Phonix Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Well im supposed to be revising but the pull of the forum is just too much so I thought i'd ask a revision based question: "how do/did you revise for exams?" I know everyones different so I just wondered what inventive ideas you guys had came up with! Im third year uni and really struggling to get things to stick in my head (1st exam of weds was a total disaster with complete mind blank ) xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Sorry, can't even remember my name most of the time !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 if I remember that many years ago I did a revision timetable of small chunks per subject and did it that way. Small cunks of inforamtion at a time is all I can take without needing a break.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 if I remember that many years ago I did a revision timetable of small chunks per subject and did it that way. Me too. I was very organized for my finals and worked out a revision timetable and everything with coffee breaks worked out (I think that creating the revision timetable was a useful method for delaying actually starting the revision ). However, I do remember sticking to it. And (she says modestly) it paid off as I got a 2.1 in my finals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I read through the topic, and wrote summarised notes of the essential points. The objective was the writing of the notes, which made it sink in, rather than actually reading them again, although they did come in handy for last-minute cramming. Bear in mind that I'm talking umpty-something years ago, no laptops or computers for me, it was all hand-written! The other thing I did was to get past exam papers, which were available from the Uni library for a small fee, and work through past questions. I also used this - a risky strategy, admittedly - to spot repeated topics that were likely to come up again and again, and focus on those as it was pretty certain there'd be a question on them. Must have done something right, as I also got a 2:1. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Forgot to add that I realized I would never understand embryology or choose to answer a question on it, so I simply didn't bother revising it at all...that left more time for the subjects I would choose to answer questions on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I revise by doing old exam papers. Although one 1 exam I did absolutely no revision, and I got an A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I revise by doing old exam papers. Although one 1 exam I did absolutely no revision, and I got an A Smartypants!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 if I remember that many years ago I did a revision timetable of small chunks per subject and did it that way. Me too. I was very organized for my finals and worked out a revision timetable and everything with coffee breaks worked out (I think that creating the revision timetable was a useful method for delaying actually starting the revision ). However, I do remember sticking to it. And (she says modestly) it paid off as I got a 2.1 in my finals. This worked for me too. It also helped that I shared a house with 4 others also doing exams, so we worked out a joint timetable with breaks built in, then we all made sure no-one was not sticking to the timetable by keeping tabs on each other. And as someone else has said, actively doing something with notes - writing out condensed ones or trying past exam questions - is far better than just re-reading them. Having breaks together helped us to not go doolally as well (although we watched far too much Neighbours, this being the early 1990s). I revise by doing old exam papers. Although one 1 exam I did absolutely no revision, and I got an A Naughty Fred! All the teachers on the forum are now going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 As Olly said, read through making notes, read through "new" notes, making more notes, condensing each time until you get a series of bullet points. That way you have read the lot (actively) and isolated the main points to really cram in. Also make up stupid nemonics (can't spell) to remember key points eg ELPIC 5 tests for homelessness Eligible for housing Legally homeless Priority need (not) Intentionally homeless local Connection Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Well, for my revision I write up notes from all the work I've done, read through the notes a few times later in the week, pick up on the things I don't quite know yet or am still unsure on then I write them on sticky notes and stick them around the house. I also do past papers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I teach my Mum everything I know about the subject and then she tests me! Dull for her but it works for me lol!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Write notes and then re - read them and highlight them, then write lists of key points. Gradually it goes in and sometimes I even remember it!! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I do the same writing out in a different format seems to drive stuff in, and saying it out loud. When I was at school (just a few years ago) I used to write equations and stuff on wallpaper and stick it on the bedroom wall so I read it before going to sleep. OH objected this time though I find learning in small chunks of time and last thing at night. Though it does mean you dream strange dreams. Also leaving it to the last minute, I hope worked. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I set certain nights where I wouldn't go out. I had eats & drinks around me & made reminders on sticky notes all round my wall near my bed & drew pictures. I did my revision close to going bed, but not late late. I woke up with it fresh in my mind & passed my exams. One subject / topic per revision night. Anymore & you will shut off. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I read through the topic, and wrote summarised notes of the essential points. The objective was the writing of the notes, which made it sink in, rather than actually reading them again, although they did come in handy for last-minute cramming. Bear in mind that I'm talking umpty-something years ago, no laptops or computers for me, it was all hand-written! The other thing I did was to get past exam papers, which were available from the Uni library for a small fee, and work through past questions. I also used this - a risky strategy, admittedly - to spot repeated topics that were likely to come up again and again, and focus on those as it was pretty certain there'd be a question on them. Must have done something right, as I also got a 2:1. Good luck! This is what I did too, in conjunction with a revision timetable. Acronyms are helpful, you know using a word to represent the initials of a list you want to remember. There is a strong correlation between attendance at lectures and exam success! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Really interesting question. It depends on your learning style though: Liz did what I used to do: read notes, condense them, read them again, condense further, then end up with post its which would go in the loo, on fridge etc. If you're a visual learner, then drawing webs, flow diagrams, mind maps would help. If you are more auditory, record your own voice: there's nothing more powerful to help with memory. Tell someone else all about what you have been revising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Well i wish it was as easy as revision nights but im on full days with early starts and late nights at the mo. i do the re-read the lecture notes and condense into shorter ones using the lecture handout and tutorial notes too and then try to learn those by re-writing and re-writing little sections and then before bed trying to write out what ive learnt... I really don't have the time to go through past papers although thats what i did at A level - but my questions now are about an hour each to answer! Ive got two exams next week so not looking forward to it - was supposed to revise all day today but spent most of my time at the hospital xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Well good luck with your exams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
