Getting ready for the exam season can be stressful. But with this set of revision tips, you’ll be on your way to success in no time.
The key to achieving outstanding results lies in how you prep. And so, to help you succeed, we’ve created a list of essential revision tips we’re certain will help you get the results you deserve.
Knowing how you should revise for exams may seem like a simple matter. But in practice you’ll need to create a revision plan that works for you. And to help you get there, we encourage you to use our tips below to support your journey.
So let’s get into it.
1. Don’t panic
First off, try not to let the stress get to you. Studies show that emotions have a significant impact on cognitive processes, including perception and memory encoding. So, the last thing you want is for any of your fears to distort your thinking or affect your memory.
Instead, try to find ways to stay calm. This could be listening to meditation music. Or it could be walking in nature every day. Either way, it should be a healthy coping mechanism, since we can all be victims of poor habits during pressured times.
Be mindful – minimise your social media, avoid binge watching Netflix and overall, don’t procrastinate.
2. Make a plan
Planning is the best way to overcome procrastination. So when you feel calm and relaxed you can start to dedicate a good amount of time to planning your studies.
There are plenty of project management tools such as Trello, Notion or monday.com that are worth reviewing. Some people can even get by with a simple spreadsheet.
But don’t just focus on time management. Think about the structure your revision will take.
Will you be heading to libraries to spend time alone?
Do you need to interact with others in groups?
Are you revising remotely or can you meet up in person?
Think about what could work best for you and how you could fit it into your schedule.
3. Set goals
Setting goals may seem like a lofty idea. But you’d be surprised at the power of goal-setting for manifesting ideas.
Hollywood star Jim Carrey claims he wrote himself a cheque for $10million in the early nineties with a future date of 1995, in an attempt to realise his acting ambitions. And sure enough, by the time he got to Thanksgiving 95’, he’d starting making $10million in the film Dumb and Dumber.
So how can you focus your efforts to awaken the Law of Attraction (Ask, Believe, Receive) and start to visualise your goals? Well, SMART Goals are a great place to start.
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Relevant, Realistic, and Results Focused
T = Timely and Trackable
4. Use Caption.Ed
One of the best revision tips we can suggest is using Caption.Ed to record your lectures. Doing so not only gives you an accurate history of the lectures and seminars you’ve attended but also a transcript for each one.
Caption.Ed works for both in-person lectures and online seminars. Plus, it supports online face to face meetings like Zoom.
So, if you’re doing group work, individual study or meeting up with a study partner, consider using Caption.Ed to enhance your studies and revision. With its helpful note-taking function, you’ll find it becomes your go-to, essential revision tool.
5. Find Your Revision Technique
Capturing a solid set of notes during lectures and seminars lays a foundation for success when it comes to exam revision. But it’s also beneficial to find an effective strategy. Because, when you return to it again and again, you’ll form a good habit. And daily habits are the best way to build up your skills and knowledge. Plus, you’ll be less likely to really notice it after a while, since it will just start to become second nature.
Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique works on the principle of studying for 25 minutes and then taking a 5 minute break. Doing so throughout the day can make your brain more focused, and you’ll find a short 5 minute break is the perfect refresher in between sessions.
Mind Maps
If you consider yourself a visual learner, you may find mind mapping software a good idea. Mind mapping helps to expand on topics, to understand how they’re related and gain a deeper understanding of their meaning.
Flash Cards
Flash cards can break down content into more manageable pieces that you can use to focus on specific information. And they’re a fast and effective way to test your knowledge on a specific topic.
6. Look after yourself
It’s important to look after yourself throughout the exam season. So whether it’s your physical, mental or emotional wellbeing, there are ways to look after each one of these if you take the right approach.
Eat Well
Getting enough B-vitamins is essential for keeping the nervous system healthy.
So try to boost your intake of B-rich foods during exam season. And that usually means stripping it down to the basics of meat, fish, eggs, avocado, tofu, leafy greens and peas.
Sleep Well
Keeping to a sleep schedule works wonders to keep your brain focused. So, as hard as it may seem, try to get to bed by the same time each night. But also, set an alarm for the same time every morning.
Manage Your Worries
We all have worries, it’s part of being human. But the pressure of exam season can feel intense. So, try to find ways to avoid worrying too much. Exercise, daily meditation or just relaxing with a book in the evening can help to keep your mind calm.
7. Stay positive
Above all, it’s imperative you stay hopeful and positive. Positive thinking has a very powerful effect on the mind. And some scientists even say it can help you feel happier and live longer.
By doing plenty of preparation and following through with your revision plans, you’ll have no reason to doubt yourself. Keep yourself on track with your plan, do some revision every day and you’ll reap the benefits in no time.
Make Caption.Ed Your Study Buddy
Caption.Ed is great because it lets tutors and students record lectures, download transcripts and add their own notes.
So when studying for exams, Caption.Ed offers the perfect assistant that can take the stress out of studying. And by referring back to all your previous captioned lectures and notes, students can find an assistant to rely on and get them through their studies.
To find out more, we encourage you to get your own free trial of Caption.Ed Pro now!