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Exam season goes easy on no one, not even the bright students. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to revision because students memorize information in their own preferred ways. While one student prefers to be in the zone and write notes, another may find this method reduces their focus.
Nothing is more annoying when you consistently feel bored or distracted during revision. But no matter how hard it is, revision is a must to score well on your exams. While revision techniques may vary from student to student, all methods include reviewing the entire learned content and strengthening your understanding of the subject.
Ahead, we will discover useful revision strategies that will boost your focus. Not only this, we will also see the factors that prevent concentration and what environment you should pick for the purpose.
During the last few years, researchers and students have introduced plenty of revision methods. Their findings have revealed that there is no wrong or right way to revise. However, this section will explain some tried and tested strategies that all students should consider.
Similar Read: Revision Tips – Planning an effective revision schedule
Revision should be initiated well before exams to guarantee maximum time for reviewing all subjects and topics. At the end of a general revision, you will also have sufficient time to focus on the topics you are weak in.
But by starting late or at the last minute, students often panic by seeing all the topics that still need time to master.
Another foolproof revision strategy is to be familiar with your particular examination board standards through past papers. This will also give you a chance to test yourself as if you are taking the official exam. Past papers are a great resource that shows the expected questions and mark scheme.
By having a look at the question style, students will know how to attain the most marks and what examiners are looking for. If you have never practiced a past paper before, now’s the time! Simply visit the examination board website and dig out any past paper you want.
A practical way to maintain focus is by strictly following a timetable. This is key to balance your personal and academic life. Students tend to overexert themselves and use all available hours to revise.
But this will only lead to a dramatic decline in energy and will to study. Following a timetable will also help you to be organized by knowing the number of topics to review each day and for how much time.
Another thing to ask yourself is what hours of the day work best for you to revise. Are you a night owl or a cheery morning person? This varies from person to person. Set most of your revision in the hours when you are the most comfortable and productive. And after you have revised the hardest topics, your focus will remain the same all day.
This is why everyone agrees that the tricky subjects should come first in the revision hierarchy, like math. Students feel a sense of accomplishment and become inspired to complete the revision quickly. In simple words, don’t let the hard tasks looming on your head.
You can even try to revise with a study partner if you find it difficult to go through it alone. Having a partner makes sure you are on the right track and keeps you focused. It is much better than a friend who distracts you from your goal. Study partners also teach each other, which is a science-backed approach for the best understanding.
While thinking about how to teach a topic, you will begin to recall concepts that you may have otherwise forgotten. What’s more, you will recognize topics that you are still weak in and can polish them before exams.
But if you dislike working with a fellow student, try hiring an MTS tutor who offers customized lessons based on your curriculum and needs.
An ideal study environment is usually a quiet zone that has an absence of distractions and absence. It is also important to have a comfortable desk and chair since studying is mostly done while sitting. Bad chairs cause a poor posture that hurts your back. This can negatively affect your focus.
Another element of a study environment is to guarantee that you are working in the same area for every revision period. Our brain connects the space with studying instead of rest. Switching spots is not a good idea because you might not feel comfortable in a new environment.
Make sure that your room comes with the right amount of ventilation and decent lighting. When the room is crammed or hot, it is likely to get a headache and a lack of focus. Moreover, don’t sit in a position that places you directly in front of a bright light source because it will distract and strain your eyes.
Some students prefer to hear music while revising, but this is not always advised. Hearing your favorite tunes will divert your attention towards the beats or the lyrics. What you should hear instead is instrumental music. Piano or classical music is a great alternative if you dislike revising in complete silence.
While music of any genre can result in distractions, students can improve focus by hearing music that they have never heard before. Also, keep the volume low so that it serves as a background noise instead of a distraction.
The biggest enemy of a productive study environment is the mobile phone. Students are always tempted to check their socials or text messages. Before revision, put your mobile phone in a far spot or turn on airplane mode.
Remember that you can only use mobile phones during breaks. Moreover, tell your family or anyone who lives with you that you are about to study. This will limit your interactions with them as well as noise level.
Exams are overwhelming for a lot of students. But if you start revising months ahead, everything will settle down before exams, and you will be at ease. Start with a few hours of revision daily and increase the time as the exam season creeps up. The majority of schools suggest that students should invest 20 hours of revision every week. Try breaking these hours into segments of your liking.
It is impossible to retain all information if you only start to revise a few days before an exam, particularly if you are reviewing multiple subjects simultaneously. There will be a huge lack of time to go through all the content without investing time in advance.
Regardless of your revision hours every day, take one day off a week for much-needed mental rest. On your day off revision, hang out with your friends, and engage in any hobby or a fun activity. When it comes to the revision process, there is no right or wrong duration. It all boils down to the student’s pace and how tough their subjects are.
But you can predict how many hours need to be put in right after starting the revision. Also, there is no need to follow the same timetable till the end. The moment you find that the timetable isn’t working out anymore, make changes to it. Keep in mind that revision is a totally independent process, and you have all the freedom to do it.
To ace your GCSE or A-level English Literature exam, read our guide.
Most students believe that revision is all about quantity when it actually revolves around quality. This is why students should not waste time on a useless strategy if it is not showing any positive results. For instance, why should visual learners highlight big chunks in books when they can use a mind map instead? Moreover, it depends on more than one revision strategy to make it refreshing.
Don’t be one of those students who would rather study more instead of getting a good night’s sleep. Yes, the temptation to pull an all-nighter is real, but it will backfire by ruining your focus in the following days. So keep your schedule correct by having at least 7 hours of sleep per night.
Lastly, never ever compare yourself to your peers. This will create an unnecessary burden on you, which is counter-productive.
When a student enters the exam hall, they want to feel confident that their exam preparation is not lacking in any way. Although tutors help with the basic tools and resources, all students need to be responsible for revision. Also, try doing some additional reading to develop a wholesome understanding of topics.
We discussed many valuable tips and methods to concentrate while revising. Having a daily schedule can help you stay focused on each day’s goals. In fact, every study or revision session should have goals so that students are inspired to push through. Goals can be as big as making mind maps for a chapter or memorizing a single equation.
If students follow a minimum of 3 techniques mentioned above, it will help them to concentrate while revising, and they will feel a lot more prepared for their exam. And don’t forget to pace yourself. Take all the time you need to pick the revision techniques that suit you the most.
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