Revision Tips to Ace Your Exams

Know how you work

Revision isn’t one-size-fits-all. So it’s worth understanding how you work.

• Find your focus window. When do you prefer to work? That’s when you should revise, not when you think you have to. Are you a morning person? Or do you work better in the late afternoon?

• Use your learning style. Whether you’re a visual, audio, tactile or reading/writing learner, use that style to help you revise. For example, if you’re a visual learner, you might use flashcards

• Stop re-reading. Unless reading is your learning style, endless highlighting won’t help anything stick. Try talking out loud or using Post-it notes to remember the information

• Find your space. Make sure the space you’re revising in is tidy with zero distractions.

Create a plan you’ll stick to

Everyone says to create a timetable, but how? Let’s break it down.

• Start with your exam dates. Write out what you need to study first. Knowing what you’ll be doing in each revision session will stop you from having to decide what to revise on the day.

• Revise smarter. Don't just move on after studying a topic. Come back to it a couple of days later, then again a week after that.

• Try shorter sessions. 45-minute to one-hour sessions with breaks are a lot better than one long four hour session. You’ll cram a lot less.

• Give yourself some catch-up days. Leave some days free. If you’re on track, you can use those to go over anything you’re finding tough. If life gets in the way, you have a couple of days to relax. 

Need help creating a timetable? We’ve got you covered.

Take revision seriously

These tips will help you level up the types of revision you do.

• Read an Examiner’s Report. Especially if you’re doing your GCSEs or A-Levels. Exam boards publish a report every year that tells you exactly where students lose marks, and how to avoid the same mistakes. It’s written by the people who mark your exams. You’ll find them on your exam board’s website

• Do past papers (and treat them like it’s real). Time yourself. No notes. Put your phone away. Then mark them. If you’re at university, ask your lecturers or the library where you can find them. If you’re at school, sixth form or college, check your exam board’s website. AQA, Pearson and OCR all have past papers for free

• Get your friends and family involved. If you can explain what you’ve learned to someone simply, you’ve basically got it. It’s also a really fun way to revise that gets you away from the desk and in front of people

• Go over your weak spots. Revising what you know is great, but it’s all about understanding the bits you’re not-so-comfortable with.

If you’re looking for more ways to revise, click below.

Look after yourself

How you treat yourself during your exams has a huge effect on how you study. Here’s how.

• Get some sleep. All-nighters are not your friend; getting a good night’s sleep actually helps you remember what you’ve learned. (And you won’t turn up to exams half asleep)

• Get moving. Whether it’s a 15-minute walk or a solo dance party in your living room, getting some fresh air or moving the body is always a good idea

• Don’t compare. Every student is different. Just because you saw someone pull a 10-hour revision session on TikTok doesn't mean you should

• Stress is normal. What matters is how you can bounce back. And if it starts to feel like a lot, talk to someone about it. Your school, sixth form or college will have resources. It’s always helpful to bounce off friends going through the same thing, too.

If you’re feeling the burnout during exam season, we’ve got some tips to help. Check them out.