It\u2019s peak revision time, but it\u2019s important to remember that there are so many more revision techniques than just copying out your school notes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can match your revision strategy to how you like to learn, you\u2019ve got yourself a winning combination and more chance of getting the grades you\u2019re aiming for. Tapping into your strengths<\/a> when it comes to learning will be your superpower this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how do you like to learn, and what are the best revision techniques to try? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone takes in information differently. Some of us prefer to listen to ideas and then discuss them with others to better understand them. While some of us like to get more hands-on, creating diagrams, experimenting or watching videos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main thing to remember is that everyone is different. How you learn might also change depending on your mood, energy levels and the subject or topic. Either way, just thinking about how you retain information best during exam time can help you plan your key revision strategies and revise more effectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Visual learning means taking in information when it\u2019s visually presented rather than just the written word. Maps, charts, diagrams, illustrations and handouts are all visual learning aids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aural (or auditory) learning means hearing information, from talks, lectures or videos. Repeating things outloud or talking about what you\u2019ve learned with someone else is a way of learning aurally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning by reading and writing simply means taking in information via words and text. Traditional textbooks and annotations are reading and writing learning aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kinesthetic learning means getting a bit more hands-on. Doing things like making models or conducting experiments can be kinaesthetic \u2013 or participating in activites and discussions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are so many more revision techniques than just rewriting your school notes (though that might work for some of us!). Have a read of these revision strategies and see what helps you the most. You can structure your revision plan<\/a> around what works for you and never get stuck in a revision rut ever again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are a graphical way to represent complex ideas and concepts. You could feature powerful mental triggers like images, colours and shapes to help your brain remember. It\u2019s a helpful way to take notes or brainstorm essay themes or topics. Create a digital one with a tool like MindMup<\/a> or go free-hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to mind maps, spider diagrams are helpful for visually brainstorming ideas so that you can see a complete overview of all your information. It represents how different ideas are connected, with the key topic at the centre, like key Cold War events or plant transport systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can use colour-coded sticky notes to write and organise important snippets of information like quotes, statistics and dates. You could sticking them around your bedroom so you can read them every day, using one colour per subject\/topic to help you differentiate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether it\u2019s an essay draft, timeline or chemistry equation, reading things aloud can help things stick \u2013 or when it comes to essays or long answers, help you notice any mistakes. When learning languages or for subjects like drama, you could even record yourself and listen back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get together with a study buddy or group from school and revise together. Talking through ideas and asking each other for help can be an effective way to help you remember things. MyTutor\u2019s group lessons<\/a> are perfect for this and will help you stay focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We use mneumonics or memory devices to remember notes in music, colours of the spectrum and the planets in the solar system. You can make up your own acronyms, mneumonics or rhymes to help you remember the complex stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who like to listen to things being explained, you could compliment your revision with a fun podcast. The Week Junior Show<\/a>, TedTalks<\/a>, Stuff You Missed in History Class<\/a> and Science Friday<\/a> are all great places to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Going through your notes, identifying gaps and re-organising them in a way that makes sense for you will help you to familiarise yourself with key topics and help you highlight if there are weaker areas you need to double up on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a technique that\u2019s currently blowing up on TikTok<\/a>. It literally means \u2018blurting out\u2019 all the information you know on a topic and trying to get it to stick in your long-term memory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Get clued up here<\/a>. Quickly read a section of a textbook or study guide, then close the book and write down as much info as you can. Once you\u2019re done, reopen the text and see which areas you remembered well and which areas you didn\u2019t. Then, give it another go, until you feel the information really going in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Funnelling is similar to blurting but helps you edit your notes very quickly. Here are the five steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, watching a video that explains a complex idea or series of events just helps things make sense. Check out the free MyTutor Study Squads<\/a> on YouTube on anything from coding to scatter graphs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It can be really helpful to go beyond the page at times and either test yourself or get a parent or friend to test you. That little bit of pressure is great practice and will really help you know whether you\u2019ve retained the information or not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For hands-on learners, sitting at a desk for hours might not be the most effective way to learn. Try going for a walk and listening to a class or recorded notes, or squeeze a stress ball as you read through key dates or stats \u2013 the steady rhythm may help you focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s an obvious one but doing practice papers for your subjects is one of the most important revision techniques. Try and do as many as you can under exam conditions to get yourself used to the time pressure.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do you learn best?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Visual learning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aural learning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reading\/writing learning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Kinasethetic learning<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
14 of the best revision techniques\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Mind maps<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Spider diagram posters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Colour-coded post-it notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Reading aloud<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Study groups<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Make up rhymes or mneumonics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Listen to educational podcasts or audiobooks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Re-organise school notes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Blurting (or memory dump)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. Funnelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
11. Watch YouTube or MyTutor videos<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
12. Test yourself or get someone to test you<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
13. Revise while doing something else\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
14. Practice papers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n