Revision Strategies
The most effective ways to learn
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When should I revise?
When should I revise?
In order to revise effectively, you have to think hard. Thinking hard is tiring. Therefore, when
you revise, you should choose a time when find it easiest to focus. This should be a time
when you are well-rested and when you are used to working.
Managing your time when revising
Pomodoro technique is highly effective as it helps you effectively manage your
time and work on a task without distractions. It is also beneficial as it helps you
become more disciplined and think about your work. This technique is designed
to combat multitasking and improve concentration.
When revising:
Do:
• Get into a routine of revising at a particular point every day.
• Revise when you are well-rested or at a time when you are used to working.
• Take regular small breaks.
Don't:
• Depend on when you want to revise.
• Revise late at night or when you are tired.
• Try to force yourself to work for long periods of time without a break.
The Science of Learning
How does learning work?
Learning is when you get new information, skills, or habits by doing things, studying,
or being taught. Your brain takes in the new information, thinks about it, stores it,
and remembers it when you need it. The more you learn, the more connections
your brain makes, which helps you understand and remember things better. Doing
things over and over and practicing can also help you learn and remember things
better.
Forgetting is normal when you're learning. But if you try to remember things you
learned by quizzing yourself or talking about it, it can help your memory get
stronger and last longer. This is called retrieval practice. It's important because it
helps move the information from your short-term memory to your long-term
memory and makes it easier to use later.
It's better to review something you learned one time in three different sessions than
three times in one session. To really remember something for a long time, you have
to keep reviewing it. If you practice a lot, it will be easier to remember. Overlearn
so that remember is easy!
In the Forgetting Curve
notice how you quickly
forget newly learned
information, but you
forget it more slowly
following each review.
The point is, to
remember something
you need to review it
regularly!
When learning
something, the aim is to
get it from our working
memory (the conscious
bit of our brain that is
thinking), to our long-
term memory.
Our working memory
can only ‘juggle’
between 4-7 bits of info
at one time! Whereas
our long-term memory is
infinite. Getting
knowledge there and
keeping it there is the
challenge of learning!
Revision Strategies
Brain Dump
Choose a topic and write down as much as you can remember, without referring to
your notes. Check your notes and see what you missed then try fill the gaps without the notes.
Check your notes a third time and add the missing information.
Flash cards
Write flash cards for each topic, in all subjects, then mix them up for the most effective
revision. Check out the Leitner System for effective spacing and interleaving. Keep your flash
cards simple – one question, one answer per card.
Map it out
Take an essay question or writing question and map out your answer, without writing a
full response. Look at the mark scheme and deicide if you plan meets the criteria. DO this for a
number of questions, then choose one and write the full response.
Past papers
Ask your teacher for practice questions or exam papers. Complete them without notes
in the exam conditions, then check you answers and identify the gaps in your knowledge, so
you can target your revision.
Quizzes
Write a set of questions and answers and ask someone to test you. Its important to
either write or say your answers loud. Reading through quizzes in your head can give you a
false sense of security.
Thinking hard: Reduce
Read a section of your notes then put them aside and reduce what you need into 3
bullet points, each one no more than 10 words. Look back at the notes and decide if you
missed anything important. Hide the notes and write a fourth bullet point.
Practice Introductions
For essay subjects, tale a past exam question and practice writing effective
introductions and conclusion. Look back at your notes and remind yourself of the important
things to remember. Practice for different topics, texts and papers.
Thinking hard: Connect
For each subject, consider the exam paper and group together questions that require the
same technique to answer. Write down the requirements for each type. Find a previous example
you have completed and identify where you’ve met the criteria.
Thinking hard: Transform
Read a paragraph from your notes or a text book, and transform it into a diagram,
chart or sketch – no words allowed. OR Look a diagram in science, for example, and transform it
into a paragraph of explanation.
Key vocabulary
For a particular topic, make a list of key vocabulary, then do the following: define each
word; use each term in a sentence; create a question where the key word is the answer; identify
other words which connect to each of the words in your list.
Flash Cards
Flash card top tips
• The most effective flashcards include one question followed by
one answer (or one term followed by one definition).
• Don’t force your brain to remember a complex and wordy answer.
It’s easier for your brain to process simpler information so split up
your longer questions into smaller, simpler ones.
• You will end up with more flashcards this way but your learning will
be a lot more effective.
Using flash cards
Self Quizzing
1. Read the question on your flash card
2. Write your answer in a notebook
3. Put your flash card down to one side
4. Move onto the next card
5. Repeat steps 1-3
6. Keep your flash cards in the order you have quizzed them in.
7. Mark your answers – highlight any answers you got incorrect.
Leitner System
1. Every card starts in Box 1.
2. If you get a card right,
move it to the next Box.
3. If you get the card wrong,
move it down a box — in the
original version you move it all
the way back to Box 1.
Flash Cards
Quiz 1 Quiz 2
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.
8. 8.
9. 9.
10. 10.
Quiz 3 Quiz 4
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
6. 6.
7. 7.
8. 8.
9. 9.
10. 10.
Self Quizzing
Follow the 5 step process to self quiz 3 topics of your choice.
Mark your answers in green pen and highlight specifically the questions you got
wrong.
Quiz 1
Question Answer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Self Quizzing
Quiz 2
Question Answer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Quiz 3
Question Answer
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Mind Maps
Follow the 5 step process to create a mind map for 3 different topics of your
choice.
You can also colour code the information you are confident with in one colour
and information that you are unsure about in another colour.
Topic 1
Mind Maps
Topic 2
Topic 3
Brain Dumps
Follow the 5 step process to complete 3 brain dumps for different topics of your
choice.
You can also complete this is two colours. One colour for content you know and
another colour for content you need to revise / that you added.
Topic 1
Brain Dumps
Topic 2
Topic 3
Interleaving
Interleaving is for topics within one subject – not subjects
themselves.
You can apply this in your revision timetable.
When revising science, mix up the topics that you study in
that session, don’t just focus on one.
Dual Coding
Dual Coding Practice
Topic 1
Topic 2
Spacing
Retrieval
9 ways to use retrieval when revising
Retrieval practice is one of the most effective ways to revise. By
answering questions rather than merely reading or highlighting
information, you’re putting yourself in the best position possible
to succeed and remember as much of your subjects as
possible. Past papers, essays, multiple choice tests and
flashcards are a great way of doing it.
Dealing with revision stress
Notes
Notes
