Hey!
It's that time of year that most students hate. Summer is coming to a close and the new school year is fast approaching. Week days go back to being devoted to school and, with school comes revising/studying. I know, it sucks. I feel your pain.
This year I am going into my last year at (a UK) high school. Over the last 4 years I have picked up plenty of tips and tricks when it comes to revising. Sadly, this is the year I have to put them all to the test and, hopefully, use them to pass all my GCSE courses. Yeah, good luck with that one Jess.
So today, as I sit here wondering how the hell I am going to pass my GCSE's next summer, I thought I would share with you my revision/study tips and techniques. Just as a disclaimer I guess: although I mention BBC Bitesize a lot in the first half of this post, I am in no way being forced or sponsored to talk about them. All opinions are my own and I mentioned BBC Bitesize because it helps me revise so I think it could help others as well.
Back To School: Revision/Study Tips And Techniques!
TECHNIQUES!
TECHNIQUES!
-Flash/Index Cards:
This is a pretty basic revision technique but, if used correctly, can work wonders. I find flash cards work best for learning key words, theories, symbols, dates and people. I like to use flash cards for subjects like Science and History. For Science, you can put a key word on one side of your flash card and the meaning on the other side. You can then use this to test yourself. For History, you could put a date, name or event on one side and key bullet points about the date, name or event on the other side. Flash cards could also be used for learning how to correctly use punctuation in English or what symbols on calculators mean in Maths.
Buy Index/Flash Cards At:
You can also make flash cards by cutting up paper or card into rectangle shapes.
-Online Games!
This is not only a fun way of revising but a very effective way too. You can use games to revise pretty much any subject. BBC Bitesize has a GCSE section which has games on it. These games are for different subjects and cover lots of topics from each subject. If those don't help you, you can always go on Google and search for games on the subject that you want.
BBC Bitesize GCSE Games:
-Websites!
Revision websites are great to revising from. The internet has so many different sites you can use to revise a wide range of subjects. BBC Bitesize's GCSE section is amazing to use as they have a wide range of subjects that you can pick to revise from. Then all the subjects have topics and each topic is split up into different sections. This makes it a easy, quick revision tool. It also has the different exam-boards for each subject which is great because, once you have picked the exam board that is testing you on that subject, it only shows that information that your exam board will be testing you on. This is really great because it means your not wasting time learning things that won't be on your exam and, in turn, it means your getting more time to revise the things you really need to know. If you still want to find more sites to help you, you can type the subject and exam your doing into Google. By doing this, you should find some websites that will be useful to you.
BBC Bitesize Homepage:
BBC Bitesize GCSE Homepage:
-Informative Audio Clips!
This is a super way to revise on the go as you can download 'radio' style broadcasts about subjects onto your I-Pod. If your someone who can listen to a song a few times and pick up some or all of the lyrics to it, this will work wonders for you. BBC Bitesize GCSE has some great informative audio clips that cover loads of different subjects. If these are not helpful, I am sure if you Google or YouTube search the subjects you want, you will be able to find some audio on the subjects.
BBC Bitesize GCSE Audio Clips:
-Songs In Different Languages!
If your trying to learn a different language, an amazing way to get some basic vocabulary is to find some songs in that language. You can download these songs onto your I-Pod and that way, when you listen to them, you will start to pick up phrases and words in that language. To find out what the lyrics mean you can simply Google the lyrics into English. The best way to find songs is to look at the 'Top 40' of the country your language comes from. I do this for French and it has worked wonders. I like to listen to songs by the French artist Shy'm. My favourite songs of hers are 'Et Alors' and 'Je Suis Mio'.
Je Suis Mio by Shy'm:
Et Alors by Shy'm:
-TV Shows In Different Languages!
Another excellent way to pick up basic foreign vocabulary is to watch your favourite programs in different languages. If you have a favourite TV show (e.g Pretty Little Liars, Vampire Diaries, 90210 ect.), a great way to learn a new language but have fun doing it is to watch your favourite TV show in that language. You can watch it in that language but get English subtitles on it so that you can still follow and understand the program. You can find these by Google searching the show you want, in the language that you want it in but putting 'with English subtitles' at the end before you search it.
