What is the best way to do Revision? Student’s Complete guide for Effective Revision

Final Exams coming closer, students in spite of good preparation got nervous. Why? Because they have a fear of failure or lose hope of getting good marks/grades. Well, that’s like accepting defeat before a fight. Fear to Fail is the failure itself. You are nothing to fear my dear students, exams are designed to analyse your progress, make you strong and eliminate your weakness, don’t think exams as a threat but in fact, it helps you find a better opportunity in future. In this post, I’m going to share the best way to revise just before your final exams.

Revision, Repetition, Rehearsal, whatever you name it – is the mother of memory for exams. If you can revise in Systemic way, you can remember the information stored in Long-term memory. Without revision, we forget 82% that too within 24 hours. We remember better about 10 minutes after learning finishes.

Why?

The reason for this strange memory phenomenon is simple: the moment learning period finishes, the brain didn’t get enough time to organise and store the last items. So, always remember memory decreases sharply after initial learning. Hence, you must revise/ rehearse in a systematic way to get the maximum benefit.

The following are the main reasons why you are forgetting in your final exam:

1.     Improper preparation

2.     Improper understanding of the subject

3.     Not paying enough attention

4.     Boredom/ tiresomeness

5.     Tension/ nervousness

6.     Interference from other memories

7.     Inability to retrieve a memory etc.

Ok! Now you know how important it is to do the Revision before your Final Exam. Besides, to that, you also know the main reasons why you are forgetting in your exam.

Now, let us see how to tackle this problem!

A Systematic Revision plan can help you increase your memory power and keep you stay focused.

Generally, Revision is to revise what you have already learned. Therefore, you must have already followed steps for preparation, now you just need to revise that learned information just before your final exams.

3 Simple Steps to Start your Revision (GET, SET and GO! Method)

1.     GET Revision Planned

Revision plan is your Action plan for your systematic revision. For this action plan, you need to prepare two things – IQ lists and Study Plan

“Why IQ list?”

Because your syllabus is very vast and you can’t just start revising each and every topic which you already learned during the whole semester or year. You would probably waste your precious time before the exam. IQ list means Important Questions list. This list consists of the most important questions from the examination point of view. While preparing your own IQ list refer the most important topics of each unit and previous year question papers.

“How to prepare your study plan?”

Once you have your IQ list, prepare your study plan by setting your daily goals. You need to distribute your IQ list in your study plan according to your priority. It must be achievable by you. Set your daily goal for each subject.

Let’s say, you have a total of 6 subjects (2 languages and 4 main subjects) and 30 topics in each IQ list.

First, distribute your subjects like one language and two mains subjects each day.

Next, distribute subject topics like two topics for each subject.

In short, you need to revise the total of three subjects and six topics daily. In this sense, you will be able to cover your Revision in just 30 days! Don’t forget to give priority to your weak subjects.

2.     SET Time Limit

Timing is the key in your Smart and Systematic Revision. So set your time for your revision. To do that decide:

“How many hours you are going to study every day during Revision?”

Well, your daily study time may differ from Revision study time, let’s say an average student normally study 2 hour daily, needs to study at least 6-8 hours during Revision.

“How you are going to distribute it in your study plan?”

Let’s say, an average student may plan to study 3 subjects daily then he/she may distribute it in 3 sessions.

“How you are going to break those sessions?”

Very important because you can’t just go on studying continuously for 6-8 hours or even 2 hours, you need a break so consider a 2-hour full break for every 2 hours of study and also take 5 minutes short breaks for every half an hour study to break that monotony and stay motivated.

3.     Go with your Revision Technique

Planned your Action plan, fixed your time limit now it’s time for Action. Revision techniques can differ for every individual, so decide and select which suit best to your personality. Every individual’s memory store information differently so decide which suits you best. Some of the famous revision techniques are as follows:

·       Revising through colourful charts/ diagrams/acronym

·       Revising through repeating and reciting in tune

·       Revising through reading and copying

·       Revising through listening and repeating

·       Revising through teaching and learning etc.

So, what’s your style for revising? Comment below.

Ok! How you can make this step by step Revision plan effective? Here is your bonus tips – do’s and don’ts during your revision.

Bonus tips: Do’s and Don’ts while you revise

Do’s

1.     Be honest with yourself

Be honest with yourself; use 3D’s (Determination, Dedication and Disciple) to achieve your daily revision goals. Be honest, be humble but do justice, don’t cheat yourself. Be positive in your action you will yield a positive result.

2.     Start as soon as possible

Start your revision as soon as possible, at least 2 months before your final exams but it’s never too late to start your revision.

