Exam season is just around the corner, which means your evenings will soon be filled with revision sessions and practice test papers. Here at Tutor Doctor we want you to get a head start with revision by honing in on your study skills and revision methods now. That’s why we’ve put together some super helpful study tips that will help you achieve your goals and beyond!
1.Understand topics in your own words
In order to thrive in any exam you need to have a sound understanding of what you are writing about and the theory behind it. It’s easy to sit and read out of a textbook or listen to a teacher, but one of the key study tips is to learn topics so that you understand them and are able to talk about them in your own words. Start by getting into the habit of writing study notes in a way that you can understand them. Copying notes word for word out a textbook or from the whiteboard, won’t be much use when you are trying to revise and need to understand the key points.
Once you have started practicing this, you could even test your knowledge by talking through a subject with parents or a family member, explaining everything you know about it. This way you will be talking about the topic in your own words and speaking without prompts or notes.
2.Test Yourself
Once you feel like you have mastered a subject, it’s crucial that you test yourself. Start by replicating exam conditions; turn off your phone, time yourself and don’t talk to anyone. You can then test yourself with a quiz, a practice paper or just write down everything you know about that particular subject. As long as you approach practice with the right mindset, it will give you an indication on how much you really know.
3.Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Never be afraid to ask questions if you don’t quite understand a topic or a theory. Teachers, tutors, parents, friends and family are all there to support you and help you achieve your goals, so make sure you soak up their knowledge. You never know, that one question might be the difference between a grade in your final exam. Remember there really is no such thing as a silly question!
4.Set goals and create a study plan
To be successful in your exams, you need to know what you want to achieve. Start by going through each subject and writing out on a piece of paper a realistic grade that you want to reach by the end of your exams. Stick this on your wall or fridge- ideally somewhere you will see it everyday.
Once you have some study goals in place you can now outline what you need to do to reach them. Remember your study plan needs to be realistic but flexible. This way if you need to cover a different topic one night because you’re not feeling as confident in a certain area as you would like to be, you need to allow for this. It’s also important during revision periods to be strict with yourself and stick to your revision plan as much as you can. If you ever find yourself de-motivated, think back to the goals you originally set yourself.
5.Get Creative with studying
Sitting with a book and a highlighter isn’t the only way you can study- there are loads of different techniques out there, you just need to be creative. For example, flashcards are an easy and fun study method and are ideal for boosting your memory and helping you recall theory, definitions and dates. They are also the perfect tool if you only have time for a quick study session or if you need to refresh your memory just before an exam. Other effective ways to study include mind maps, mnemonics, video and audio resources, quizzes, practice exam papers, posters, getting family members to quiz you and re-writing notes. Remember, using revision techniques that work best for you will always get you the best results. This means choosing the methods that will ensure you retain as much information as possible and are dare we say it- are enjoyable!
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