Getting started with revision
Ask yourself:
- What are your experiences of revision?
- Do you prefer to revise alone or with others?
- How do your experiences compare with your course mates?
- Do their views change your opinions about the way you study?
- What kind of plans (if any) do you use?
- Are you permitted extra time?
Planning
- Draw up a plan of each major area/topic and when you’ll revise it
- Organise your environment
- Monitor your time wasting
- Just start – open up a file, jot down an essay title, pick a favourite topic…
Top tips
- Summarise: in headings, several paragraphs, in one paragraph, in one sentence
- Actively select materials – what is key?
- Revise at least twice as many main topics as the number of questions
- Remember questions may be multi-topic
- Read further than your lectures
- Break up your time into manageable chunks
- Put your phone away!
Revision strategies
Make sure you find the revision method that suits you best. Some people are visual learners and might prefer colourful mind-maps, while others prefer to use listening devices, such as recording your notes and listening to them back. If you find the right way to learn, your revision will become that much easier.
- Use past papers – Which questions appear often? Make outline plans to answer each of these questions.
- Use memory triggers
- Record yourself speaking about your notes
- Make clear notes and review them regularly
- If you like to highlight your notes, stick to short sections, like definitions or keywords
- Make revision a part of your routine all your round
- Ask your tutors for advice on the types of questions
Revision methods
Flashcards: many people like to test themselves by writing, for example, a concept on one side of a card with its definition/further details on the other. The website and app Quizlet is very good for this.
Writing notes: some people like to go through their course work and make notes/reduce the information to key words.
Drawing diagrams: try taking your notes and making a visual representation, which you can stick on your wall.
Get together: some like to work with others and discuss ideas and opinions. You can also quiz each other.
Listening: you may have access to a podcast on a subject you’re revising, or a lecture you’ve recorded. The advantage of this is you can do it while doing another activity.
How much is 'enough'?
If you can answer the following questions, you should have a broad grasp and enough information to answer your exam questions.
What are the key themes in your subject?
What are the main points of view/schools of thought?
- Are there any opponents to this approach?
Look at key debates in the subject over time
- What is convincing/not convincing about these arguments?
- Are the weak points significant/important?
Major pieces of research on each topic
- Key contributions & when they were made
Which points of view do you find convincing and why?