-Sticking Post-It Notes Around The House!
A brilliant way of learn the facts you need for an exam is to write them on a post-it notes and stick them somewhere you will see them a lot. You could stick one on the fridge so that every time you go to the fridge you see it. You could stick one on the bathroom door so every time your in the bathroom you see it. You could stick one on your laptop so that every time your on your laptop you see it. This way, your taking in information without even realizing that your doing it. Just make sure that every time you see the post-it notes you read them.
Buy Post-It Notes At:
You could also make post-it notes by cutting paper into squares and sticking them to things using blue-tack or cello-tape.
-Mind Mapping Subject Topics!
This is a really effective way of approaching big topics in subjects. You can put the topic name in the middle and all the information you need can branch off it. You can colour coordinate it so that specific colours link to specific information. This is great if you have a visual memory as you are seeing the information in colours so it is easier to remember. You can then stick your mind map up somewhere so that you can learn it.
This Picture Shows You How To Mind Map:
This Picture Is A Great Example Of A Mind Map:
TIPS!
-Revising/Studying In A Comfy, Clean Space!
Picking a comfy space to revise in will really help you but picking an overly comfy space could cause distraction. For example: if you revise on your bed, you might end up falling asleep or becoming too relaxed which could make you stop revising but, if you revise on a hard floor, you might be constantly thinking about how un-comfy you are which could also stop you from revising. The best place to pick is somewhere comfy but distraction free. For example, a desk with a nice comfy chair is great as, although your comfy, your also in a place which is focused and revision centered. Picking a clean space is also really important. I believe that a cluttered space equals a cluttered mind. Clear your revision space of any and all distractions, then neatly lay out all the equipment and stationary you will need (e.g pens, pencils, paper, textbooks, highlighters, flashcards ect.). Maybe have a bottle of water or a drink handy but try not to bring food into your revision space. Your not there to eat, scroll through Facebook or text your friends, your there to revise.
More Tips On How To Make A Study Space:
-Create A Revision Timetable!
Revision Timetables are an amazing way to get the revision that you need to do into the day while still having time to go out with friends and family. By making a timetable of when your going to revise, you can make sure your getting all the revision in that you need to do. You can also manage your time so that you can keep up with friends and family over the exam period. The best way to do a revision timetable is to put the days of the week across the top of your table and the times down the side (I recommend 9am-8pm). Then write the subjects and hours your going to study them in the correct sections on each day.
Great Examples Of Revision Timetables:
-Remove All Distractions!
I am terrible for procrastinating so, when revising, removing distractions really helps. If your someone who can turn off your phone and laptop, put them on your bed and know that you won't touch them until you have finished your revision then more power to you. But if your not, like me, then I have another method for you. I give my phone and laptop to my mum and ask her to keep hold of them for an hour or two. That way, I can get all my revision done without any distractions and then, when that times up, can go back on my laptop and phone feeling happy that I did my revision without procrastinating. Next time you revise ask your parents to keep hold of the things that distract you for a few hours, that way you can do the revision that you need to do without getting side-tract by checking Facebook or replying to your friends text message.
-Revise With Breaks!
This is probably the best tip I ever got told for revising. According to the teachers at my school, there is scientific evidence that shows that your brain can only focus for 30 minutes before no longer concentrating the thing your focusing on. This research shows that someone who revises for 1 hour will take in the same amount of information as someone who revises for 30 minuets because, after 30 minutes, your brain starts ignoring the information your trying to take in. Because of this, there is a 'new' recommended way to revise. They recommend revising for 30 minutes then taking a short break (this break should not last longer then 20 minutes). After this short break you should repeat the cycle of revising for 30 minutes then taking a break. Your breaks could last different lengths of time but, in your break time, you should move around and use the time to eat, drink, relax and refresh.
More Revision/Study Tips And Techniques:
Do you have any more useful revision tips or techniques? Let me know.
-Jess<3
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