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Hope this helps 
:
Before you start revising
•First figure out the examination technique Many people fail exams simply because they haven’t worked out the technique. You have to have it (have to have it!). As soon as you start you need to; a) learn how to manage time in an exam b) learn how to write clearly and intelligently c) learn how much to write for each question
•Analyse the syllabus Look at the different examinations available and find out which ones you will be taking and what you need to revise. Print it off and have it with you in class. This way you know what the teacher is going over. And if the teacher has missed something you will know. They can be found on the examination board websites. If you do this before you start you will be able to see if the syllabus is right for you. I dropped a subject at the start of the year due to the fact it had a ridiculous coursework requirement.
•Find out about retakes Find out the dates you can retake, who you should go to if you wish to retake, and what the policy on retaking is. This will put your mind at ease during revision.
•Find out about remarking Find out the date in which you can have you script remarked by. You may be totally under marked and instead of retaking a remark may be better. You have to pay for a remark but if the grade goes up you get your money back. Although your grade could also go down so it’s best to speak to a teacher beforehand.
•Get in the good books of the teachers This is not hard to do. Just keep up with the homework and hand in coursework on or before the deadline. This may subconsciously affect how the teacher marks your coursework. They can tell a hard worker from a slacker. And once you're labelled a slacker it gets tricky.
•Find the best books for your syllabus It’s best to buy the books before you start going over a module. The teacher’s notes (sometimes) might not be up to scratch. And it’s good to have notes in a different style or in different words. You might not have to buy any books if you can find good solid online notes. Google is your friend, search it for notes. Many people across different schools will be taking the same exams. You should be able to find some very good notes.
•Aim for 100% not 99%............. dont leave out anything!!
•Look at examiners reports Always read the reports examiners issue on examination series. They list common mistakes students make and outline the general performance. I read an examiners report and examiners were fed up of students “writing everything they knew”. So I kept it short and got the highest mark in the school. (Philosophy was the a-level)
•Extracting key information from syllabuses and mark schemes If you have enough time look at every single past paper and see how they want you to answer questions. It’s not recommended as mark schemes change but I actually revised from the mark schemes. As sometimes it had an easier definition or was very different to my notes that I was afraid of getting marked down.
•Make a revision time table This is the first thing everyone tells you about. Unfortunately I could never stick to it fully and in some exams I only got normal A’s. It’s good to get in the habit of sticking to it. I made compulsory revision days. For example Sunday 4PM to 8PM with regular breaks was the compulsory day for me. Made sure I didn’t fall behind! You could also stick the timetable in a place where everyone can see e.g. on the fridge. This way no one will bother you.
•Posters If you have been out of the revision game or have difficulty revising. Using posters on your wall is a good starting point. As going over the information is beneficial and if you put the poster up on your wall and recite it, it will pay off.
•Mind maps When struggling to revise making mind maps will help. I started off using mind maps but then slowly got into the habit of cold revision of just reciting the information in my head until it sticks.
•Different coloured paper/ink There are studies on using different colours to revise as “they access different parts of your brain”. I tried it . Although it might work for you!
•Make a revision booklet or revision guide Collate all your notes into one super word document or revision guide. This way it will be easier to revise as all your information will be in one place.
•Go for a walk with you notes If you take your notes with you everywhere you go. You can’t go wrong! Take them with you when you walk the dog and learn a sentence off by heart. Every little helps!
•Revising with your friends If you’re confident your friends won’t distract you have regular revision sessions. This way its more fun and you can help each other out on topics your unfamiliar on.
How to revise and examination techniques
1. You have to make the information stick into your head. If “it’s not sticking” you’re wasting your time. Make sure you don’t fall into the habit of just reading your notes. You have to learn them off by heart.
2. Look at the information and repeat it in your head or scribble the information onto paper from memory until it sticks. This is the quickest way to revise.
3. If all else fails use the good old “"Look, Cover, Write, Check" technique
4. Make sure you don’t start revising and hitting your peak too early as it takes energy to maintain this “peak”.
5. Do past papers and give them to the teachers to mark. This way you will identify your flaws and the teachers will like you.
