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Phases of revision
There are 4 phases of effective revision.
Initial read-through
Initial read-through Read a topic and summarise what you've read from memory.
Don't just list information, organise it in different ways.
- Lists
- Flow-charts
- Mind maps
- Flash cards
- Wall charts
- Audio tapes
- Definitions
- Word associations and acronyms
Check the accuracy of your summary against the original notes.
Identify relevant points you didn't remember and add them to the summary. Spend time memorising these points so you don't forget them again in the exam.
Re-reading and self-testing
Re-reading and self-testing Don't leave this phase any longer than 3 days, or you'll lose some of what you've gained.
Re-read and test yourself on the material. This might happen later in the same day, the next day or up to 3 days later.
Don't leave this phase any longer than 3 days, or you will lose some of what you've gained.
- List it
- Draw and label a diagram of it
- Write a paragraph about it
- Say it aloud
- Recall associations and links
- Recall acronyms and other memory aids
By changing the activity, you're keeping your memory active. Mark the sections that you didn't recall.
Monitoring your recall
Monitoring your recall Read through your summary again.
- Focus on sections marked
- Modify your learning strategy for material that is still difficult to recall
- Re-read the study notes
- Re-test yourself
Practising
Practising To learn only from reading is challenging. Practise answering questions of the type in the exam.
Practise under the conditions you'll face in the exam – try to match the physical conditions, equipment and timing as closely as possible. Practise answering old exams.
Remember to practise questions using 2 sets of information you've learnt separately, as exam questions often ask you to draw parallels between different areas.
- Write, type or speak an answer
- Time yourself. How much time will you have for the exam?
- Mark it yourself, using your summary and notes. What points did you miss out? What parts did you get stuck on? Check your fluency.
- Re-read the points you couldn't remember
Last-minute study
Last-minute study isn't a substitute for doing proper exam or test preparation. You'll get much better results if you put time and effort into studying effectively for exams using a long-term study cycle and plan your exam study well. However, we understand that this isn't always possible, and sometimes you must commit something to memory in a short timeframe or ‘cram’ some last-minute revision before your exam.
If there's an emergency or delay, the following steps may help you do some last-minute study for an exam or test.
Emergency study strategy
1
Take 5 pieces of paper or 5 new Word documents and write one topic or key concept at the top of each page. Add keywords or phrases or use mnemonics when you list your points.
2
Without referring to a textbook, write, in your own words, a short definition or description of each key concept – no more than 10 lines.
3
Check your definition and description against your lecture notes, textbook and study guide.
4
Revise and modify your notes based on the information in your lecture notes, textbook and so on.
5
Place the pieces of paper or Word documents in order of importance and number them 1 to 5. You could base this on the learning objectives of the paper.
You can repeat the process for up to 9 concepts, as this is the approximate limit you can recall last minute. You'll have difficulty remembering more than 5 to 9 concepts at this late stage .
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