Techniques
In the run-up to an exam, revision is VITAL. It is more important than ever to retrieve the knowledge you have been taught so you can perform to the best of your ability during the exam. Find below revision techniques which I personally found the most useful for my exams.
First technique, past papers:
Online, past papers for whatever exam you are undertaking will be available. Other websites such as SaveMyExams and Tutor2u are amazing for looking at past paper questions, attempting them yourself and testing your mettle. You can print off a recent paper, set a timer for however long you would have to attempt that paper in the exam, and then give it a shot. Then, you can see how you did against the mark scheme to find your strengths and weaknesses.
Why is this effective?
This is effective because you can not only pinpoint your weaker areas in content knowledge, but also perfect your exam technique, so that the real thing becomes a whole lot less intimidating. If you have never seen an exam paper before, not knowing what could be inside could psych you out and cause you to underperform, which is NOT what we want.
Sometimes you can ask your teachers or tutors for past papers or exam questions to attempt yourself, either independently or in a lesson. Practice does not make perfect, but progress. Keep trying, and do not be disheartened if you did not do as well as you expected. Keep trying!
Second technique, BE the teacher:
One way for more hands-on learners to revise is to actually teach the subject themselves. This could be to another student, or to friends, or to family. Pick out a subject of your choice and have a go at teaching it to an audience of your choosing. By doing this, you are consolidating your knowledge of the topic, and your audience can give you feedback. For example, if you presented to your teacher, they can listen to your impromptu lesson and then they can help you work out your strengths and weaknesses, fill in any gaps in your knowledge, and boost your confidence.
Why is this effective?
By testing your knowledge this way, people can fill in the blanks, you can bolster your confidence and all parties involved benefit. By teaching, you subconsciously create a step-by-step guide in your head of how to approach an exam question. A science practical, for example, if you teach it step-by-step, you can recall it step-by-step. At the end of the day, revision is about how you can recall knowledge effectively.
Third technique, flash cards and quizzing:
Flash cards are by no means guaranteed to work. I initially found them to be useless at first, but then I developed them to be more oriented around quizzing, like question prompts on a game show. Simply writing questions and answers may not be enough, so be sure to find out what works best for you. Familiarise yourself with the content, then ask someone else to quiz you. See how many questions you can get through correctly. Then, if you get them all correct, try again and see how fast you can get through the questions.
Why is this effective?
The aim here is to not only recall the knowledge you need surrounding a topic, but recall it quickly under pressure like you may need to in an exam. Performing under pressure and being able to recall the information you need to answer a question in an exam are the two most important aspects of a test.
Be sure to leave a comment with any feedback you may have!
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