Planning for Success Tools

Brain dump or knowledge splat!

1. Write down everything you know about a topic from memory.

2. Check what you have written against your notes. Identify gaps in your knowledge.

3. Add the missing information in a different colour. The facts you have forgotten become the focus for revising and setting to memory.

Think about: What parts were hard to remember? How can you remember those parts in future? Is there anything you do not understand and need to seek help from a peer or teacher?

1. Always create a mind map from memory first - this allows you to check what you already know.

2. Check for gaps in your knowledge by looking back over your notes.

3. Add the missing information in a different colour; this way you have identified what you need to revise.

4. You could create a second attempt at the mind map after some time has passed to check whether you can now recall the information you had previously forgotten.

Flashcards should contain a small amount of information e.g. question on one side then answer on the other OR key word and definition OR key date and description of event, etc.

When using flashcards you need to do four things:

● Retrieve the information.

● Reflect upon what you were not able to retrieve successfully.

● Reorder your flashcards - by mixing them up you are maintaining the level of challenge.

● Repeat the process regularly.

You could choose a method such as the Leitner system to enhance your use of flashcards and provide a more systematic way of spacing out your retrieval. 

Revision clocks help you break down information in up to 12 manageable chunks. By spending 5 or 10 minutes on each chunk it helps keep you focused and makes revision more manageable. Combining text with images will help you retain information more easily.

1. Decide how many chunks to divide your topic into. Draw lines on your clock to show it in minutes e.g. six chunks = one chunk every ten minutes.

2. Give each chunk a title.

3. Spend the allocated time summarising key points - start from memory then revert to your notes or course booklets to fill in gaps.

Use Past Papers and either self-assess or ask someone else to mark them for you. Practise writing your response in timed conditions so you develop your ability to work under pressure and consolidate your exam skills. When checking your answers, make a note of any gaps in your knowledge. It might be that you need to seek support from a peer or teacher to review that aspect of the course.

It is worth checking out the SQA Understanding Standards website for exemplar responses and detailed marking instructions.