The Teenager's Guide To: Last Minute Revision
Exam season. It's just around the corner, and let's be honest, we all knew it was coming and may have been trying to push it to a far corner in our brains for the longest period of time possible. But now it's almost here! If any of you are anything like me, you're probably panicking and wondering why on earth you didn't follow your parents', your teachers' and even your lazy friend-who-always-leaves-things-until-last-minute's advice to start revision early! Well it's too late now, and now you have only a matter of days to get all of that cramming in for the dozens of exams you have coming up! But don't worry too much, as here is my guide to last minute revision...
#1. Make lots of notes of what you need to learn. You can use your textbooks, work books, exercise books, or the internet (I personally recommend BBC Bitesize!). Have these notes organised in a folder or a book and make sure it is always easily accessible to you! These notes should be easy to read and understand.
#2. Highlight the most important facts or words you need to know. These could be keywords, dates or theories.
#3. Use revision techniques that work best for you to help you learn your notes, especially anything that you've highlighted. These techniques could include flash cards, making puzzles out of your revision notes etc. It will help you immensely if you already know what type of learner you are: Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic. Take an online test if you don't already know.
#4. However, this is Last Minute Revision. Therefore, since you haven't had long at all to actually learn all of your notes before your exam, prepare some notes on your phone or iPod (or create flash cards) that you can look at when you get ready in the morning and on your journey to your exam. This will help any facts that your brain did not get to fully process stay fresh in your mind.
#5. Make sure that you are eating healthily! It is important that you have a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins,minerals and sugar. Ensure that you are eating your five a day, that you get enough carbs and protein, and that you are drinking enough water (Click on http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY/Pages/5ADAYontherun.aspx and http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/water-drinks.aspx For more information on this). It is important that you enter your exam feeling happy and healthy, and not sluggish and sleepy.
#6. Get enough sleep. As tempting as it is to cram all the information you can all night long, this is actually decreasing your brain performance and can actually make you do worse in the exam. Sleep is important, as it helps enhance your brain performance and refreshes your body. Try to aim for 8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep deprivation can also lead to increased anxiety, and that is one of the last things you want before going in for an exam.
#7. Breaks. It's okay to have study breaks, as it decreases stress and helps whatever you've just revised 'settle in' to your brain. However, if you have truly left your revision to last minute, you've probably had enough breaks already! With that said, you need to give your brain at least half an hour to relax to avoid overloading it with information that you'll forget in the next hour.
So there you have it. The Teenager's Guide To Last Minute Revision. I hope you find this helpful, and remember not to get too stressed over exams, but remember that a tiny bit of stress may be the key to motivating you to get your revision done!
(disclaimer: don't rely 100% on this guide - you should have started revising earlier!
I do not personally own any images used :) )
#1. Make lots of notes of what you need to learn. You can use your textbooks, work books, exercise books, or the internet (I personally recommend BBC Bitesize!). Have these notes organised in a folder or a book and make sure it is always easily accessible to you! These notes should be easy to read and understand.
#2. Highlight the most important facts or words you need to know. These could be keywords, dates or theories.
#3. Use revision techniques that work best for you to help you learn your notes, especially anything that you've highlighted. These techniques could include flash cards, making puzzles out of your revision notes etc. It will help you immensely if you already know what type of learner you are: Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic. Take an online test if you don't already know.
#4. However, this is Last Minute Revision. Therefore, since you haven't had long at all to actually learn all of your notes before your exam, prepare some notes on your phone or iPod (or create flash cards) that you can look at when you get ready in the morning and on your journey to your exam. This will help any facts that your brain did not get to fully process stay fresh in your mind.
#5. Make sure that you are eating healthily! It is important that you have a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins,minerals and sugar. Ensure that you are eating your five a day, that you get enough carbs and protein, and that you are drinking enough water (Click on http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY/Pages/5ADAYontherun.aspx and http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/water-drinks.aspx For more information on this). It is important that you enter your exam feeling happy and healthy, and not sluggish and sleepy.
#6. Get enough sleep. As tempting as it is to cram all the information you can all night long, this is actually decreasing your brain performance and can actually make you do worse in the exam. Sleep is important, as it helps enhance your brain performance and refreshes your body. Try to aim for 8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep deprivation can also lead to increased anxiety, and that is one of the last things you want before going in for an exam.
#7. Breaks. It's okay to have study breaks, as it decreases stress and helps whatever you've just revised 'settle in' to your brain. However, if you have truly left your revision to last minute, you've probably had enough breaks already! With that said, you need to give your brain at least half an hour to relax to avoid overloading it with information that you'll forget in the next hour.
So there you have it. The Teenager's Guide To Last Minute Revision. I hope you find this helpful, and remember not to get too stressed over exams, but remember that a tiny bit of stress may be the key to motivating you to get your revision done!
(disclaimer: don't rely 100% on this guide - you should have started revising earlier!
I do not personally own any images used :) )
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