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Revision

These articles cover planning revision, making revision efficient, coping with exams, revision over Easter etc

  • How to revise well – making the best of a revision session

    When it comes to effective studying, not all revision sessions are created equal. The right revision technique can transform hours of faffing into focused, productive learning that significantly improves your understanding and retention. If you’re looking for practical study tips and strategies that actually work, you’re in the right place. Making the best of a revision session is the third article in the series ‘How to prepare well for exams’. The earlier articles (see links on the right) help you sort out a revision plan and make your revision active.

    Plan with Purpose

    Organising when you work and what you work on is an essential starting point. Before diving into your revision, take time to plan what you’ll cover. Use benchmarking to break down the subject into topics and specific subtopics, and rate these based on your confidence with the topic. This will allow you to identify your weakest areas and prioritise them. This targeted approach prevents aimless reviewing and ensures you address what truly needs attention. It’s easy to cover what you already know, and this isn’t going to be what helps you the most!

    Subject Topics Confidence
    1-10 (1 being the lowest)
    Subject 1 Topic A
    Topic B
    Topic C
    Topic D    		 8
    6
    4
    8
    Use the Read, Transform, Recall study technique.
    1. READ:

    You will need to read the notes you’ve taken or the coursebook you are using to review the topic section you are studying. You’ve already covered this knowledge in lessons, so this isn’t the main part where the retention happens.

    Use Active Learning Techniques How to revise; revision planning

    2. TRANSFORM:

    Next, actively engage with the material to deepen understanding and make it stick. Transform the knowledge by:

    • Creating practice questions and answering them
    • Teaching concepts to someone else (or explain them aloud)
    • Drawing mind maps to create links between concepts, or organise the flow of information
    • Using flashcards for key definitions and formulas

    3. RECALL:

    Finally, strengthen your memory by recalling the information without looking at your notes. This is where the real retention happens.

    • Test yourself regularly: self-testing is crucial for effective revision. Create practice exams under timed conditions to simulate the real testing environment. This not only reinforces learning but also builds confidence and reduces anxiety.
    • Implement spaced repetition: rather than cramming all at once, space out your revision sessions over time. This approach leverages the psychological spacing effect, which enhances long-term retention. Review material multiple times with increasing intervals between sessions.
Take Strategic Breaks

The brain needs rest to process information effectively. Consider using the Pomodoro Technique: split one hour of study into three 20 minutes sections of focused study. These intervals keep your mind fresh and maintain concentration.

Review and Adjust

At the end of each revision session, take a few minutes to reflect on what worked well and what didn’t. Adjust your approach for the next session accordingly. This continuous improvement process helps refine your study techniques over time.

Create the Right Environment

Your study environment significantly impacts your productivity. Honestly, you don’t sit exams in a horizontal position, so don’t study in this format too. Find a quiet, well-lit space with minimal distractions, sat on a chair at a table. Consider what works best for you; some people thrive in absolute silence, while others benefit from light background noise. Have all your stationery to hand to avoid unnecessary interruptions, and place your phone out of reach or on ‘do not disturb’ for the duration of study.

Remember that finding what works best for you may require some experimentation. You might find some techniques work best with specific subjects as you develop and refine your personal revision strategy.

Reward Yourself!

Keep your motivation high by promising yourself a reward after your study session — something you genuinely enjoy, such as a walk in the park, a gym session, your favourite snack, or a bit of screen time.

From the team at Oxford Sixth Form College

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The other CIFE revision articles

  • How to Make Your Revision More Effective

    Creating a revision plan is crucial, but it is only part of the process. The real progression comes when you focus on how you revise. Many students unknowingly rely on ineffective revision strategies, and to maximise your performance in the upcoming exams, it is essential to reflect on your revision habits and refine your techniques.

    Why Common Revision Strategies Fall Short

    It is very common for students to fall into passive revision routines using strategies such as reading and re-reading notes, highlighting textbooks, or copying out content. While these approaches feel familiar and may create the illusion of progress, they are rarely effective in promoting long-term learning or deep understanding.

    Below are some of the common ineffective strategies that some students use:

    • Cognitive passivity: Simply reading over material does not engage your brain in the way required for memory retention or flexible thinking.
    • Lack of application: Revision that does not challenge you to apply knowledge in new contexts will not prepare you for the demands of exam questions.

