Recent graduate (and now employee at the University), Laura, shares her top revision tips to try and make revision a little less daunting:
Creating revision notes quickly
Use a maximum of three colours per topic and set yourself a time limit for each set of notes you create. You will ensure you remain focussed on memorising the facts and avoid the dreaded procrastination.
Think about how you learn best?
Throughout school, sixth form/college and now at university, you have faced exams and almost certainly tested many different forms of revision. But it can be difficult to know which style works best for you.
I have provided a list of suggestions below:
- Mind maps- Ideally, stick to three colours and try to be as concise as possible. Then cover up your mind map and write down everything you can remember. You may just surprise yourself! You can revise again anything you missed off.
- Flashcards– These are both portable and sociable. Ask your friends to test you to check your knowledge and remember key facts, dates, symbols or concepts.
- Voice notes– Talk out loud. The ability to explain your revision is a great way to test your understanding and identify anything which you may be struggling with.
- Videos– This can be a great form of revision when tiredness starts to hit and you can’t face staring at yet another textbook. Plus, it can also help to solidify your knowledge and enhance your understanding.
- Past Papers– Practising questions and reading sample answers can hugely increase your confidence about an exam and give you a better understanding of how you can achieve the best possible marks
Create a revision timetable
Creating a revision timetable can really help you to stay organised and ensure you have enough time to cover all the topics which might appear on the exam.
You might prefer to concentrate on areas you find more difficult or adopt a more holistic approach, the choice is yours.
However, remember to be flexible. It is ok not to achieve everything you had initially anticipated in your revision plan. Just reorganise your time so that you can revise those topics on a different day and try not to put too much pressure on yourself.
Use university resources
Try watching the KnowHow exam preparation tutorials. They cover a variety of different exam types to help you prepare and increase your confidence.
You can also find online tutorials on Canvas or book a place on a KnowHow workshop for support with topics including note taking, statistics, literature reviews, critical reading and academic integrity.
Look after yourself
Exams and revision can be stressful so make sure you schedule time to exercise, eat well and get enough sleep. Simple tips like not working too late or scheduling time to complete your food shopping each week can really help you feel more in control and alleviate anxiety.
Spending time with friends and family can also be a great source of support and help you reduce your overall stress levels.