Hi Essex students! Ahead of exams, I thought it would be helpful to put together some of my top revision tips.

CREATE A STUDY PLAN

The exam period can be a stressful time. With so much material to revise and limited time to do so, it is good to start off by creating a study plan.

Organising your time effectively is important so that you can manage your workload during the exam period. Try breaking down the material into manageable chunks, and allocate specific study times for each section.

Struggling on a specific subject? Get these revision sessions in early in your plan to give yourself enough learning time, 

PLAN IN YOUR FREE TIME

Be sure to give yourself some time for self-care activities too, such as exercise and taking breaks.

This is crucial to looking after yourself properly throughout this period.

FIND A TECHNIQUE THAT WORKS FOR YOU

Once you’ve created your plan, it's time to decide on what revision technique to use. Make sure you choose what works for you, so that you feel as confident as possible when it comes to sitting your exams.

Teach Someone Else

Teaching someone else some content that you’re learning is a brilliant way to ensure that you remember and truly understand what you’ve revised. Find a study partner or group and take turns explaining different topics and concepts to each other. Not only will this help reinforce your own understanding, but it will also give you a chance to see the material from a different perspective.

Add some games into your Revision

A lot of people experience procrastination when they’re trying to revise. A way to try and tackle this is to find or create a game that is centred around some of the topics you’re studying. You might find some really useful apps and it could make a real difference. Think Duolingo!

Use Memory aids

Try using memory aids to help you remember key terms, formulas, or concepts. You can create your own acronyms to remember concepts that you’re struggling with. BODMAS is a popular one that helped a lot of people through GCSE Maths. 

Watch Videos

It’s a great idea to break up your revision by watching videos on YouTube on your subject. This can make your revision feel less boring and repetitive and might be really helpful If you're someone who learns best through visual aids or through listening. Oversimplified is a great channel for teaching history in an entertaining way.

Exam Questions

Use past papers or example exam questions your department has provided to do some proper run throughs. This will not only help you identify areas where you may need to focus your revision, but it will also help you get a sense of what types of questions you can expect to see on the actual exam.

Go back to basics

Of course, you can always rely on some of the most common methods of revision too like:

• Flashcards
• Mind maps
• Highlighting key information
• Read information, then re-write in your own words 

I hope you find some of this useful. Good luck in your exams!