It's not only at exam time that it's important to remember revision. Whether you have recently started your life in higher education or are approaching your final exams, there are a multitude of steps you can take to ensure you are in the best possible position when exams start. Here are just some of the techniques you can employ from day one as a fresher, right through to graduation. Just remember that these techniques can even help you after you graduate.
Early Preparation
The last thing on any student's mind when they start higher education is revision. But now is the most important time to start revising; just by spending 20-30 minutes making revision notes. After a lecture or workshop, write up a simple explanation of the most important points that you've covered, ideally with notes of where to find your full lecture notes and any relevant pages in your textbooks. This is an invaluable technique because it will save you hours of preparation when it is exam time. By the end of the year, all your revision will be ready; all you need to do is sit down and read it.
Textbook Preparation
Another useful technique to master is successfully preparing your textbooks as you go. Whilst reading, highlight the most useful sentences or explanations. Use annotated sticky tabs to mark important pages; for instance, tabs along the top of the book to mark out chapters and tabs down the side of the book for useful examples or tables. It is also useful to write in the columns any alternative page numbers where the topic can be found, so you know immediately where else in the book to look.
Revision Time
It is always important to plan your revision time wisely. You can do this by starting your revision early, revising in order of exams. If you have space between exams, remember there is additional time to revise for the next one. If you have back to back exams, remember to allocate enough time to each topic and not to revise for your first exam more than the rest. However you decide to allocate your time, remember that everyone revises differently. A good technique is to revise throughout the day, leaving your evenings free to unwind. This helps to prevent stress, but also gives you the opportunity to do a little bit more if you're really not confident about something.
Revision Notes
An incredibly useful revision technique is to write things down whilst you revise. Read the notes you have prepared throughout the year, then turn them over and try to write down all the points. If you keep repeating this, you will be able to think of the topic and then write down all the relevant points without referring to your revision notes. This is because writing helps as a memory aid; you can also try using spider diagrams, charts and tables. Match this with your wider reading and full lecture notes so that in an exam you can read the question, note down the most relevant points and write your answer.
The most important thing to remember is that revision doesn't have to begin just before your exams. Revision can be spread throughout the year. The earlier you start revising, the easier it will be and the better your understanding is likely to be. Plan your revision early on in the term and you won't leave yourself open to any surprises later on in the year.
Louise is the author of Successful Study - the learning guide that teaches students how to study effectively for better grades. This article is brought to you in conjunction with Web Design Liverpool.
Source: www.a1articles.com
