With exam season approaching ever so quickly, I thought I'd share 10 little tips that helped me last year, preparing for my GCSEs.
- Do practice papers
I know teachers go on and on about them but past papers really are the best things to prep you for the real exam. By doing past papers and marking them yourself, you get used to seeing the same types of question (which will likely come up in the real thing), and also which points pick up marks in longer pieces of writing. - Make a revision timetable
Although this isn't true for everyone, the vast majority of people get things done quicker and more efficiently when they stick to a timetable. I know that it can be tempting to spend ages making a colour-coded timetable and not actually get any work done (been there, done that), but if you can see your day laid out in front of you with a set number of tasks to do, it's much less daunting than diving in without a plan. It's so important not to overwork yourself or you'll burn out, so remember to schedule in short breaks throughout the day. You'll actually be more productive this way than trying to revise for 8 hours straight. - Join a sports club/be active
Just trust me on this one. I'm not saying you need to do a Mo Farah, and run 20 miles a day, but try and stay/be active and get some exercise into your daily schedule. It's a well-known fact that exercise releases endorphins, also known as the "happy hormone". And it actually works. As well as being in a better mood, you'll be more motivated and work more efficiently. You don't necessarily have to run, or do heavy cardio - going for a 30 minute walk, or doing some yoga can work just as well, especially if you don't particularly enjoy working out. - Try studying in groups
This one won't work for everyone, especially if you prefer working alone, but for some people it can be helpful to revise in small groups so you can test each other, and ask the others to explain areas you're not so confident about. Be careful who you study with though, because it only takes one person to go off topic, and suddenly you're all planning what to do during the summer holidays, instead of revising the cardiovascular system. - Revise each subject relative to each other
If you know you're extremely strong in Maths, consistently scoring highly in exams, but not so confident in Geography, then you're not making the best use of your time if you spend equal amounts of time on both. I know you'll prefer revising Maths if you're better at it, but there's no point going over things you already know well. Obviously don't completely neglect your strongest subjects, but prioritise your weaker ones first. - Make time to go out at weekends
Obviously, use your common sense here. Don't spend all weekend going through the sale racks in Forever 21, but it's important that you don't spend all your time locked away revising. It's also important to spend time with your friends, and make time to do fun things together, not just talk about exams. Arrange to go and see a film you all want to watch, spend a couple of hours in karaoke, or even just chill out for an afternoon in Starbucks. - Use study apps
Study apps genuinely saved my life when revising. Gojimo was my go-to app leading up to the exams. It has tests on most iGCSE subjects and gives you explanations for areas you're unsure about. It's also super useful since you can use it for 10 minutes on the train, without having to lug around textbooks. Quizlet's useful for making sets of flashcards which you can then be tested on. You can also search for topics and find sets that other people have created, which you can then use for your own revision. The Bitesize app isn't as good as the website, but still has similar activities and covers everything you need for the course. - Leave your phone downstairs
Okay, I was actually awful at this one, but if you can either leave your phone in a different room, or disable your apps (Flipd is a really good app that allows you to temporarily disable downloaded apps) you’ll be much more productive. If you have trouble staying off your phone, tell yourself that you'll do 30 minutes of work, then you can spend 10 minutes on your phone. That way, you'll get work done, but you can also have regular "phone breaks". - Ask your teachers for help
If you find yourself doing a past paper or going through notes, and find something that doesn't quite make sense, go and speak to your teacher. As long as it's a specific question (not just 'can you please re-teach half the spec'), teachers are more than happy to go over things with you - they want you to do well too! - Make sure you have a good support network
The last thing isn't so much to do with revision techniques, but stress. Unbelievable as it may seem, everyone's stressed about the exams, whether they're showing it or not. However, if you feel like you're getting overly stressed, then talk to someone - honestly it really helps. Finding a good friend, or a teacher that you really trust and talking to them a bit can help loads, since they know you well and generally give really good advice. This was so important for me and having an amazing support network helped me through those weeks of hell.