurately follow my daily schedule without contradicting time slots.
   
   
2. Note taking. Let me start by saying that this part of the process is different for everyone. Some people may Google information for their notes, while others may copy a friend’s. Personally, I use a combination of class materials and my textbooks to write them. I usually end up using my own abbreviations to make it more concise (e.g. “not” turns into “x” or “therefore” turns into “-->”. This ensures that all relevant steps and concepts fall on the same page, which makes more sense to me. Another resource that has been handy for me is Study Rocket, as it condenses the necessary information from the textbook into its own summary. It varies in benefit based on what learning style is your own, but regardless,  you don’t want to be writing everything out word for word from a textbook. Not only is it plagiarism, but it can affect your ability to memorize and grasp a concept.
   Use the specification!!! This is what the exam questions are taken from, they cannot test you on anything outside of this. Whether you print it or keep an online copy, it is crucial that you annotate/highlight so you know what you have covered.
   
   
3. Flashcards. It took me a while to warm up to flashcards, but once I did, I never looked back. They make active recall significantly easier, and you can use them for various things! To give you an example, since I take 3 essay-based subjects, I am able to use flashcards for the planning process (using one flashcard per paragraph brainstorm) or simply for factual content. The inner workings behind this go further than just condensing my class notes and making up questions and/or statements that correlate with them. It is entirely up to you whether you use my strategies or not, but I would still recommend some form of recall revision.
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I have fluctuated between using physical flashcards and online ones, which is why Quizlet has been beyond useful. For those who do not know, Quizlet is an online website that allows you to not only make flashcards, but also play games and complete writing exercises to retain information. What strategy you use will depend on the type of information you are recapping.

Practice questions. No matter what subjects you’re enrolled in, it is always helpful to see how you can apply the information you have learned in the classroom to mock exam questions. There is usually a variety of practice questions and reference papers that you can find online if you want a cut-and-dry topic. An important aspect of this to note is your use of the rubric the professor gave to you. Learn as much from it as you possibly can. Learn what words you are required to use, what the command phrases are, what timings you need, etc. Admittedly, sometimes it can feel a bit tedious, but in the long-run, it is worth knowing it.

ALTERNATIVE REVISION METHODS:

• Study groups. You should be wary of these, as this method wouldn’t work with the wrong people. You need to find the people with the same or a similar revising schedule as you in order to ensure productivity. An immense advantage of study groups is that you will have people to spitball ideas and knowledge with, as well as people to test your retained information.
• “Teaching.” This is particularly helpful for essay subjects, as you are able to communicate information - such as an essay plan - to another student. I have found this to be really helpful, as not only does it assess your current knowledge, but the other person is given the opportunity to test said knowledge and help you further it..
• Recording a podcast/voice memo. I have only recently started exploring this method, which is why it is not on the main process. I am still not absolutely sure of its true effectiveness. One thing for certain is that ‘recording your knowledge’ is an insightful way to engage yourself and can be something you listen to instead of your go-to playlist in your spare time. This makes the method very convenient and low-maintenance.

I hope that this has been very advantageous to you and that you might have some new methods that you would like to try out!