High-school students are not really fond of exam revision, especially when it comes to GCSE revisions. Yet, if they want to pursue A-levels and get into a good university, these tests are compulsory. Believe it or not, it is possible to revise efficiently in a month; all you need to do is plan your time accordingly. It’s not a good idea to cram all your courses in a day because it will be impossible for you to remember so many details. If you want to succeed in your GCSE exams and score excellent marks, the following tips will be of great assistance. Let’s check them out.
Quality studying
If your GCSE exam is a month away, now it would the perfect time to start studying. Acknowledge the great importance of these tests, and don’t forget that your academic future depends on them. Now that we’ve cleared that out, let’s get down to business. A 2-hour revision daily should be enough as long as you make the most of that time. Make a timetable and write down the dates of the exams. Start revising for the earliest, but don’t focus your attention on one exam only.
Preparing notes
Prior to starting an exam revision for GCSE exams, students should have their notes properly organized. Gather all your papers together, including books study guides, revision notes, and so on. Arrange them on courses and make sure the material is complete. If you missed a couple of classes or you’re not sure if your syllabus is complete, ask your colleagues for help. Don’t leave anything out! Having notes properly organized is a must otherwise you risk looking for a needle in a haystack, which means losing precious time searching for a piece of information you don’t even know it’s there.
Past papers can get you out of trouble
Past papers are an excellent way for students to get to know the format of their GCSE exam. By the time the real test arrives you’ll be already accustomed with the pattern. Past papers can also be used to revise. Analyze the questions, see if you can give a straight answer, and if you’re having difficulties you can go back to your revision notes and see if you can retrieve the information from there.
GCSE revision techniques
There are numerous types of revision techniques out there, and what might fit a student might not fit another. Although your exams are in less than 30 days, there’s still time for you to find a style that compliments your character and personality. Are you a visual or an auditory learner? Do you enjoy reading books or you’d rather stick to courses and study guides? Some of the most common GCSE revision techniques are:
- Mind-mapping
- Flashcards
- Revision cards
- Revision notes
- Mnemonics
- Past papers
- Audio studying
- Group studying
- Highlighting
Some students feel more comfortable when they study in groups. Others on the other hand, would rather be alone for two hours and take all the time they need to make flashcards or underline key words to make the most of their study session. It might be difficult to find a style, so all you have to do try them and see how it goes.
Prioritize your topics
Prioritizing topics is compulsory. For example, if you’re a Math geek with a fondness for number and formulas, but you’re not that good at English Literature, begin your revision with the latter course. Start slow and don’t treat your study session superficially. Remember, you have two hours at your disposal to get into your head useful information. Don’t stall and focus on your goal. You might not like Great Expectations by Dickens, but if you have great expectations from your exam revisions, it’s up to you to be 100% committed to focused on quality studying.
Passing GCSE exams with flying colors is not something impossible to achieve, even if you’re on a 30-day countdown. Rather than stress about how little time you’ve got left, you’d better spend it by focusing on making the most of your exam revisions. Quality learning is paramount, so try not to read your notes for 15 minutes and spend the rest of your time playing video games of chatting on Facebook, because that’s not a very fruitful way of scoring As in GCSEs.
Christopher Austin is an education writer who loves to spread his knowledge about various education topics. He is a regular blogger who basically blogs for education sites. Also he writes for a site www.yorknotes.com where you can get revision notes, study guides and chapter summaries on English Literature.