Revision Techniques 1 Study and Revision Skills By

Revision Techniques 1

Study and Revision Skills By the end of this tutorial you will: Ø Be able to identify and use a variety of revision techniques Ø Understand how your memory works when you are revising Ø Be able to identify the ways in which you revise best Ø know how to use your time effectively the night before and on the day of your exams Ø Understand where to seek help during the exam period 2

How good is your memory? Look at this picture 49 images 3 Once it has been removed, write down the images you can remember

How many did you remember? 2 cats 3 dogs 2 rabbits 2 butterflies 3 vegetables 6 fruit 1 glasses 1 shell 1 duck 1 key 4 coins 3 leaves 2 lanterns and lots more 4

Is memory everything? No It is the ability to recall facts, quotes, equations, information It is practicing using the recalled information Being able to use PEE paragraphs Understanding how to use equations 5

6 The science behind revision The Science Behind Revision

The forgetting curve or spaced repetition learning Within 24 hours of learning something new – you have forgotten 20% of it and within 3 days you will have forgotten 40%. If you review your notes the following day – within 24 hours of the review - you have forgotten 12% of it (8% less). 2 days later you will have forgotten 20% (20% less) The curve becomes less steep the more you review – meaning the rate of forgetting slows done 7

By June 2021 you will have been learning new material for 10+ months. How much will you have remembered? Behind the science and the graphs is a simple message The more you review and revise new material – the more that sticks in your head, for longer 8

What does good revision look like? In pairs or groups discuss Your favourite revision activities Why? Your feelings around revision When will you start revising for your exams? 9

The Learning Pyramid; Active v. Passive 10

But………. . I like reading over my notes Regardless of how long you spend reading your notes 10% goes in 90% of your time is wasted In order to remember 100% of the information that you need - you will have to spend considerably more time reading to revise than if you revised in a different way. Read over your notes – usual place / technique Shut your books. Walk away and something different for 30 minutes Come back. Get a blank piece of paper and write everything you can remember Compare your notes to the original information 11

Which type of reviser are you? Promotion or Prevention Promotion You experience your goal pursuits as aspirations You think about what you are doing as moving from the current status quo to something better Prevention You are concerned about what you ought to be doing You are worried about what will happen if you don’t do something Outcome? = You revise and feel effective 12

How could this knowledge help you? Promotion Tend to; Prefer creative tasks Eager and enthusiastic teachers Knowing what motivates you will help your revision in the long term Prevention Tend to; Prefer analytical tasks which are logical Calm, careful and relaxed teacher Plan activities which play to your strengths 13

Key message You cannot remember everything You need to condense what you have to learn into manageable-sized chunks. 20 pages of notes – 2 pages – 4 notecards – 1 key terms card Mindmaps, notes on a postcard, key terms, mnemonics, postits with key information/equations Condense – review - learn 14

Revision Timetable Start creating a revision timetable using the template given to you in this session Key points to ask yourself • What topics do you need to revise? • How long can you focus for and retain information? • Will you always revise alone or can you revise with others and when would this be? 15

Group revision – share the load Just a minute You have 1 minute to talk about a chosen topic for 60 seconds You cannot repeat, hesitate, deviate from the topic or make mistakes Verbal Dominoes Make dominoes per topic 1 Q and 1 A per domino (but the Q and A cannot match) Start Who is Tigger’s friend? Winnie the Pooh When in Bonfire Night? 5 th Nov Q? 16

Revision Techniques and what works for you • Start early and really understand the material that you need to know. • Know what you need to learn for each exam and draw up an exam timetable. Make it detailed and include study breaks. • Work out what type of learner you are. Everyone learns in different ways. • When do you learn best and for how long? • Where do you learn best? Create the optimum learning environment. • Group revision – learn with friends and family, ask them to test you • Be strict. No phone, no socials • Practise, practise – past papers are your best friend 17

The evening before the exam Be mindful that whatever revision you do the night before as it will not make a huge difference Have a healthy, well-balanced meal and lots of water (avoid energy drinks or heavily caffeinated drinks) Relax – Go for a walk or do something you enjoy Limit screen time (laptop, phone, TV) Pack your bag – bottle of water, clear pencil case, calculator Go to bed early 18

The morning of the exam Be mindful that whatever revision you do the morning of the exam will not make much difference (even less than the night before!) Double check you have everything you need. Double check the time and room of the exam Make sure you have a well balanced breakfast If hearing other people revising / discussing revision stresses you out – then only join the group just before the exam The aim of the game is to make you feel as calm and in control as possible. Reflect on your GCSEs or any exams taken since then and think about what calmed you or what you found hard. Use these experiences positively to help you 19

Further Help with Revision • Speak to and work with your subject teachers to achieve your best results • Talk to your SAM if you are worrying about your exams 20