The burning question. Everyone wants to know... how do you revise?
Off the bat I’d say two things: there is no one way to revise and I guarantee you’re overthinking it!
Everyone learns differently, so naturally, everyone will revise differently too. Some may prefer mind maps, talking to friends and family, colour coding their notes, flash cards or even making power point presentations from your notes. Which ever approach you choose is likely to be unique to your learning style.
Whilst figuring out how you best revise is imperative, there is a danger to overthinking revision. There is a tendency for people to feel overwhelmed by the volume of content they need to revise and get caught up in that panic. That spirals into a feeling that you do not know how to revise, can’t revise and will not succeed.
The reality of that situation is that you are overwhelmed and stressed out. If you feel like this, it is probably your cue to take a break, relax and come back to it with a fresh mind. Then, and only then, can you start the first important step in revision:
Organisation.
Before revising the content, it is so important to feel organised. Write a list of topics you need to revise within each module. Personally, I use the R/A/G method to track my revision. I will start my revision at the top of the list and colour code it as I move along. Red, if I do not feel comfortable with the topic. Amber, if I still need to do some work to commit it all to memory and Green when I feel comfortable enough to sit an exam on that topic (i.e., I have committed it to memory).
You might find that lists and colour coding just isn’t your thing, which is fine. The important point is that you feel organised and are aware what content you need to cover and are able to prioritise your revision tasks to reflect your understanding and your deadlines.
The next step is to get stuck in. This is on the basis that you have done all the relevant work/ reading and taken notes in advance.
Once you’ve done that, the principle is the same no matter which approach you choose:
Re-read - Condense - Repeat.
Condense: break down your notes ensuring you are only revising relevant points. By doing this it will be easier to digest the most important principles (don’t ignore any relevant information but don’t include unnecessary information). Your revision notes should be as brief and as concise as possible!
Repeat: re-write the information (in any form that works for you i.e., notes, diagram or flashcards as example). Then re-write it again. And again. And again.
You need to repeat the information until you have committed it to memory.
Once it is committed to memory, then you should attempt practice/ mock examinations or individual practice examination questions. People ask me where they can get mock examinations/ questions – your university. They are the ones who set the exams so they can supply mock examinations. Also, exam style questions from seminars/ lectures are equally effective practice materials.
It is also normal for revision to get boring. This is when I like to spice things up. I will quiz myself or make a power point presentation. Exciting I know. But it is effective in keeping me motivated and engaged in my revision.
For the BTC and LPC in particular, there is a heavier reliance on book with one or more open book examinations. In this instance, it is important to engage with the books, using that as your main revision material, and have an effective tabbing system to find information quickly in exams!
The basic principles still persist – you still need to condense and repeat the material until it is committed to memory and then get familiar with practice examinations.
In my view, if you make sure to follow those principles, your revision is more likely to be effective. It is however important to remember how individual revision is. Just because you are not following what I do, or what the majority of people are doing, does not mean you are doing it wrong.
Just get stuck in and commit the information for the exam to memory.
Until next time,
The Woman on a Mission
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