There's no short cut to exam success but making the most of your study time can make a big difference to your grades. Take a look at our effective revision guide to help you get on track.
Make a plan
Being organised can reduce exam stress and help you make the best use of your time. The first step to effective revision is to make a plan. See How to make a revision plan in five simple steps with our easy guide.
Assemble your toolkit
When exams approach, it’s easy to master the art of putting things off. Â Avoid distractions later by gathering everything you’ll need now – get all your files and books together, and stock up on basic supplies such as pens, paper and stationery.
Divide your day into chunks
20 minutes, half an hour, two hours… Divide your day into pockets of time that work for you or mix things up to create a sense of pace. Time-blocking is also a great way to manage tasks you tend to put off – set a timer for a few minutes and really focus. The results can be surprisingly satisfying.
Plan your day around your most productive times
Are you an early bird or a night owl? You may be most alert in the morning or work better in the evenings. Tackle tricky topics at the most effective point of your day. Recognise and respond to your slump times – if you’re  sluggish after lunch, plan a series of shorter blocks to boost your energy.
Manage your distractions
Everyone has them – those little temptations that suck you in and take up oodles of time. The secret is to build your routine around your distractions. Set fixed points to check your phone or social media, stay offline when you’re working, and schedule breaks to fit anything you can’t miss in real-time.
Shake things up
Use a range of learning styles. Try making notes using headings and bullet points or draw diagrams and charts. Some people find it helps to create revision cards or use visual cues such as posters or post-its. Reading your notes out loud or making and playing back audio recordings can also improve your memory power.
Consider where you study
Find somewhere comfortable, light and distraction-free where you can study. Sometimes a change of scene can boost your concentration – try spending the morning in your school or local library, or revising in a different room at home. Alternatively, you may find studying in the same place is more effective – experiment and see what works for you.
Think quality not quantity
Make your revision count – it can be easy to fool yourself into thinking you’re revising or waste time pretending to study. Far better to spend two focused hours working and an hour chatting with a friend, than four hours glued to your desk with very little to show for it. You still need to put the hours in, but spending them wisely and planning some proper breaks makes for more effective revision.
Review your progress
Remember to review your revision plan to ensure you make the most of your time – if you fall behind, you can’t do four weeks of revision in two weeks so make adjustments. Prioritise whatever time you have and tick topics off as you go to avoid missing anything essential.
Prevent burnout
Pacing yourself is important – you can’t revise effectively 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so breaks and rest periods are vital to staying the course. Try setting mini-goals and rewarding yourself when you reach them to stay motivated and maintain a sense of progress.