3.     Start Early morning

Start your day with revision for tough subjects, as early morning brain functions 100 per cent that means you will be more concentrating and more focused. Here is my personal trick to wake me up when I used to study – Use alarm clock for 4’Oclock and brush your teeth so you completely waken up and don’t fall asleep again. (Keep alarm, toothpaste and brush beside you)

4.     Follow your timetable

Follow your revision timetable for organised revision, all your goals are achievable and in written form so do your best to achieve your daily goals. Always track your goals as this can remind you how much you have covered in your revision and how much you need to cover. (don’t just see that the glass is half empty)

5.     Maintain your time limit

Maintain your fixed time limit during revision, because timing is everything. This is probably because once the time is gone it never going to come back, so utilize your time effectively. As time management is needed in your exam hall as well.

6.     Complete your IQ lists

Complete your Important Questions list during your revision, as this will cover all important topics from exam point of view.

7.     Take summary notes and test yourself

Always take your own summary notes for your understanding and recollecting during exams. This is to see the big picture into small and consumable forms. Also, always test yourself by writing pre-final exams, mock test etc. this will ensure you how effective your revision plan is working? 

8.     Take breaks

Taking breaks is very important as I mentioned in the second step set time limit above. Because our brain needs time to store information, if you continue without break, you tend to lose that information. Take 5 minute short breaks for every 25-30 minute revision, just go and get yourself a cup of tea or water or snacks or stretch your body or just say hi to you mom who is always busy in her work. In addition to that take 2-hour long break for every 2 hours of revision session, you can have your meals, do your prayers, go to the gym, go for a walk or take a nap or even socialize with your friends and family.

9.     Stay hydrated

Stay hydrated; drink at least 8-10 glass of water every day. Water accounts for 60 per cent of our body and is essential to every cell. Drinking water could improve your thinking, helps you stay calm and quell your anxiety, which is very important for students as it affects their performance in the exam. So, staying hydrated keeps your memory sharp, your mood stable and your motivation intact. In short, it can actually help you solve your toughest problems!

10.  Eat and Exercise

Students, who eat healthy and exercise regularly, perform better during and after their academic studies. Including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, dairy products, nuts etc. in your diet and Exercising at least for 1 hour by walking, jogging, cycling, swimming can actually help you to stay strong physically, mentally and emotionally during your revision.

11.  Sleep well

Sleep affects almost every part of our body from brain, heart and lung to metabolism, immune function, disease resistance and mood. Sleeping well is the key for your daily focused revision. Students need to take at least 6-8 hours of sleep at night to rejuvenate the body and get back the next day for action.

Don’ts

1.     Don’t think negative

Fear, depression, stress, anxiety gives the room for negative thoughts, don’t think negative as it will reflect in your performance. Believe in yourself do you best and leave it to God. Never underestimate yourself. Nothing is Impossible in this world; somebody scored 99% then you can too.

2.     Don’t give up

Simply giving up in the middle of your revision just before the exam is not an option. Sometimes students get overwhelmed by the vast syllabus and think to give up but no matter how big your challenge is, breaking it down is necessary to reach your goals. Ask for help but never give up on yourself.

3.     Don’t indulge yourself

I know your syllabus is vast maybe your IQ list is too, a big task for you and time is less but that doesn’t mean you indulge yourself. Stretching yourself for longer sessions without breaks will never produce good result as I said this before, the brain will not get a chance to store the last information so don’t indulge yourself. Switch subjects and don’t forget to take breaks.

4.     Don’t get distracted 

Switch off all stuff that can distract you during your revision session because if you lose track you lose interest, you lose the chance to succeed. Especially the TV, internet, Wi-Fi, games and disturbing family and friends.

5.     Don’t skip your meals

Don’t skip meals just because you have classes or a tight study schedule. Skipping meals is not a solution for your problem but indeed is a problem in itself, as the brain needs nutrients from food if you want to store information continuously, eat right on right time.

6.     Don’t study at late night

Nowadays many students prefer to study late night but what is the need to study late night when you can study in the early morning, of course, if you sleep on time. Because night is meant to revive our body, all the stress you put in daylong is revived at night and if you study late at night then you will be exhausted all day long, you will not be able to concentrate the next day.

That’s it my amazing learners!

Remember you are the future; belief in yourself, I know that there is something inside you, which is greater than any obstacle or any challenge. Trust your preparation and write your final exam confidently. Don’t you ever dare to lose faith and hope because when there is a will there is away. You are born to win but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win and expect to win. Lastly, have faith and leave it to God. Inshallah, you will succeed and your success will shine like stars and diamonds.

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Till then take care and keep learning!