Effective last minute revision strategies
Effective last-minute revision aims to maximize retention and understanding of key information quickly. While cramming is never recommended, last-minute revision is about making the most efficient use of time to review and reinforce essential information, practice exam techniques, and manage stress effectively. For these reasons, it can be a valuable tool to ensure you are as prepared as possible for your exam.
Focus on key concepts and definitions
With time not on your side, the best way to get the most out of last-minute revision is to concentrate on the core topics and subjects you want to study at a higher level when you are studying. Within these subjects, identify the main topics frequently covered in exams. Use your revision guide and past papers to identify these areas, then review fundamental concepts, definitions, and formulas.
Use summary sheets or create your own concise notes. Review your notes and highlight the most important points, concepts, formulas, dates, and definitions. Rewrite these points in your own words to ensure you understand them. Arrange the information logically by topic, chapter, or sequence that makes sense to you and lets you see the important information immediately. Present information in bullet points or numbered lists to make it easier to scan and remember.
Review key information with flashcards
Flashcards are an effective revision tool because they promote active recall, spaced repetition, and self-assessment. What helps is to create your own flashcards for important terms, formulas, and processes and quiz yourself or have someone quiz you. Plus, the Q&A format of flashcards promotes active engagement with the material, encouraging you to think about the answer before flipping the card.
Flashcards can also be used with spaced repetition, where you schedule reviews of information at increasing intervals. This technique helps to improve long-term retention.
Familiarise yourself with the exam format
Familiarising yourself with the exam format is crucial in effective exam preparation. Understanding the structure and types of questions you will encounter will help reduce anxiety and improve your performance. Look at past papers and pay attention to the types of questions asked, e.g., multiple-choice, short answer, essay, and problem-solving.
Identify what examiners are looking for in high-scoring answers and practice incorporating these elements into your responses. Look for any exam specifications provided by your examination board. These documents often include details about the format, types of questions, and assessment objectives.
Use online resources and videos
Online resources and videos can be incredibly useful for last-minute revision because they provide accessible, engaging, and often concise summaries of key concepts. Here are several ways they can enhance your revision process. Websites like Khan Academy, BBC Bitesize, and educational YouTube channels cover a broad spectrum of subjects and topics that link to your syllabus.
Videos help with revision as they combine visual and auditory elements, making understanding and remembering complex concepts easier. Some online resources also include quizzes, interactive diagrams, and gamified learning experiences that can make studying more engaging and effective.
Videos are also designed to be concise and to the point, helping you quickly grasp critical concepts without wading through lengthy texts. Social media videos can help with tips and strategies from students who have already completed the exam process. These videos are perfect for tips on dealing with specific subjects and extracting full marks from a question.
Study with friends
There are many reasons to study with peers and friends. Aside from benefitting from what they have learned, explaining concepts to others helps with memory retention and reinforces one's own understanding. Collaborative learning can also reinforce one's understanding, provide new perspectives, and make the revision process more engaging. For instance, friends may have different approaches or explanations that make complex topics easier to understand.
Discussing topics with peers keeps you actively engaged, enhancing memory retention compared to passive studying. Working through tricky subjects together can improve your problem-solving skills and help you tackle difficult questions more effectively. This collaborative approach can make last-minute revision less stressful and more productive.
Read our other posts for more tips on revising and exam strategy: 4 major revision problems solved, How to use past papers to revise effectively, and How to deal with exam panic and anxiety.