6. I’m going to fail So what? Never give up. I’ve seen people with debilitating illness carry on with their a-levels and pass.
7. Should I revise the day before? Or the exam is a week away! It’s not recommended by anyone. But I think it depends on what kind of person you are. I personally could not revise anything even three days before never mind the day before. Its never too late though one solid night of revision could technically bring your grade up. I’ve seen people revise for seven days and get A’s.
Extra tips for the examinations (basic stuff really)
•Take sensible breaks
•If before the exam you are absolutely sick of revising take a break. It will help you get back together.
•If you’re ill on the day of the exam you may be able to apply for special consideration. Or if your have been experiencing family problems you may also be able to apply for special consideration. Best bet is to speak to your examinations officer.
•On the day of the exam eat a good breakfast. Many recommend a banana and it does help. It’s potassium-rich and is known to be consumed by top tennis players.
•For an essay based subject used a smooth pen.
•Obviously take a watch to the exam and take it off and lay it on the desk. This way you won’t waste any time doing up your sleeve etc.
•Always check your answers (if you have time)
•Always leave a little space after questions so you can go back to it. You don’t really have to though. You can always right question 6 continued at the end of the script. The examiners have seen it all. They will mark as normal.
•Check the time and date of the exam and learn it off by heart
•Find out the time of the examination and your seat number and visualise yourself doing it
•Always read the question twice and make sure you answer the right one!
•If you have a panic attack, close your eyes and take a deep breath. If that doesn’t work ask to go to the toilet. This should calm you down.
•Take water to the exam. This way if you have a mind block you can sit back relax and enjoy a cold one!
•If you run out of time or if you are running out of time. Look for a question with a lot of marks and with a broad answer range like an essay.
•Learn from your mistakes, you may well end up getting low A’s. See where you went wrong and change your tactics.
•If you’re not on the seating plan or your desk makes noise. Complain
•This sounds ridiculous but exercise your hand. This way you won’t get a cramp. This mostly works for essay based subjects.
: Before you start revising
•First figure out the examination technique Many people fail exams simply because they haven’t worked out the technique. You have to have it (have to have it!). As soon as you start you need to; a) learn how to manage time in an exam b) learn how to write clearly and intelligently c) learn how much to write for each question
•Analyse the syllabus Look at the different examinations available and find out which ones you will be taking and what you need to revise. Print it off and have it with you in class. This way you know what the teacher is going over. And if the teacher has missed something you will know. They can be found on the examination board websites. If you do this before you start you will be able to see if the syllabus is right for you. I dropped a subject at the start of the year due to the fact it had a ridiculous coursework requirement.
•Find out about retakes Find out the dates you can retake, who you should go to if you wish to retake, and what the policy on retaking is. This will put your mind at ease during revision.
•Find out about remarking Find out the date in which you can have you script remarked by. You may be totally under marked and instead of retaking a remark may be better. You have to pay for a remark but if the grade goes up you get your money back. Although your grade could also go down so it’s best to speak to a teacher beforehand.
•Get in the good books of the teachers This is not hard to do. Just keep up with the homework and hand in coursework on or before the deadline. This may subconsciously affect how the teacher marks your coursework. They can tell a hard worker from a slacker. And once you're labelled a slacker it gets tricky.
•Find the best books for your syllabus It’s best to buy the books before you start going over a module. The teacher’s notes (sometimes) might not be up to scratch. And it’s good to have notes in a different style or in different words. You might not have to buy any books if you can find good solid online notes. Google is your friend, search it for notes. Many people across different schools will be taking the same exams. You should be able to find some very good notes.
•Aim for 100% not 99%............. dont leave out anything!!
•Look at examiners reports Always read the reports examiners issue on examination series. They list common mistakes students make and outline the general performance. I read an examiners report and examiners were fed up of students “writing everything they knew”. So I kept it short and got the highest mark in the school. (Philosophy was the a-level)
•Extracting key information from syllabuses and mark schemes If you have enough time look at every single past paper and see how they want you to answer questions. It’s not recommended as mark schemes change but I actually revised from the mark schemes. As sometimes it had an easier definition or was very different to my notes that I was afraid of getting marked down.
