So you wanna do better in exams??? (Revision Tips...)

Member Name: ross1979

Product:	Revision Tips...
Date:	03/10/01 (209 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: More time , More fun, Less work

Disadvantages: Still study

Having been at uni for 4 years now and taken major exams for 7, I have had ample opportunity to finely tune my revision skills. Unfortunately I havent always taken that opportunity and have relied a little too much on the (debatable) grey matter between my ears and some cheeky short cuts here and there to get good grades. Not that I recommend this approach, but I will pass on some tips will help you in the lead up to your exams, regardless of how much work you have done (or not done) beforehand. They are all to do with improving how efficiently you study!

1. Make a Plan:

This is the easiest thing in the world to do. Unfortunately, the hardest thing in the world is sticking to it. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to take into consideration things like 'how long have I got until my exams?', 'which exams are going to need the greatest proportion of my time', and 'how much time is it actually possible for me to study in a day?' Once you have thought about this, make a plan and stick it up on your wall. If nothing else it will remind you that you should be studying!

2. Allocate time to each exam sensibly:

A couple of times when I had a number of exams looming I would concentrate far too much on the early ones and far to little on the later ones with the result of some very inconsistent grades! It is important to devote time according to how much you feel you have to learn (see next point) about each subject and not according to which order they come in. Remember that when it comes to the space inbetween exams that you are usually drained from previous exams which makes it a little harder to study for the next one.

3. Decide how much work you really need to do:

I dont think I have met a student who studied in detail the entire syllabus of a course at university. The goal is to study enough in detail so that you can answer as many questions as you need to. The trick here is past paper
s. Get the previous few years past papers and look at what the recurring themes are, if there are any patterns, what came up last year etc. Use this to skillfully judge which topics are likely to turn up this year and revise them in detail. Dont put all your eggs in one basket, but sensible selective revision is what carried me through so many exams.

4. Develop a study pattern:

When it comes to exam period and lectures are not on anymore there is the whole day to devote to revision, IN THEORY! However difficult it is, it is always a good idea to keep to a sort of routine of studying. Ie/ Work hard in the morning from 9 till 1, take a break from lunch and then do a couple more hours in the afternoon. It is always better to get a few good hours done each day (see next point) than to stay in all day studying every now and then in between Kilroy and Neighbours. You can then take a few guilt free hours in the evening to go out and enjoy yourself.

5. When you are studying, study!!!

I notice that a lot of people at uni, including myself sometimes, tend to waste a lot of time which they have devoted to studying. I dont mean by this going out with your friends or going to play football, I mean just sitting at your desk watching TV, reading a magazine, or staring into space. This is when you you really can improve your study efficiency. Schedule frequent short breaks so you can allow yourself to switch off for a while before getting back into it. For example, I used to work for 50 minutes and take 10 minutes off. Better that than spending half the time daydreaming. A good idea is to go over your notes from the previous hour as soon as you start again.

So there you go, five points that may or may not help you to improve the efficiency with which you revise for exams. There doesnt seem much point in saying this but try to stay relaxed. GOOD LUCK!

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