How to revise is the first in the series of  articles which aim to help you make best possible use of revision time so that you enter the exam room fully prepared.

How to revise is all about making sure that it all to comes together on time for exam day. That needs serious planning to make that happen with a minimum of stress. Even if you normally live your life on the spur of the moment, you should plan your revision.

  • A plan keeps you on-track
  • A plan reduces your stress
  • A plan reassures your family (who can be another source of stress)

Ideas about how to plan revision

Every one is different, so there’s no ideal plan we can give you, but here are some planning points which we know help:

  • Talk to your teachers before you make detailed plans - it would be a real pain if you duplicate revision they are going to do with you, or revise the wrong topics etc. In addition teachers will be able to suggest more interesting ways to revise
  • Balance your time between subjects If you spend too much of your time on one subject, either because it is your favourite one or because it is known to be weak, the other subjects will suffer. It is very common for students to get their best results in subjects they found difficult - because they neglected their stronger subjects during revision.
  • Get your files sorted out. Use a copy of the exam board's specification to put notes in topic order. If you've got gaps (material mislaid or missed), fill them now - copy from friends etc. If your school hasn't already given you copies of specifications (= syllabus) you can of course download them from exam board websites (along with past papers, examiners' comments etc). Essential stuff!
  • Start with a first revision run through. Read all your notes carefully but without trying hard to remember them. This stage reminds you of the big picture. It shouldn't take you more than three to six hours.
  • Then comes main revision: the hard grind, when you learn the details. More about this below.
  • Finally, read through it all again. Aim to finish the hard grind a few days before the exam, so you can use the final days for this last read through. Repetition is a key part of how to revise! If you made some form of condensed notes as part of the hard grind these will come in handy now.

The hard grind of learning your stuff

  • This is the main time of learning detail.
  • Use the exam board specification  to divide the task up into a lot of smaller topics (it's easier to get started and to see your progress if you divide a big job into a series of small tasks). Make a provisional timetable for which topics you will cover each week. Check the other article links to the right for the day-to-day detail of how to revise
  • At the start of a week, look at the topics you've planned to revise and decide which topics you will revise each day. Each evening decide when you will fit in the next day's topics.
  • Build in some unallocated study time because you will probably get a bit behind at some stage. If you haven't built in some slack time, getting behind is really stressful.

Arrange your life around revision

Check out these ideas for building revision into your life. Just click on the   +   at the start of the orange boxes to show more information. Click   -   to close the box.


Carve out the time.

You’ve got to find time in a life that’s probably busy enough anyway. Where will you find it? Think about this before you hit crisis point – what’s got to give way, where can you turn ‘down time’ into study time? Sacrifices should be less difficult now the exam is close.

Sort out your space.

If the place where you do most of your private study isn’t easy to work in, see what you can do to make it better. What distracts you when you are trying to settle down? Can you do something to reduce that distraction? Is it too easy to escape to your mobile, watch a video etc when you’re feeling under pressure? Can you do without them for a few hours?! ‘How to revise’ is all about giving yourself room to think.

Get parents and friends onside.

Your parents’ anxiety may turn them into naggers. The best way round this is to show them that you’re in control. Put your revision timetable on the kitchen door and keep them in touch. That way you’re better placed to ask them to back off if they are over-doing the parental concern.

Friends can be a wonderful support or a major distraction. Keep them at arm’s length if you find they’re getting between you and what you have to do.


Keep healthy.

Serious revision will take up a lot of your energy, and so you need to keep a careful watch over other demands on your time, especially if these include a big social life. You don’t have to live like a hermit, just pace yourself and avoid situations which are likely to leave you washed-out the next day. There is nothing worse than exhausting yourself by doing too much at once, leaving nothing in reserve for the exams themselves.

Make sure that you eat sensibly and that you get some exercise. Getting a good night’s sleep helps too, and you should ask for advice if you find it difficult to get to sleep. Staying healthy is a vital part of how to revise.


Keep calm

A bit of tension is only to be expected, but don’t let yourself get paralysed by panic. If you’ve organised everything, started early, and stuck to your plans you will be fine. If you are worried, try to pin down what is bothering you: the chances are that you can do something about it. Don’t let yourself be haunted by nameless anxieties !

Friends can be a real support, but a grumble session can pull you all down rather than reassure you. If panic starts to really get you down, get help – teachers, family etc.


Last updated: Jan 16, 2023

Our Advice page links to more cife articles.  

The other CIFE revision articles

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    On 7th June 2019   /