The easiest way to succeed is revision and going over and over the content. Revision is different for everyone. I learn best by writing notes on videos and resources whereas others prefer to listen to pod casts which are available on our Incredible Study Guides, BBC Bitesize or My GCSE science. Your revision strategy will come with practice and will become more honed as you progress.
Firstly make notes. Use the revision guide and/or the subject specification and make notes on each topic, I used sites such as BBC Bitesize, My GCSE science and My maths to go over topics and teach myself topics I don’t understand. After I have a basic set of notes I condense them until they are concise as possible. I always include diagrams and colour code my work to make it easier to see and revise from.
Originally, in year 9 and 10, I would then condense the notes further until I had an A4 sheet of notes for each exam that I could quickly review.
As I progressed further I found it easier to use the pomodoro technique to make my notes:
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Decide on the task to be done
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Set the pomodoro timer to n minutes (traditionally 25)
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Work on the task until the timer rings; record with an x
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Take a short break (3–5 minutes)
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After four pomodori, take a longer break (15–30 minutes)
I found this would help the information stick in my mind better. Eventually I would have compiled my own mini revision guide contain the information and diagrams I struggled most with. I would use this to read through and ask my parents to test me from it.
The information should be in concise bullet points easy to memorise and read. Finally I do each past paper, mark it, revise the content for the questions I got wrong and then do the paper again. I do this until I can score 100% on each paper.
When I revise I put my phone somewhere where I can’t use it and be distracted by it. Always work in a quiet area where you can sit comfortably, I always have a bottle of water nearby and food because I can’t concentrate when I’m hungry. Also I find it helps me remember things because I have something else to associate the information to, e.g. whilst eating ice cream and revising history I can associate the dates of the Russian Tsars with this ice cream.
Remove all distractions, in year 9, I would revise using the laptop but I would end up browsing the internet instead, if you can’t use the laptop without being distracted then don’t use it.
Always sleep, during study leave I always wake up at 8am and go to bed at 10pm, you can’t concentrate when you’re tired! During my exam seasons I always eat healthily it seems to make a difference it’s something I started doing from year 11 and my results and capacity to revise seemed to increase.
When I structure my revision days I set myself a goal for the morning, plan when I’ll have my meal breaks, set an afternoon goal, meal break and then I have the evenings to relax or go out making sure I’m back early enough to get a good night’s sleep.
Have flop days; nobody can revise constantly and having evenings off isn’t enough. I always take Sundays off but its crucial to make sure that you complete the quotas for the week to reward yourself with the flop day. Set goals and complete them.
Who is Faheem Hussain?
Faheem Hussain is an educational expert, educational specialist and an educational journalist. His mission is to encourage parents, encourage children and encourage schools to join forces and help children succeed in maths, English and science. Faheem has worked in schools. Since 2007 has in the background developed six tuition centres in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Batley, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Ravensthorpe. The centres tutor maths, English and science.
Improve Tuition also offers online tutoring in the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, China and rest of the world. The online tutors are sat behind a PC and tutor online.
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