Nobody likes exams thats normal But the key

Nobody likes exams; that’s normal! But the key to success is being as prepared as possible and that means revision!

How can I revise? Summer Term To start: With a partner, list as many ways of revising that you can think of!

Objective To identify effective ways of revising To describe some revision methods To decide which revision method (s) are suitable for me

The rules of revision Before we start to look at different revision strategies, it is important that we understand the “rules” of revision. There are five things that you need to do!

Rule 1 Don’t panic! Worrying and getting stressed will put you off and stop you from doing anything at all. The exam is going to happen whether you worry or not so it is better to approach revision in a calm and focussed way than panicking about it!

Rule 2 Don’t take the easy option and revise things that you already know. It might make you feel better but is of no benefit at all.

Rule 3 Find out exactly what you need to know! Look at your textbook, exercise book or revision guide as this will often summarise what you need to know. If you are still unsure, ask your teacher what topics you need to revise…

Rule 4 Plan your revision carefully and organise your time. You know when your exam is. What will you need to cover by that date? When do you need to start?

Rule 5 Be prepared! Make sure that you have a comfortable, well lit space to work in with everything that you need in reach. Try and remove anything that is likely to distract you such as your mobile phone or games console.

Revising = Remembering • If you spend 5 hours working but you still can't remember anything in the exam, you may have spent 5 hours working, but you've not done any revision.

What not to do… Simply reading a text book is NOT a good way of revising! So, here are some effective ways of revising for ANY subject…

First of all, you need a revision timetable Spend chunks of time on each subject and take regular breaks

Revision Cards Read through the work you’ve done and write the key facts down in bullet points. Shuffle them so you don’t always start with the same card.

Buzz Words This is a great method which involves highlighting the key words in a text. Wordle. net is good for this

An Example of a Wordle

Mind Maps

Story Boards/Cartoon Strips Write and draw the key stages in a process or story. This engages both sides of the brain.

Flowcharts A flowchart is a word-only version of the story boards.

Voice Recordings Record yourself reading your notes and play it on your MP 3 player.

Work in Groups Test each other on your knowledge using quizzes and buzzwords

Past Papers These will make you feel more comfortable in the exam and will help you to practise your technique.

Annotations Read through the text you want to learn and highlight or write notes about key words and phrases.

Watch this video for more inspiration… http: //www. curriculumbits. com/prodimages/details/misc/mis 0001. html

Revision takes time… • There is no 'instant' fix to doing revision. • The more quality revision that you do, the better the outcome will be! • There is no substitute for time when it comes to revision providing that you are using the right techniques.

Learning styles We are all different so it stands to reason that not all styles of learning suit everybody! Read the three statements on the next slide and decide which one best applies to you…

Learning styles When I try and remember something, it comes back as pictures. I can hear a song once and remember the words. I am great at hands-on subjects but glaze over when faced with a page full of text.

What kind of learner are you? 1) This indicates a strong visual memory so try converting notes into storyboards and pictures. You may well be able to recall information during an exam by visualising a page of notes from your memory and “reading” it. 2) You have strong auditory skills so try recording your notes and playing them back to yourself. Listen to relevant clips online but you may need to do so several times for the information to “fix” properly into your head. 3) You retain information best when revision involves moving a muscle. Handwriting provides muscular feedback so you will improve retention every time you refine and improve your notes. You could also try turning text into a practical activity.

Revision ideas to suit your needs Visual Learners • Maps • Posters • Charts • Spider diagrams • Cartoons • Summary notes • Mental pictures • Mind maps

Revision ideas to suit your needs Auditory Learners • Record ideas on tape • Say keywords aloud • Tell another person • Make a presentation • Get someone to test you • Exchange ideas with your friends • Play quiet, relaxing background music

Revision ideas to suit your needs Kinesthetic Learners • Walk ‘n’ talk • Draw cartoons • Posters & storyboards • Make a model • Role play/drama • Make a mind map • Write a story • Annotate diagrams • Make cue/flash cards

Keep your brain active Anything that gets your brain ticking over is good, even if it is unrelated to the subjects that you study. Thinking about interesting topics and articulating your ideas is a really good way to keep your mind working!

Thunks! A thunk is a simple-looking question about everyday things that stops you in your tracks and helps you start to look at the world in a whole new light. Use thunks on the next slide to stimulate your brain and get you thinking and discussing!

Thunks! • If you took all of the books out of a library, would it still be a library? • If you are on a plane from Australia to Scotland you walk up and down the aisle the whole way, can you say you walked from Australia to Scotland? Are you man made or natural? What colour would a zebra be if you took away its stripes? Does lined paper weigh more than plain paper? Is it better to play well and lose, or play badly and win? Is a broken car parked? If no-one is there to look in a mirror, does it still reflect? Do noses smell? Is there such a thing as an evil person, or is it just the choices they make that are evil? • If a blonde person dyes their hair brunette, are they blonde or brunette? • Would you rather be remembered for all the wrong reasons, or completely forgotten? • •

Let’s warm up our brains before we start… With a partner, try to come up with a definition for one of the following things: ◊ Oxyputer ◊ Kangastep ◊ Aquadigger Share your definition with another pair to see whether you agree!