    What’s missing here is metacognition. This is the process of thinking about your own learning. Students who regularly reflect on what they know, what they do not know, and what strategies work best for them tend to achieve better outcomes.

    Adopt Evidence-Based Revision Strategies

    1. Practice Active Recall and Spaced Repetition
    The single most effective method for learning is active recall, where you retrieve information from memory without referring to your notes.

    • Before revising a topic, take a blank sheet and write down everything you can remember.
    • Then check against your notes and identify gaps.
    • Use flashcards, self-quizzing, or apps like Anki and Quizlet to reinforce key information.

    Combine this with spaced repetition, where you revisit material at increasing intervals over time. This approach strengthens long-term retention far more effectively than cramming.

    2. Condense and Transform Your Notes
    Effective revision involves processing information, not just reviewing it. Summarise key ideas into:

    • Condensed bullet points or topic grids
    • Mind maps to show relationships between concepts
    • Flow charts to explain processes or sequences

    Teaching the material to someone else (Feynman Technique) is another useful tool. If you cannot explain it simply, you do not know it well enough.

    3. Make Full Use of Past Papers
    Past paper practice is vital, but it is important to vary how you use them:

    • Diagnostic use: Attempt questions before revising a topic to identify weak areas.
    • Timed conditions: Mimic exam pressure to build your writing speed and resilience.
    • Mark scheme analysis: Self-assess your answers using the examiner’s criteria. This develops exam technique and gives insight into how marks are awarded.
    • 4. Pomodoro Technique
    Revision is not about the number of hours you put in; it is about what you do in those hours.

    Use the Pomodoro Technique or similar approaches to structure your time:

    This helps prevent burnout, sustains concentration, and encourages you to revise with purpose. Set goals for each session and reflect on whether you met them, again, this is metacognitive thinking in action.

    5. Work Collaboratively
    Peer revision can be highly effective when used correctly. Quizzing one another, discussing tricky concepts, or co-creating mind maps are all valuable.

    However, be mindful of group dynamics. It is easy for productive sessions to become social distractions. Set clear objectives for group study and hold each other accountable.

    6. Be a Reflective Learner
    Truly effective revision is not defined by how hard you work, but by how deliberately you work. High-performing students are those who take ownership of their learning, engage in regular self-reflection, and continuously adapt their methods to improve their understanding and performance.

    Ask yourself:

    1. What’s working?
    2. What needs to change?
    3. What support do I need to access?

    By applying the techniques above and taking a metacognitive approach to your learning, you will not only revise more effectively, but you will also build habits that will serve you well throughout your academic and professional life.

    Article written by Aaron Ghuman, Director of Teaching and Learning, at MPW Birmingham

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    The other CIFE revision articles

  • How to do well in exams – exam advice

    Success in the exam room doesn’t just depend on how much you know, it also comes down to how well you handle the pressure and manage your time. Everyone reacts differently to exam conditions, and each subject brings its own challenges. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, but by following the advice below, you’ll give yourself the best chance to perform at your best when it matters most.

    Have a Plan – and Practise It!
    Being organised is key. Having a strategy for how you will tackle an exam helps reduce stress and improve performance. But under pressure, even the best intentions can fly out of the window, which is why you need to practise your plan until it becomes second nature.

    Make time to practise writing answers under timed conditions. This helps you build confidence, improve speed and accuracy, and avoid freezing up in the exam. Practising regularly can also reduce anxiety in the long term.

    Be Prepared on the Day
    Preparation doesn’t stop with revision. On exam day:

    • Know where you are going and aim to arrive around 10 minutes early, enough time to settle, but not so much that you start overthinking.
    • Pack everything you need the night before: pens, pencils, calculator (with spare batteries), ID, water bottle, and anything else your school allows.
    • Check the rules about what can and can’t be brought into the exam room. Don’t risk disqualification for a simple mistake.
    • Eat a balanced breakfast or lunch before the exam, whichever applies, and stay hydrated. Low energy or hunger can quickly affect focus. Just as important is getting a full night’s sleep before the exam. Cramming late into the night is far less effective than being well-rested and clear-headed.
    • Use the First Five Minutes Wisely
    Develop a calming routine for the start of the exam to ease early nerves. This might include arranging your equipment neatly or taking a few deep breaths.

