7 Top Exam Tips For Students Sitting Their GCSEs or A Level Exams.
It feels overwhelming to get ready for your exams whether they are your GCSEs or A Levels. With the right strategies, tools and state of mind you can approach your revision with confidence and get the most out of your exam performance on the day.
This blog is packed with tips including how to use mind maps, creating effective study notes, developing a good revision timetable and help if you are going to be typing your exams this year.
1. Start Early with An Exam Revision Timetable
This is probably one of the most important steps in creating a good revision plan – a well structured timetable.
A good revision timetable:
- Provides clarity: This is because you will know what you are supposed to do each day and therefore where to focus.
- Ensures balance: It is easy to overemphasise the subjects that you enjoy most, but a timetable assists in allocating time evenly across all subjects.
- Prevents last minute panic: This is because through regular and consistent revision, you are less likely to engage in last minute cramming and more likely to retain information in the long term.
How to Create An Effective Timetable:
- Assess your subjects: List all the subjects you are studying for your GCSE or A Level and note down the areas of each subject that you need to work on.
- Identify priorities: Focus more on the subjects or areas where you need most help.
- Block out time: 1-2 hours for revision, with short breaks in between to maintain focus.
- Use tools: You can use Google Calendar, Trello or a traditional planner to help you plan your day.
- Be realistic: Don’t overfill your timetable. Allow for time for relaxation, physical exercise, and sleep to maintain your health. Try and get 8 hours sleep each night.
2. Harness The Power Of Mind Maps For Exam Revision
Mind maps are a fantastic way of categorising information, especially when you are dealing with a large topic. They work by listing the different ideas and themes and then linking them together in some way, to help the brain see the overall pattern and remember details. It’s great if you are a visual learner. I used to create my mind maps on a landscape piece of A3 paper.
How to Create A Mind Map
- Start with the central idea: Put the topic (for example, ‘Photosynthesis’, or ‘The Cold War’) in the middle of the page.
- Branch out: Write down the main points as branches from the central idea.
- Add Details: Attach small branches to the key points, facts, dates or definitions.
- Use Colour and Images: Highlight the keywords and make the mind map more creative and memorable by using colours, doodles or icons. This is what is going to help you remember the keys points and where things were on the page.
SimpleMind and other apps can help you create digital mind maps if you are more comfortable with the computer-based version of creating mind maps, however, writing and creating helps to embed the information in the brain.
3. Make Study Notes That Actually Work
Effective study notes are very helpful because they help you to organise and process the information that you are required to learn in more efficiently and they are very useful for last minute revision.
Tips for Effective Study Notes:
- Keep it short: Use bullet points, diagrams and tables to summarise the information to be learned.
- Highlight key terms: Underline or colour code important concepts and formulas.
- Use mnemonics: Create acronyms or rhymes to help you remember certain information.
- Write in your own words: It is more likely that you have understood the content if you can explain it in your own words. Don’t make the notes too long.
- Organise by theme: It is more convenient to group related topics together to ensure coherence.
Whether you use a low-tech pen and paper or a high-tech tool like OneNote or Evernote, the system you choose should work for you.
4. The Importance Of Practicing Past Exam Papers
Past papers are a very valuable resource as they not only give you an idea of what to expect in the exam but also help you identify the areas where you need more practice.
When using past papers:
- Time yourself: This will help you to simulate the real exam time and improve your time management.
- Mark and review: Check your answers with the mark schemes and identify areas that need improvement. Your teacher may even be willing to mark it for you.
- Spot patterns: Find out what topics or questions have come up most frequently. Make a list of the topics that have been covered in the past few years and see what questions always seem to come up. This should help you feel more confident and less anxious about the unknown.
5. Preparing For Typing Exams
If you have been told that you are allowed to type your exams this year, then it is very important to prepare for it in well in advance. You should be able to type confidently without it holding you back or having to correct your typing too much.
Key Tips For Typing Exams:
- Practice touch typing: If you are not already a touch typist, then take time to learn. You will need at least 3 months for this.
- Get comfortable with the keyboard: Make sure you are familiar with the keyboard that you will use in the exam.
- Know the software: Ensure you are familiar with the application or tools that will be used in the exam.
- Practice under exam conditions: Use past exam papers and try writing your answers within the time frame that has been set.
- Check technical requirements: Check on things like font size, formatting and how to properly save your work for the exam.
You are unlikely to have use of spell check or an auto-correct function during your exam so you need to be very careful with your typing. You don’t want to have to keep backspacing.
We can help you improve your touch typing skills with customised lessons that will help you develop your skills most efficiently. Whether you are a complete beginner or wish to improve your typing technique, our lessons will give you the necessary guidance and practice for you to be prepared by exam day.
6. Don’t Forget About Self-Care
This is important because you should not forget about your health while you are revising.
- Stay active: Physical activity is a good way to reduce stress and improve concentration.
- Eat well: You should eat healthy and nutritious food to help your brain function properly and to avoid feeling hungry.
- Sleep enough: Get 7-9 hours of sleep every night to enhance your memory and focus.
- Take breaks: Use techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break) to help prevent burnout.
- Stay positive: Replace negative thoughts with positive ones, such as “I am doing my best,” and “I am prepared.”
7. Collaborate and Stay Motivated
You do not have to learn in isolation; you can make the process more enjoyable and effective by learning with others.
- Study groups: Share notes, test each other, or work on problems together.
- Teaching others: Explaining topics to friends or family helps you to better understand them yourself. You could even go on a walk with someone and talk about the subject as you walk.
- Reward yourself: Set small goals and reward yourself when you achieve them (e.g., have a favourite snack or take a short Netflix break).
Final Thoughts For Exam Success
It is not just about working hard to succeed in your GCSEs and A Levels, it is about working smart.
To get the most out of your study time it is important to start early, use tools like mind maps and study notes, create a good revision timetable and keep practicing with past papers. And if you are allowed to type your exams, do not leave it until the last minute and get familiar with the keyboard and your typing skills. We are here to help you with this.
Remember that exams are not just a test of knowledge, but also of preparation. With the right strategies and state of mind, you’ve got this!
You can sign up for one of our touch typing courses here: www.touchtypeit.co.uk
Good luck!