Active revision techniques

Top tip from Lauren Page, Fine Art BA (Hons) student: 

“Work in small groups to bounce ideas off each other”

Active revision techniques work better than passive ones. Just reading through your notes is much less productive than doing something with the information. You can try the following techniques to help you remember things.

• Active learning – write and make diagrams to test yourself, and even discuss with friends or family;
• Ask a friend to test you – Revising with a friend can be so helpful - especially during the final stages. You will learn so much from one another;
• Repetition – going over difficult concepts as many times as possible – maybe by breaking down topics into summaries and then using flash cards to help you remember.

Now you have discovered a way to remember things, let’s look at more practical techniques.

Speech and Language Therapy BSc (Hons) student Beth shares her top tips for revision:

Timed practice answers

Try working through some questions from past papers – writing by hand and timing yourself. This will help you practice writing speedily and think clearly under pressure - it’s all about creating a similar environment to the exam day. Once you have done this check your answers to make sure you have not missed important points.

Revision study groups

Try revising with a friend or in a small group. A discussion helps you to remember your ideas, and it also gives you new ideas. For instance, you could each prepare a short outline plan for a sample question and then compare notes, talking about all aspects that would need to be covered. You should be able to remember these aspects better than something that you have read on your own. 

Don’t forget the playlist you could listen to when revising!

The right music will lower your stress levels and can positively impact your mood. Music can also help you learn and recall information better.

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