    When you receive the paper, read the instructions and read them again. Many mistakes are made by not understanding clearly what is required. Once you know what you need to do, skim through the entire exam first, even if it’s long or every question is compulsory. This gives you an overview and helps prevent panic. Then choose your starting point carefully, as a familiar, confidence-boosting question is ideal for getting your brain into gear.

    Think Strategically About Question Order
    Your first answer can set the tone for the rest of the exam. If the first question looks difficult, don’t be afraid to start elsewhere. Beginning with a question you feel confident about gives your mind time to warm up and boosts self-belief.
    Keep Track of Time
    Time management is crucial. Divide your time according to the number of marks per question and stick to those limits. The first half of the marks for any question are generally the easiest to pick up, so going well over time for just a few extra marks is rarely worth it.

    If a question proves difficult, move on and return to it later if you have time. There is nothing worse than running out of time and realising that the last few questions were actually manageable.

    Running out of time? Switch to bullet points or note form. You won’t get full marks, but you’ll pick up more than if you leave the answer unfinished or unwritten.

    If Unsure, Ask
    The invigilators are there to support you, not just to ensure fair exam conditions. If you have a question, then raise your hand and wait for an invigilator to come to you. They can’t answer technical questions, but they can clarify for you.
    If You Finish Early, Use That Time
    Don’t rush to leave. Use the remaining time to:

    If You Panic Mid-Exam
    Panic can hit even the best-prepared students. If it does, pause. Close your eyes briefly, take a few deep breaths, and focus on slowing your thoughts. Jotting down some key ideas or headings on scrap paper can also help you reset and regain control.
    Stay Positive, Your Mindset Matters
    Try to approach the exam with a positive mindset. One test does not define your ability or your future. Staying calm, focused, and realistic can make a huge difference to how well you perform.
    Avoid Post-Exam Autopsies
    It’s tempting to compare answers with classmates, but post-mortems often cause unnecessary worry. They are usually inaccurate and can knock your confidence for upcoming papers.

    The only time they are useful is if something went seriously wrong, in which case, take a moment to reflect and adjust your approach for next time. Otherwise, focus on moving forward. Results can wait.

    Doing well in exams is about more than just revision: it’s about preparation, mindset, and strategy. Wherever you are taking your exams, everyone at cife wishes you every success.

    Article written by Dr Ian Gross, Principal, at The Worthgate School

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    The other CIFE revision articles

  • How to revise – revision planning

    Starting early, having good habits and interacting with the information are all key elements of excellent study skills. Research has shown we need to go over information actively in five ways before we can commit it to our long-term memory. Every time we revise actively, we retain only 20% of the information therefore it takes at least five times of actively engaging with the material to build towards 100%.

    So, what is active revision?

    When studying we need to immerse ourselves in the activity in front of us. I cannot study while watching TV, or playing with my phone, or thinking what I want to have for dinner, or what is the next film I am going to watch on Netflix. Studying means being present in the moment and fully interacting with the learning, making revision notes and testing myself. Just copying information mindlessly from my textbook will not help me retain information.

    Examples of active revision:
    • Go over information at least 5 times in five different active ways to commit it to your long-term memory (take notes, ‘teach’ someone else, do an assignment/a past paper/extra exercises, go over mistakes) so focus on active learning.
    • Organise your notes.
    • Chunk the information you must learn and underline key ideas taking notes using relevant subheadings. When you finish processing a section (no longer than half a page) use your notes to explain the theory to your pretend ‘student’. Repeat the step without consulting your notes and revise all data every time you process a full page (overlearning).
    • Create a list of keywords and definitions and test yourself regularly (glossary).
    • Make colourful and visually interesting notes (colour coding).
    • Have a designated quiet place for studying and reduce unwanted stimuli.
    • Use daily schedules.
    • Learn new information in connection with previous information.
    • Set your personal targets on a weekly basis.
    • Before writing a long answer, read and copy the structure of exemplar answers.
    • Use flashcards to write questions on one side of the card and answers on the other.
    • Get a big A3 poster paper and make mind maps. List key stages of a complicated process, draw arrows to show links, and then create detailed notes separately with questions and answers to go in more depth.
    • Pretend that you are explaining the information to a classmate or that you are teaching someone else without looking at the textbook.
    • Do exercises as soon as you finish learning the theory.
    • There is a wealth of past papers for each subject you can use to practise and then use the examiners’ mark scheme to check how prepared you are for the final assessment.
    • Go back to papers you have done before as practice and use different colour pen to reflect why you made that mistake originally.
    • Check your teacher’s feedback and use a different colour pen to write what advice you would have given to yourself if you were to redo this exercise trying to avoid making the same mistakes again.
    • Taking it higher

    Be critical and reflective to prepare yourself to answer the toughest questions.