Well? In actual fact, they are all made up but what a great way to get you thinking. Here are some other ideas to help you warm up your brain before you start to revise! Imagine if…? ◊ The moon was made of cheese ◊ All the grass disappeared overnight ◊ Water was poisonous Invent A Name for ◊ A shampoo that instantly gave you curly hair ◊ A robot that takes your dog for a walk ◊ A pair of glasses which show you what’s happening behind you Plus points and Minus points for … ◊ Everyone should wear a mood badge ◊ All children should adopt an elderly neighbour ◊ All cars should be painted blue

Sometimes it feels like exams and tests are never ending! The key to coping with exam stress is being as prepared as possible!

What is ‘stress’? Stress is anything that places a demand on us physically, mentally, or emotionally. It makes us change the normal way we live. Most of us think of stress as a crisis, but not all stress is bad.

Exams are stressful… …but they do not need to cause negative stress. “Eustress” is the medical term for “good stress”! Yes, there is such a thing as good stress! Achieving something that you have worked really hard at is an example of “eustress”, such as taking an exam that you know you have revised thoroughly for. This, in turn, can help motivate you even more!

How can you get 100% out of life?

If is equal to

LUCK = 47% 12+21+3+11 = 47 This is no coincidence…. if you are waiting for luck to play its part and help you on the way to exam success, you are likely to be waiting a long time!!

Try these ones on for size instead: Hard Work = 8 + 1 + …. AND Knowledge = 11 + ….

Hard Work H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98% Knowledge K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

Every problem has a solution. To reach the top, what we really need to do to go that bit further is consider our…

ATTITUDE!

ATTITUDE A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100% It is our ATTITUDE towards life and work that helps us to achieve 100%.

Try a bit of Positive Thinking… I CAN do this! This is my chance to show everything I have learned. Positive Thinking This is my chance to achieve. I am capable of doing very well in this exam. I deserve to do well, because I have worked hard. I know what is expected of me in this exam. I am as prepared as I can be.

Planning your revision…

Revision plans Here are five reasons why you should design your own revision plan: 1) 2) 3) 4) You know when you are at your best. You can plan around existing commitments. You know what you should be doing. It allows you to prioritise the subjects which require the most effort. 5) It puts you in control of your own revision!

How to Revise… Think of a ‘session’ as a third of a day - it could be 3 to 4 hours long Here is a possible pattern that might suit you: Saturday Sunday MORNING Revise AFTERNOON Revise Free Revise EVENING Break your session into half hour slots consisting of 25 minutes work a 5 minute break! This will help to stop you from burning out!

MON TUES WEDS THURS FRI SAT SUN Morning SCHOOL SCHOOL HIST - WW 2 FRENCH - writing Afternoon SCHOOL SCHOOL RELAX RECAP - WW 2 Evening How to Revise… MATHS algebra ENG – poems BIOL - nerves RECAP – algebra - poems CHEM – salt RECAP - nerves - salt RELAX Spend time making a thorough revision timetable and STICK TO IT! There are loads available online!

How to Revise… What kind of person are you? Some of us are early birds and are definitely better at working in the morning! Late risers will avoid mornings like the plague! You work better later in the day. Night owls will do their best revision in the evenings.

How should you revise? Where: • Somewhere warm but airy • Well lit (a reading lamp reduces eye-strain) • Have a clock or watch nearby (time your revision sessions)

How should you revise? How: · Have a definite finishing time · Plan regular breaks · Get up and walk around during your break · Drink plenty of water · Have a tick list of topics to cover · Gradually aim to summarise your notes

There are many ways to revise Choose the right way for you! We have already looked at learning styles so you should aim to revise using the techniques that will be best for your learning style. It can also be helpful to use a combination of ideas from all learning styles as this will give you a balance.

Look after yourself! Revision is physically and mentally tiring! You need to look after yourself both before and during examinations!

A balanced diet… • A balanced diet is an important part of being in control of your study habits: • Fresh fruit and vegetables will give you reserves of energy and increase your ability to concentrate. • Avoid junk food and foods high in sugar. Energy drinks and caffeine only give you temporary relief from tiredness. In the long run, they actually make you feel worse and also affect your mood by making you irritable and preventing you from sleeping properly.

Sleep and relaxation… You may find you nearly fall asleep every time you sit down to study. • Keeping a regular sleeping pattern is very important. • Don't stay awake all night trying to study. • Get a good night's sleep and try to study in the morning when you are fresh. • If you are finding it hard to sleep, wait until you have calmed down before going to bed. • Wind down after study and try some relaxation exercises.

Exercise… Having regular exercise will keep your mind active, help you to sleep at night and is a great way to have a break when you find your concentration is dropping. • Just jump on the bike, run around the block or take the dog for a walk. • It is worth investing the time in exercise for the mental boost you will receive.

Reward yourself… Build some fun into your schedule. It will give you something to look forward to! If you have achieved a goal, let's say three hours of study, reward yourself with something you like doing.

A very quick recap… Do a revision plan Eat and sleep well Be as organised as possible Use a learning style that suits you Set mini targets and reward yourself when you achieve one • Give revision the time it needs • • •

Good luck in your forthcoming exams! But remember that “attitude” goes a lot further towards achieving exam success than luck will ever do!