REVISION GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
All,
There will be a formal assembly for both Year Twelve and Year Thirteen on Monday at 1.20.
Please find attached here an electronic version of the revision timetable that you will be given in that session. For some of you this might be the first time that you have had to revise on this scale. Not knowing how to revise can be overwhelming. There is plenty of advice out there, but the truth is that everyone learns (and thus revises) in different ways. The list below contains tips and questions that have helped Little Heath students in the past. The most helpful thing that we can say to you is read it, and ask yourself honestly what applies to you.
- A regular routine is of course best. Try to keep to school hours where possible. Many students find that they are able to concentrate better in the morning. Make sure that you are getting to bed at a sensible hour, and don’t work through the night. You need to live pretty cleanly in the next few months if you are going to do your best. Eat well and take regular exercise – it is the best way to get rid of the stress. Ensure that you include sensible break times during the day, these are important to help you unwind and to make sure you don’t burn yourself out.
- As you revise make sure that you are writing down what topics and areas you are struggling with and show this list to your teachers at the start of the summer term. This will help them help you. Remember the more specific the question you ask, the more focused the answer that you will get back.
- Always attend teacher-led revision. This is very effective use of your time, and will often focus on examination techniques.
- Divide your time up equally between your subjects. Do not leave your most difficult subjects until the end of the day. Instead, try to get these out of the way early on. You should be undertaking at least 5 hours a day over the Easter holidays.
- Do you know what the examiners are looking for, or are you just learning “stuff”. If it is the latter, then you need to talk to your teachers.
- What system of testing are you creating for yourself ? How do you know that you are learning ?
- Never just read your notes. You must always be DOING something with them to FIX the information in your brain.
- MIX THE INPUTS – eg: Walk around while you try to revise your notes / make your notes into diagrams or mind-maps / write down your notes on postcards. See what works for you. Have you tried notes on notes on notes ? This means making a paraphrase of your notes, then a paraphrase of the paraphrase, and so on, until you have compressed your notes into 6-8 cryptic headings/words. Not only are these easy to learn, but by writing and re-writing the words you have helped to embed them in your brain.
Finally, there will be a meeting on Tuesday at 1.20 in S3 for those of you worried about examination stress. We will text those of you who have made yourself known to us, but all are welcome.
Mr Kydd, Mr Hand and Ms Vignali.