Starting to revise all the content that you have learnt over the past two years for your A Level exams can be daunting and it is difficult to know where to start! I hope this list of my ten top tips for A Level exam revision will prevent you from making the same mistakes I did and allow you to get the best grades possible!
1. My first tip would be to ask questions when you are confused in your lessons. If you don’t understand a reason why that would be the correct answer just ask! I would often not ask questions in a class setting as I didn’t want to look stupid in front of other students. Now I realise that it doesn’t matter what they thought because it would be my A Level grades on the certificate not theirs.
2. Before you start revising you need to find the best way to learn and understand information for you. Everyone learns in different ways whether that be from drawing diagrams, teaching the information to others or recapping information after each lesson.
3. A Levels contain so much information so it is vital that you condense the knowledge you need to learn otherwise you will find yourself learning unnecessary. Using flashcards or creating key word mind maps are good techniques to use.
4. Even though it feels like A Levels are a while away it is important to create a revision timetable to plan your time because before you know it you will be sitting your exams. Also, a revision timetable will help you factor in other important activities like socialising, volunteering opportunities, physical activity and down time.
5. When starting to revise for your exams it is imperative that you take breaks, sleep well, eat well and exercise. I see it as this: to succeed you must make many small positive changes so it is then possible to make a big change! Above there are only a few suggestions of small positive changes that you could make!
6. Whether you revise in the library at school, on your desk in your bedroom or at the kitchen table you must remove your phone. I take twice as long to complete a simple task if my phone is nearby me, even if I just glance at the screen every now and again at my notifications. You can check your phone but only in the time you have allocated.
7. Each year examiners release ideas of how best to answer the questions in the exam you are sitting (exam technique). For each exam you are going to sit, find out how you should complete each question in order to gain maximum marks.
8. Before you sit your exam make sure you have had lots of practice sitting past exam papers. This practice will allow you to become familiar with the layout of the exam so there are no surprises on the day. You may even be lucky and get a similar question from an old paper!
9. Even though you feel like your mocks are ages away from the ‘’real” exam- they’re not. Take your mocks seriously and revise how you would do for the exam. This technique will allow you to identify gaps in your learning.
10. My last tip is to believe you can get the grade you want! The more you think you are able to do it, the more confidence you will have in the exam and so there will be less chance you forget information because of nerves.
Blog post written by Emily Hagan