Agenda

What is revision?The three steps to successful revisionGetting OrganisedSome revision techniquesUsing past papers

What is revision?

“The looking back over of one's (previously learnt or written) notes in preparation

for a test or examination”

“The looking back over of one's (previously learnt or written) notes in preparation

for a test or examination”

How to be a successful ‘reviser’..

How do you get:

From here.. To here...?

Three steps for revision

1. Get Organised

Research suggests that some students do better than others at A levels because they:

• Start their revision earlier• use better techniques for learning work• Get help from others • have a planned revision timetable - which they stick to

1. Get Organised

Work out where you are going to workWhen you are going to work (yes, that

weekly schedule again!!)Start early (6 weeks before your exam!)Get all the notes/textbooks/revision

guides you need BEFORE you startGet your ‘revision pack’ ready - highlighter

pens, coloured pens / pencils, index cards, folders, stickynotes, paper, coloured paper, ruler and rubber

How to start your revision timetable

1. Get a copy of the specification (you should have this already, but if not you can get one from www.ccea.org.uk or www.aqa.org.uk

2. Work through the specification and colour the different topics/sections:

RED –

AMBER -

Really not sure (will need to spend a lot of time)

Not too bad, some parts to go over

GREEN - Understand no problem

3. Plan to Spend more time on Red topics than Amber, than Green

How to start your revision timetable

4. Factor in time to revise each topic at least twice

5. You learn best at the beginning and the end of a revision session – so allow planned 5/10 minute (timed) breaks

Example Revision Timetable

Step Two:

Start with the ‘helicopter’ view

Stand back from the course and develop an overview

Link topics and themes together – draw a spider diagram or mind map

Identify the specific aspects of each topic you are not sure about – start with these

How to remember things

The strength of a memory and how easily it is retrieved depends upon the strength of the initial input

When several senses are simultaneously involved the message is received through a number of channels in the brain and stand better chance of remaining prominent

Key Principles

Use colours – different colours for different subjects

Don’t rely on ready-made meanings and notes – you have to understand it

Use many different inputs and methods – your notes, different textbooks, internet (reliable sources)

Revision Techniques

- Questions and answers- Consolidate key facts- List of key definitions- Summarise a topic into your own words

(1) Flash Cards (Coloured)

Try and consolidate each subject down to 10 cards. Then go over and over them.

Revision Techniques

(2) Use diagrams or mnemonics

Revision Techniques

(3) Display key facts where you will see them- Write out key definitions or important words.

- Every time you see them think about what they say

- Change the facts every couple of days

Revision Techniques

(4) Explain a key concept to someone

-When you explain something to some one else, you have to get it clear in your head first

- You have to be clear and concise

Revision Techniques

(5) Location Learning

Associate key facts with locations (e.g. Journey into school.

Getting into car represents electrons leaving the battery having gained energy.........driving down the park represents the electrons transfering energy to a lamp in the circuit.....

Step Three:

Practice Answers

Practice Answers

•Time yourself doing questions

•Use mark schemes to identify key words, techniques- see where marks are allocated

Look After Yourself – Get Into Control