How to revise and excel at exams
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Loading... - JEN MURPHY
- 14 Nov 2020
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From time to time we all suffer from stress but there is nothing quite like an exam for focusing the mind. Stress can wreak havoc on even the brightest and most able students when it comes to writing in a controlled environment.
Execution is as important as preparation. You need not only to learn, you need to show that you have learnt. But how?
Rachel Sherman, vice-principal at David Game, an independent co-educational college in London, has been teaching for 25 years so she has a wealth of tips and techniques to help even the most nervous students.
She says: “You can learn how to be better at exams but of course correct revision is paramount. You need a revision timetable and to start early.
“Review your notes after every lesson and keep your notes in order. And you must review past papers and take notice of examiners’ comments.
“Feedback from teachers is essential but parents can help hugely. Make sure they’re eating and sleeping properly, make sure they’re not just playing computer games or on the phone.
“Factor in breaks – a family meal or perhaps a treat at the weekend after a hard week’s work: a bar of chocolate, an iTunes voucher or a trip out.
“Try to engage with your children’s subjects too. Even if you don’t understand maths, know how the subject is broken down.”
Fellow vice-principal John Dalton believes revision should be about quality not quantity. “I’ve heard so many parents say, my child was in their room until 11pm every night revising but didn’t do very well. That is because they have not gone into deep learning,” he says.
“Students need to focus on one topic for 30 to 40 minutes and then stop, go outside or do something routine, then come back in again.
“The most successful students are efficient, with all their books in front of them, all their folders organised. A poor student is always looking for their notes.
“Remove distractions – listening to pop music when revising is not really helpful, nor is social media. You have to shut yourself off from distractions.”
But optimum revision does not guarantee exam success. Stress is the enemy of preparation.
Ms Sherman suggests breathing exercises: “Try breathing exercises to calm yourself down and always arrive in good time for an exam. Do anything you can to help you relax.
“Also, visualise what you want to achieve. Focusing on the future can help take the pressure off the present.”
Mr Dalton adds: “You need to have the right mindset. I always tell my students, you never forget anything you’ve read, what you can’t do is access it under stress. Information is available but not accessible, so you need to keep calm.
“If you tell a student that they haven’t forgotten anything, they immediately calm down and that relieves a lot of stress.”
