Exam revision - Planning to revise: While on courses and at home

Exam revision courses can form the backbone of a student's programme of revision, but they must be fleshed out with a home revision process if he or she is to be given the best chance of success come exam time.

The importance of revising for A levels - whether AS or A2 - and GCSEs is undeniable, but it can be a large and complex task. It is no surprise, then, that there are many revision guides and tips that have been published to help students learn to be as well prepared as possible. Here, Justin Craig Education has put together a nine-point plan based on the best of what is out there.

Exam revision planning for students

Plan your revision - Make sure you have allowed enough time to go over all topics that might come up in the exam. If you're short of time, there's no harm in giving less time to those areas you know better than others. Don't waste too much time making the plan though - remember, actual revision is more important than a colourful, elaborate timetable.

Start as soon as possible - As the saying goes, the best way to eat an elephant is in small bites. So it is with revision. Break down your study into manageable pieces and spend enough time on each piece, moving your way through it step by step.

Tackle some past exam papers - It is excellent practice to try to answer some previous exam questions. Don't panic if you are unable to answer papers in their entirety; count this as part of the revision process. It will help you appreciate which parts you need to work on.

Compile a list of difficult areas - Some areas of subjects might be hard to understand. Write them down and revisit text books or consult with teachers and lecturers for guidance and explanation. Don't worry about what others say they have done - stick to your revision plan.

Take time out - Remember to take regular breaks as it is proven to help the memory process. When you work for 40 minutes, you should take, say, 20 minutes off afterwards. It is important though to make sure you do spend more time studying than away from books and papers!

Treat yourself - Another useful technique is to reward yourself with small treats at the end of hard study days. This might be as simple as a favourite food, a DVD or a night out with friends.

Make flash cards - To summarise and break down piles of notes into the most important points and put them on small cards is a useful technique that allows you to have pocket study aids wherever you may go.

Get enough sleep - A decent breakfast and a good night's sleep can be worth their weight in gold. Appropriate sleep helps the mind process learning and restores faculties, while healthy porridge or cereals and fruit can provide energy for the study day ahead.

Consider how you learn best - If you are a student who finds talking to others assists the memory, then practice speaking to your cuddly toys about the Theory of Relativity or how Cromwell waged war against the Irish. If you find pictures are easier to remember, draw mind maps with key learning points.

Don't forget exam revision courses

As well as planning revision time carefully, a proven way for students to enhance their exam prospects is to book on to professional, supported, intensive revision courses.

Justin Craig offer a wide range of A Level and GCSE exam revision courses. For more information, please browse the various areas of this website or simply call us on 0845 0606 555 and speak to one of our trained education advisers.