How to create an exam revision time table that works

How to create an exam revision time table that works.

While schools often help with time tabling of revision. Private candidates need to do it themselves.

HOW TO CREATE A REVISION TIMETABLE THAT WORKS

The first step to preparing for your summer exams is a good revision timetable

• it may not make the time go any faster, nor make the process any more “fun”, but it can make a real difference by:

• making revision more manageable and less daunting • ensuring all the topics are covered, with time for past papers and revisiting weaker areas • building in time for relaxation and opportunities to “de stress” Think about Active learning and Active recall.

For many students, focused revision only kicks off at the start of the Easter holidays, making an effective and realistic revision timetable even more important.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Do your timetable early : Give yourself the best chance of covering everything, without revising 24/7, by getting organised and doing your timetable before the holidays start. For exams starting mid May, aim to get your revision timetable done by mid-end March so that you can focus on your revision rather you’re your timetable during the holidays.

Start with a self assessment :

Don’t feel that you need to allocate an equal amount of time to each subject! In addition to asking for teacher feedback, try doing a simple red/amber/green self assessment based on the detailed exam specification to identify strengths/weakness more clearly. Although it makes sense to prioritise areas that you find more difficult, it is important that every topic is covered at least once.
Build in time for practice questions, past papers and marking: Allow time at the end of each revision topic for practice questions and past papers. This will:

• improve confidence and speed in navigating the exam paper • embed understanding and identify knowledge/skill gaps • help students assess progress

Build in flexibility and time for relaxation: Do stick to your plan as much as possible but make sure you build in flexibility and time to relax. For example, include sufficient “blank” time close to the exam to revisit subjects, modules or topics that you feel require particular last-minute attention. In addition to regular breaks during the day, having time to relax and do something different is really important for your mental health. While each student will have different needs, the key is to find a healthy balance and recognise that this may change as you get closer to the exams. Make it easy to read and use: Colour coding is a useful memory aid that can allow you to unify all the elements of your revision. Whether coded per subject, per module or per topic, matching the colours in your plan to your revision notes can provide an important subconscious link that may help your memory recall in the exam.

Having created your plan, scale it up and printed it off, ideally to A3 or even A2 size.

Not only will this enable you to make notes on each revision session e.g. topics you need to revisit, it can also be motivating and cathartic to tick off the days as the exams approach.