•Make a revision time table This is the first thing everyone tells you about. Unfortunately I could never stick to it fully and in some exams I only got normal A’s. It’s good to get in the habit of sticking to it. I made compulsory revision days. For example Sunday 4PM to 8PM with regular breaks was the compulsory day for me. Made sure I didn’t fall behind! You could also stick the timetable in a place where everyone can see e.g. on the fridge. This way no one will bother you.
•Posters If you have been out of the revision game or have difficulty revising. Using posters on your wall is a good starting point. As going over the information is beneficial and if you put the poster up on your wall and recite it, it will pay off.
•Mind maps When struggling to revise making mind maps will help. I started off using mind maps but then slowly got into the habit of cold revision of just reciting the information in my head until it sticks.
•Different coloured paper/ink There are studies on using different colours to revise as “they access different parts of your brain”. I tried it . Although it might work for you!
•Make a revision booklet or revision guide Collate all your notes into one super word document or revision guide. This way it will be easier to revise as all your information will be in one place.
•Go for a walk with you notes If you take your notes with you everywhere you go. You can’t go wrong! Take them with you when you walk the dog and learn a sentence off by heart. Every little helps!
•Revising with your friends If you’re confident your friends won’t distract you have regular revision sessions. This way its more fun and you can help each other out on topics your unfamiliar on.
How to revise and examination techniques
1. You have to make the information stick into your head. If “it’s not sticking” you’re wasting your time. Make sure you don’t fall into the habit of just reading your notes. You have to learn them off by heart.
2. Look at the information and repeat it in your head or scribble the information onto paper from memory until it sticks. This is the quickest way to revise.
3. If all else fails use the good old “"Look, Cover, Write, Check" technique
4. Make sure you don’t start revising and hitting your peak too early as it takes energy to maintain this “peak”.
5. Do past papers and give them to the teachers to mark. This way you will identify your flaws and the teachers will like you.
6. I’m going to fail So what? Never give up. I’ve seen people with debilitating illness carry on with their a-levels and pass.
7. Should I revise the day before? Or the exam is a week away! It’s not recommended by anyone. But I think it depends on what kind of person you are. I personally could not revise anything even three days before never mind the day before. Its never too late though one solid night of revision could technically bring your grade up. I’ve seen people revise for seven days and get A’s.
Extra tips for the examinations (basic stuff really)
•Take sensible breaks
•If before the exam you are absolutely sick of revising take a break. It will help you get back together.
•If you’re ill on the day of the exam you may be able to apply for special consideration. Or if your have been experiencing family problems you may also be able to apply for special consideration. Best bet is to speak to your examinations officer.
•On the day of the exam eat a good breakfast. Many recommend a banana and it does help. It’s potassium-rich and is known to be consumed by top tennis players.
•For an essay based subject used a smooth pen.
•Obviously take a watch to the exam and take it off and lay it on the desk. This way you won’t waste any time doing up your sleeve etc.
•Always check your answers (if you have time)
•Always leave a little space after questions so you can go back to it. You don’t really have to though. You can always right question 6 continued at the end of the script. The examiners have seen it all. They will mark as normal.
•Check the time and date of the exam and learn it off by heart
•Find out the time of the examination and your seat number and visualise yourself doing it
•Always read the question twice and make sure you answer the right one!
•If you have a panic attack, close your eyes and take a deep breath. If that doesn’t work ask to go to the toilet. This should calm you down.
•Take water to the exam. This way if you have a mind block you can sit back relax and enjoy a cold one!
•If you run out of time or if you are running out of time. Look for a question with a lot of marks and with a broad answer range like an essay.
•Learn from your mistakes, you may well end up getting low A’s. See where you went wrong and change your tactics.
•If you’re not on the seating plan or your desk makes noise. Complain
•This sounds ridiculous but exercise your hand. This way you won’t get a cramp. This mostly works for essay based subjects.