    When it comes to revising, imagination and creativity can be your guides. Happy studying!

    Article written by Elpida Christianaki, Deputy Principal (Academic), at MPW Cambridge

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    The other CIFE revision articles

  • Easter revision – how to revise better at Easter

    Good grades are more important than ever

    Getting Easter revision right is crucial for high A-level grades. With more graduates competing for fewer jobs, getting into a good university makes a real difference later on, and admissions requirements for those top courses are going up every year. High grades at GCSE are important too: good universities don’t look at students with poor GCSEs.

    Easter is crucial revision time

    For good results, exam revision needs to start early. However, fitting in a serious revision programme during term time is not at all easy. Going to class and doing ‘routine’ home-works take a major chunk out of the day. Personal revision has to be fitted in on top, and that makes for long hours and much general stress.

    You can ease the pressure in two main ways. One is by making revision as efficient as possible (see our Revision Advice for ideas). The other is by using the Easter holiday to get the revision process fully under way.

    The Easter holidays offer both opportunity and challenge. The opportunity is pretty clear: it should be possible to revise for five to seven hours a day for a ten day period. Putting in that sort of effort can make a huge difference. The amount of work covered is valuable and so too is the effect on morale and momentum. You will find it so much easier to cope with the final term if you’ve got revision well under control before term starts.

    Can’t manage 5 hours a day for 10 days, need one last holiday before the big push? You must do what you can, but one thing is certain: if you do no work over Easter your exam results are very likely to suffer.

    Sticking to revision during a holiday is a major challenge and needs thought and support: thought in planning time to get the work done, and support from family to make it as stress-free as possible. It pays to work out a plan before the holidays start. A timetable of work (and leisure) up on the kitchen wall makes it easier to keep going. It  can also reassure parents and reduce interruptions and nagging !

    An Easter Revision course can help

    An Easter Revision course can be an effective way to kick-start the whole process, providing structure, revision, exam practice and support in one handy package. Revision courses have grown considerably in popularity over the past ten years. They make a difference, and at between £400 and £700 for a week (around £120 more if residential), they are affordable. Most students who take them are already up to pass standard and are looking towards As and Bs rather than scraping through.

    Although an Easter Revision course cannot convert five terms of neglect into a grade A, it can make a major difference. There is no secret to how this is done. Intensive work in a small group, focusing squarely on exams and lead by an enthusiastic and experienced teacher can fill important gaps, develop exam awareness, and will give plenty of past-paper practice and feedback on what examiners want.

    Above all, it will get the revision process firmly under way and establish a real feeling of momentum and confidence. In the words of one student aiming at a place to read medicine. ‘I was worried about Biology, always my weakest subject. The course was incredibly useful. It really got me excited about my subject and gave me the push to get the A I needed.‘

    Choosing a good Easter Revision course

    The best courses are run by people who have direct experience of exam-orientated courses. This is why choosing a college which belongs to CIFE makes good sense, not just because of the guarantee offered by membership of a professional organisation, but also because CIFE colleges have long experience of intensive and successful student-centred exam teaching. Easter courses work, and by shopping around it should be possible to find one which provides just the right environment for success. Look at the CIFE Easter revision course comparison for more information on individual courses: dates, subjects, costs, teaching format etc

    Choosing a good Easter Revision course involves asking the right questions. Two key ones are ‘What will this course actually provide ?‘ and ‘Who teaches it ?‘. Although students are likely to come from a variety of schools and will have differing needs, a good course should be able to deal effectively with individual differences. Find out which syllabus and options are covered. Ask about the extent to which the course is ‘tailor made’ to the participants, and about how course time is split between teaching, exam practice and work with each student individually.

    Ask about the staff: some organisations rely upon teachers recruited from outside while others use their own staff. Visit the college if you can to meet the people who will be teaching you so that you can see whether you are going to get on with them. If you are considering a residential course, find out about supervision: hard work during the day is unlikely if the evenings turn into one big party…

    Last updated: Jan 12, 2023

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