You’re no stranger to an exam, or the revision that comes with it. You know what it’s like to sit down in an airless room twiddling a pen between your fingers. You know what it’s like to suddenly forget how to do basic maths or to spell anything with a double consonant.
But your first exams as an undergrad can be daunting. The only thing that’s standing in the way of your career is a blank answer box. Luckily for you, you revised. You’re going to smash it.
Read on to explore some of our exam revision tips and techniques, so you’ll have nothing to worry about on the big day.
Start early
We love an early start. Okay, we’re lying – but they’re definitely important. The more last-minute you leave things, the more you’ll have to cram in a shorter amount of time. Which, if we’re doing the maths right, means more stress.
Not to sound like a nagging parent, but trust us – we’ve been there. It’s never great to think about filling your weekends or Christmas break with boring flashcards and timetablesBut it does feel good to know you’re on top of things and ready to tackle your first exam. Plus, revision doesn’t have to be boring. Go mad with the highlighters, get some fancy stickers and spruce up your spreadsheets. Revision is an art if you do it right.
Maybe begin to think about starting some top-level revision over Christmas. This could mean gathering all the sources you’ll need, or re-reading the papers you’ve been meaning to refresh yourself on. Home is one of the best places to revise, in our opinion. Free food, for a start.
Create a revision timetable
Creating a university exam revision timetable is all about being realistic. You may think it’s practical to cram seven hours of revision in a day – but that doesn’t leave you with any room to do, well, anything.
One of the best techniques is organising things into blocks. That way, you can map out around three to five hours a day. Plus, if you stick to that, you can even keep your weekends free.
It’s also important to leave gaps and schedule time to relax, socialise and do things that make you happy. Even if that’s scrolling for half an hour between modules. Whatever shape it takes, downtime is important. Do try and take some screen breaks as regularly as you can. Headaches and blurry vision don’t put you in the mood for revision.
Some of the best tools to help you timetable are:
Smart timetable - an easy-to-use, colour-blocked schedule app. For fans of lists.
Timetable – a customisable weekly plan tailored for studying. For fans of calendars.
Class Timetable – a simple, listed schedule with editable tasks. For fans of ticking things off.
Find a revision method that works for you
Unsurprisingly, not everyone’s brains are the same, which means not everyone will be able to use the same exam revision methods.
For example, passive revision, like re-reading through notes, is less likely to help important info stick. However, for some people, this might be the perfect solution.
Everything is worth a try. But you may want to give some other revision methods a go – for example:
Flashcards
A classic. Flashcards allow you to break down information into sequenced, bite-sized chunks, which makes facts easier to retain. It stops you from overloading your brain with big passages and stacks of sums. Plus, as you progress through the cards, it gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Practice exam questions
Of course, it’d be a miracle if you practised an existing question and it turned up in your exam. But that’s not what this technique is about. Practising with old papers helps you to exercise those exam muscles, and identify what topics you might not be doing so well in. It also helps you to become a little more familiar with exam questions, so you’re not lost for words when the real thing is in front of you.
Study groups
Revision can feel lonely. Just sitting in your room going over the same papers, reading flashcards to yourself. A study group can make exam revision feel a little less dreaded, and more sociable. It also helps you to understand what techniques other people are using, so you could find new ways of working.
Mind Maps
Mind maps can help you visualise facts and relate them to certain cues and images. Like flashcards, they can help to sequence things and break information down into smaller chunks. They also allow you to organise topics and passages into a connected structure, almost like you’re creating a pattern of information. Plus, a mind map gives you the opportunity to use coloured pens.
Sticky notes
Sticky notes can be stuck in places you regularly look at, so you can absorb facts and info away from your desk. They help you to break up your revision time, so you’re not focussing on retaining things in one big chunk. Brushing your teeth? Well, did you know that, according to the bathroom mirror, the Declaration of Independence was signed on 2nd August 1776?
Rhymes, stories and mnemonics
Rhymes and stories are both mnemonics – techniques used to improve your memory. Rhyming, especially, creates a regular, memorable pattern. The sing-song cadence of having each line end similarly can help you remember the next part of the sequence. Stories, also, are just a more prolonged way of sequencing information. Though perhaps less embarrassing to say to yourself in a public space.
Try to stay calm
We know saying ‘stay calm’ when you’re panicking is never useful. But it’s important to recognise that exam and revision stress can take its toll.
When we say ‘try to stay calm’, it’s more about listening to your body and knowing when enough is enough for the day. Don’t overdo it – you’ll do yourself more harm than good. There’s only so much you can cram into your brain in a certain amount of time before it all spills out.
Pace yourself, both in your revision and mentally. Treat yourself when you hit milestones, and follow that exam revision timetable, leaving room for off days.
A few tips to follow could be:
Practice mindfulness
You don’t have to be a meditation expert to practice mindfulness. In fact, it’s one of the most accessible, on-the-go techniques to ground yourself. Mindfulness can take the form of ‘body mapping’, where you focus on different parts of your body and work your way up. Or you could simply list things in your space – green car, red notebook, black pen – or practice breathing exercises. It’s about tuning in, rather than zoning out.
Recognise your achievements with rewards
Revision shouldn’t sap all the joy out of your day. To avoid the gut-dread feeling, start rewarding yourself when you hit certain milestones. Finish getting through your sources? Go buy yourself a fancy coffee. Completed your exam revision timetable for the day? Cook yourself some dinner – or get a takeaway. Or have a nap.
Take time out
Organise your day and timetables to allow for gaps. Don’t feel pressured to do something – or anything – in these spare hours, take the time to distance yourself. Whether it’s going for a walk, reading, or jumping into a game, letting your brain disengage from absorbing information is key.
Stay connected
Break out of the isolation of revision by staying connected to friends and family. Although you don’t want to get too distracted, refreshing your brain with conversation can help keep you on track. It’s also just nice to distance yourself from the world of your exams. Things can feel overwhelming at times, so it’s nice to remind yourself you have people to talk to.
Look after yourself
During exam season, you may be prioritising revision over pretty much everything. But more important than getting those flashcards finished is looking after yourself.
Besides looking for the right exam revision tips and techniques, you need to stay in tune with yourself. And while you may be feeling overwhelmed and hyper-focussed, you need to keep your mind and body as healthy as possible.
This means:
Remembering to eat properly
Drinking enough water
Getting enough sleep
Taking breaks when you feel run down
Listening to your body
Speaking up when you’re feeling overwhelmed
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Though, it’s all connected. Take a look at our guide on mental health to find out more about what you can do to look after yourself.
