KS4 Revise Wise

This technique can be a fun way to involve friends and family in your revision. By actively recalling information through being quizzed, you will strengthen your memory and comprehension of the material.  It can also help identify areas of weakness that you need to work on!

This technique is all about spacing out your revision so as not to get swamped and overwhelmed.  Research shows that doing something little and often is better than doing it all at once, or cramming.

This technique is all about deepening your understanding rather than simply memorising facts.  It can take many forms such as creating visual representations, teaching the material to someone else or summarising key points.

This technique is the process of breaking down large amounts of information into smaller, more manageable 'bites'.  The idea is to make the information more digestible and thereby easier to remember.  It might also help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.  The BBC bitesize revision website is inspired by this method of revision.

This technique is all about getting to know what works for you.  By trialling different ways to revise and reflecting upon your progress, you can develop effective study strategies that promote deeper understanding and long-term retention of material.  It is about using and applying methods that you have successfully used in the past to overcome challenges when you have felt stuck and applying them to new situations.  It's also about being organised and knowing what you need to know; organsing topic checklists; red, amber or green 'rag rating' topics according to whether you know them or not; knowing exam timings; how many questions there are and how much to write.

This technique is all about repetition.  Flashcards only need to be credit card sized. They are quick to make and are a simple knowledge based 'cue' or question on the front and a correct 'answer' on the back.

Also try Googling the Leitner system of revision.  This involves making question and answer style revision cards, going through them and testing yourself.  You then sort them into piles: things you get right every time; sometimes; never.  Keep trying to learn the ones you only get right sometimes or never. Gradually, you will remember more of the answers.  You then move the card to the pile of things you get right everytime.  This technique builds confidence as the pile of things you know increases and the pile of things you don't know decreases in size.  Once you know them all, just revisit them and go through them occasionally to keep it fresh...then start a new topic!