Top up revision
Tuesday 22 April 2008
Leaving revision to the last minute can be really stressful. So what do you do, if you know you haven’t done enough?
Do what you can
Everyone knows the first rule of revision – don’t leave it until the last minute! However what if, for any number of reasons, the reality is different?
If you do find yourself in that situation try to be real with yourself and accept that there is no way that you’re going to be able to prepare in depth.
However the worst thing you can do is give up and say there is no point. Although time may be short, you can still make a difference to your grade. There is always something you can pull off.
Face facts
So what’s the best way to make the most of the time you do have?
Start by using the time you have left constructively, don't put it off anymore and keep at it until the day of the exam.
You probably know more than you realise, so concentrate on the areas that you feel most confident about. Better to do a few things well rather than a lot of things badly!
- Ask yourself which subjects are most likely to come up? If you’re not sure perhaps you can ask a friend, or your teacher to help you identity the subject areas that are the most important.
- Once you have prioritised topic areas, try to pick out the main facts and points of that subject. Don’t get bogged down with the small details, go for the main facts first.
- If there’s a big topic you don’t understand, try to get help immediately. Swallow your pride and ask a teacher for help, or perhaps a friend who you know is better at that subject.
- If you have made notes in the lead up to exams, use those revision tools to help you take in the main facts.
- Try also to focus on subjects that you already have some knowledge of.
Practice run
One of the best ways to do last minute and top up revision is to work through past and mock exams. This will also help prepare you for the type of questions you are likely to see and the way the exam will be laid out.
If you’re doing GCSE’s, the BBC’s Bitesize site has lots of mock exams you can download as well as interactive help and games.
For A levels and even some degree courses you might also find the revision-notes site helpful.
The night before
Experts say that one of the biggest problem surrounding revision and exams is stress. It can make even the most thorough reviser think they can't remember anything and even lead to panic attacks. So, even if you know you could have done more, try not to get stressed.
Staying up all night before the exam is never a good idea. Being over tired will mean you have poor concentration and probably won’t remember most of what you’ve read anyway.
Instead try to have an early night and keep calm. Don't focus on passing or failing.
Second chance
Fingers-crossed you'll pass. But failing doesn't mean you're a failure in life. It simply means you didn't manage to make the grade in a particular subject - this time around. And hopefully next time you'll remember the golden rule.
Now stop reading this and go and revise! Good luck.
