Best revision techniques for students to ace exams

Exams are approaching, and let’s be realistic. Stress levels among students are skyrocketing. The pressure to study a long list of chapters and the fear of forgetting everything in the exam hall is engulfing them. As per a recent survey, 85% of students have experienced anxiety during exams. 

In fact, it doesn’t have to be that difficult. You just need the right revision strategies to walk into that exam hall confidently and perform your best. Let’s check out a list of the best revision methods to tackle exam stress effectively.

Understanding Revision

Revision means going through what you have already studied to make sure you understand and remember it. It’s all about actively engaging with the study materials to reinforce all that you have learnt previously. The main aim of revisions is to prepare the students for the exam effectively.

Top Revision Techniques to Ace Exams

Check out some techniques on how to revise for your upcoming exams:

1. Active Recall

Active recall is like taking a memory test in your brain. You are not reading over your notes; instead, you are trying to remember something from memory. It makes your brain work harder. 

Active recall revision methods are easy to practice. Once you read through a topic, just close your book and try to write everything you can remember. You can even create questions for yourself using tools like Quizlets. Then, answer them on your own and check their accuracy.

2. Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is all about distributing your study sessions for better retention. It avoids your tendency to cram everything in a single setting. Assume that you have studied Chapter 1 of Maths on Day 1. As per this technique, you must review the same portion on Day 3 and then on Day 7. 

This would be really helpful for subjects with large volumes of information, like biology or history. Unfortunately, 76% of students above Year 10 aren’t spacing their revision regularly.

3. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a visual method to connect ideas together. Many secondary schools encourage this technique to make complex ideas easier to digest. Check out how to do it:

• Write the main topic in the center of your page.
• Draw branches for each subtopic. Online tools like MindMester would be really helpful in the drawing part.
• You can break down the subtopics even further for more detail. This layout diagrammatically exercises your brain in relating and perceiving hierarchies.
• Use a variety of colors to mark different branches so as to help your memory.

4. Pomodoro Technique

Pomodoro is a technique that breaks up your study time into decently manageable chunks. It works really well for students who cannot focus for long periods of time. 

Under this methodology, you must set a timer for about 25 minutes. You must focus on one specific task during that time. As soon as the timer rings, take a 5-minute breaker for relaxation. Repeat this for 4 times. Then, you can have a break of 15-30 minutes. The main idea behind the Pomodoro technique is to prevent burnout and keep your mind sharp.

5. Use of Flashcards

Flashcards are one of the most versatile revision methods for memorizing the portion. They work on the principles of active recall and spaced repetition. 

First of all, take one side of the flashcard to write down a question or keyword. Then, put the answer on the other. You must shuffle and review the flashcards frequently. Try to concentrate more on difficult ones. The Flashcards technique is mainly used in subjects where precision matters a lot, like maths and science.

6. Teaching the Material

Teaching is perhaps an underrated revision method. Explaining concepts to other people has proven to be extremely effective in one’s learning. 

That’s why many schools promote student seminar sessions from the high school. It lets you organize your thoughts and know the material on a much deeper level. You can start by teaching your own classmates. If you don’t have a partner, practice by teaching in front of a mirror or recording yourself.

7. Practice With Past Papers

Past papers will be your best friend when sitting for exams. It’s easily available on many school websites and educational forums. They will clearly help you understand the pattern of questions. 

You can start by timing yourself while doing a paper under exam conditions. When done, refer to your answers against marking schemes. Finally, work on the mistakes you have identified and focus on the improvement needed in weak areas.

8. Group Study Sessions

If done properly, group study sessions are one of the most effective revision methods. Studying with your classmates lets you exchange ideas. 

You can even assign topics to each member to teach or solve some questions. Thus, you can explore some unique perspectives that you haven’t considered before. Yet, it is better to keep the group small (3-5 students) to stay focused. 

Additional Tips For Effective Revision

Want some more tips to improve your revision? Check it out:

• Set up an Ideal Environment: Firstly, create an environment that pushes your brain to ‘study mode’. You want to be comfortable but not so comfortable that you fall asleep. So, a good chair and a desk setup is enough. Similarly, remove gadgets that have nothing to do with studying from your study area. 
• Practice Note-Taking Methods: Good notes are the base of good revision. Therefore, you must use note taking methods like Cornell Notes, where you divide your page into sections for main points. You can even highlight the most important information to make it easy to review later. 
• Prioritize Health: Even though it is good to study hard, overexerting the brain can play against you. Eat well and ensure you get enough sleep, that is, 7–8 hours. Remember, a well-rested brain can recall information much better.
• Track your Studies: Before starting a revision session, you must have a clear-cut idea as to what you expect to achieve. Try to present them in the form of a checklist. Then, keep track of the topics you have revised and compare them with your checklist. Consistent tracking is required to make sure that your learning is systematic. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Revision

Even small mistakes can cost a lot in revisions. Here are some such common pitfalls to avoid:

• Trying to glance at everything the last night before the exam is the core reason behind poor marks. Instead, you must always start way ahead with proven revision methods like spaced repetition.
• Mere reading doesn’t confirm that you have learned something. Frequent self-testing is required to understand the gaps you should fill. 
• Long study hours are an absolute no. Your brain needs time to process information. 
• There is a habit of scribbling everything down; this leads to a mess where it’s too hard to actually revise from them. Suitable note-taking methods must be employed to sum up the key points. 

Conclusion

As the most reputed International CBSE School in Ahmedabad, GIIS believes that perfect revision practice is required to excel academically. That’s why we fine-tune some of the best revision methods in our curriculum.

All these strategies will help your children remember things and, more importantly, apply the concept at the right time. Join us now!