Revision Tips (history but all tips welcome)

[mixedmamameansbusiness]

I am sitting my first set of exams in May/June for 12 years and desperately need some guidance.

Teaching finished last week and I am starting my revision this week.

I have 2 modules and have picked my subjects that I think I can answer questions on (having looked at exactly what comes up on the past exam papers). I have committed 3 evenings a week to revision focussing on one subject at a time increasing towards the deadline to a whole week and the last few weekends.

My questions are really what do I actually do with this time. Please share all your tips for me and for anyone else.

The only suggestion that came up from my lecturer is this:

1. Index cards, theme and subject titled, bullet points of main points

Add your tip and lets create a full proof revision plan.

Get hold of past papers and do some full against-the-clock practice answers and/or take a question, set a timer for 10 mins and brainstorm/produce a plan for your answer.

Analyse the past papers to see what the pattern of questions is from year to year. You may well be able to predict what will come up.

The 10 minute plan idea sounds like a good way to get the ideas out to start with.

Sorry, you already said you'd analysed the past papers!

But it is helpful to know what to do with them. I think that in my first sessions this week your idea will really help me 'recall' what I can and then I can focus my reading on the missing gaps.

No, I am a part time red brick student.

I used to get revision exhaustion very quickly if just working alone from the books/course materials so one thing that worked for me was to get as much variety into my revision activities as possible. Things that worked well for me were:

• listening to relevant podcasts and applying course concepts/knowledge to the content (this isn't very exam-focused but it was a good way to keep my brain working when not doing more focused activities)

• swapping marked assignments with other students and 'marking' them with comments

• organising online revision chats: these were quite structured and focused on collective brainstorming of questions from past papers

Thanks Prolesworth. That is all great, particularly the Podcasts idea.

We have discussed amongst my peer group having revision sessions but I think we are debating our ability to stick to the subject, but I certainly think talking things out can help.

I am hugely excited but also massively overwhelmed. I did well in my assignments this year (1st) but they dont count and really want to set a precedent for myself if that makes sense.

Just remember that you've already done all the hard work with your assignments - that's where all the learning goes on, and the exams are your chance to show off all that knowledge.

I'm sure you'll do brilliantly :)

if you have a group of friends doing same course, 'teach' each other about the one you were best on. Create mind maps and bullet point notes to share - speaking about the topic (esp in history) helps gel ideas in your own mind and if you are talking and get it wrong the others can point it out so you all refine your notes as you go along. finally keep it short - 20 mins, cup of tea, 20 mins, loo break, 20 mins, 5 min chat etc and reward with a glass (no more than 2) of wine ONLY if you stick to your plan by the evening.
good luck - full of admiration

oh and colour coded notes always helped me - I had one colour for must remember dates, another for key people, another for key events etc.

Thanks Bratella. Colour coding is a good idea.

Good advice on here

You might also want to practice your handwriting; both speed and legibility; you're probably not in the habit of writing by hand for hours at a time. .

Very good point, the lecturers did mention that and I promptly forgot.