Why is revision so important?
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Exams are rigorous and challenging.
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Nearly all courses have an examination at the end.
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The amount of content covered has largely increased.
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We forget content that we only cover once.
Be clear on what to revise…
- You need a list of topics so you can break up your revision. You can access this list for each subject on our website in the curriculum section.
- You need a reliable source of information to revise from - for example a revision guide.
Create the climate
- Distraction free.
- Mobile phones switched off and out of sight.
- If using electronic devices to revise then switch off notifications from social media.
- Use breaks to check messages / listen to music - we recommend you work for 30-40 minutes then take a 10 minute break.
Don’t just read your notes and highlight… TEST YOURSELF
- This is essential to make the information 'stick'.
- Vary your quizzing technique to keep revision interesting – so you don’t get bored.
- Explain your learning at the end of your session
Examples of retrieval practices
Flashcards:
- Make them. Use reliable resources.
- Test yourself. Ask the question and say the answer out loud or write it down.
- Check that it is perfect…
- Sort into ones you know ones you don’t.
Read and Quiz – Elaboration
- Step 1: Choose a passage/text that you need to revise. This is ideal for a study guide page. Read the information.
- Step 2: As you read, write questions about the content on a separate piece of paper.
- Step 3: Look at your questions and write the answers from memory.
- Step 4: Check your answers against the original passage. Did you get it right? Did you miss anything out? If it wasn't perfect, then do it again!
Example
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What is the conservation of energy?
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Energy can be transferred usefully, stored, or dissipated but can never be created or destroyed
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What does dissipated mean?
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Transferred into less useful forms – typical thermal energy
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Define power
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Power is the rate at which energy is transferred
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What unit is power measured in?
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watts, W
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State the equation for calculating power
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Power = energy transferred / time
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You can essentially create your own revision guide!
Look / cover / write / check
- Step 1: Read the information. Be realistic and make this a manageable amount!
- Step 2: Cover up the information. Making your brain work hard to retrieve the information forms memories.
- Step 3: Write down the information from memory - everything you can remember.
- Step 4: Check/correct it. Did you get it right? Did you miss anything out? If it wasn't perfect, then do it again!
A challenge shared is a challenge halved…
Share your revision:
- Family and friends can help “cement” your learning
- Discuss/quiz each other before, during and after revision