Top Tips for Revision

Over the thirty years that we've been helping IB students to achieve top grades, we at OSC have picked up a few good tips and tricks that we'd like to share with you.

The key thing to remember is that in order to make your revision time pay off, you must DO something to the material. The worst thing you can do is to rely on old notes.

Try some of these tips:

O-R-D-E-R

It is very important that you are organised and revise as strategically as possible.

• ​​​​Organisation - Make a structured revision plan for the next few weeks.​

• Reduce, Reduce, Reduce – write, and make your notes briefer & briefer.

• ​Diagrams – Try using visuals to show topics.​

• Exam techniques – Manage your exam well by knowing exactly what to do in it and by estimating how long you will need to answer different sections. Having a plan of action will help you to remain calm and focused on the content.​

• Routine – Exam revision is a time for studying intensively, but make sure you plan for breaks too; short activities that will allow you to unwind, such as taking your dog for a walk or chatting with a friend.

Make a Revision Timetable

• Create a revision timetable for the remaining weeks and days - start from the exam dates and work backwards. You should aim for max 60-80 minute sessions with small breaks every 20 mins or so.

• Include EVERYTHING in your timetable. Exercise, sleep, dinner, family events.

• Make sure to leave some empty slots in your timetable to allow for unforeseen events. - be prepared to be flexible.

Your Revision Space

• Organise your study space well - a quiet and calm environment will aid concentration.

• De-clutter your desk or table.

• Make sure you have all revision material with you before you begin working.

• Remove distractions whilst you revise – turn off your electronic devices and ask others not to disturb you.

Make Summary Notes—“do something” to the material

• Create handwritten “swot” cards (index cards) or A4 summary sheets. Try to get each main topic onto one page of A4.

• Make visuals (diagrams, flow charts, mind maps, timelines), lists or anything that works for you to aid your memory.

• Read through your notes, then cover them. Write down as much as you can remember on a blank page. The brain’s effort to recall information will imprint it deeper into your long term memory.

• Ask family members or friends to test you using your summary notes.

• Anything where you practice “remembering” is better than simply re-reading notes.

Prioritise!

• Be realistic about the amount of time and energy you have to revise. Time management is a vital skill for effective study.

• Prioritise your subjects—those you need to do best in (university offers), your most difficult subjects (often Maths) and those with the most content to review (Biology, History).

• Prioritise topics within each subject – allocate more time for topics that are A) most important and B) most difficult for you.

• Make sure you understand how many topics you actually need to revise.

• Get confident with a few topics in depth. It will become easier and quicker to do the others.

• Take care not to spend all of your time revising one topic.

• Study difficult topics when you are at your peak concentration level - think about what time of day your concentration levels are highest—morning, afternoon or evening?

• Tick topics off as you do them—this will remind you of what you have already covered, as well as giving you a sense of achievement.

Take Care of your Body - minimise stress and illness

• Eat well and healthily.

• Keep hydrated.

• Exercise—this reduces stress and improves brain function.

• Execute small steps of your plan, to reduce “worrying” about what you can’t control.

• Get plenty of sleep. Sleep improves memory and boosts your immune system.

Exam Techniques

Before Exams

• Know the format of each exam. Look at the marking criteria. The style of the exam dictates to some extent how you revise.

• Practise answers and essays from past exam papers. The best strategy is to practice by writing timed, detailed essay plans; you don’t need to write complete essays every time.

• The day before your exam, revise from your own notes and summaries, rather than from books or teachers’ resources.

• Make sure you know what materials you are allowed to take into your exam (formula book, dictionary, calculator, etc.) and prepare them the night before.

• Get a good night’s sleep the night before. Lack of sleep can cause careless mistakes.

• Arrive for the exam in good time.

In Exams

• Read instructions meticulously – make sure that you know how many questions you need to answer

• Read each question twice; mark the ones you can do.

• First, answer the questions you can do best.

• Don’t rush! The first 5 to 10 minutes of the exam are vital. Most marks are lost by students not following instructions or not managing their time effectively.

• Plan your time carefully during the exam - look at the mark allocation for each question and each sub-section and work out how much time you have to answer each. Jot this down and stick to it. Ideally, allow 5-10 minutes at the end for checking. Keep an eye on the clock.

• If you are writing essay answers, always spend a few minutes making a skeleton plan for your answers before writing, and give equal time for each essay.

• Make sure you answer the question they are asking you – is the question asking you to describe, analyse, calculate, explain, criticise, evaluate, or argue a point of view? Underline any key words or phrases in the question and make sure you explain your interpretation of them clearly. Note down any ideas that come to you when you first read the questions.

• If you cannot do a question—or part of it—leave it and move on. It is important that you get to the end of the paper and do all the questions (and parts) that you have to do.

• In the last 10 minutes, complete questions you may not have been confident about.

• Check your handwriting—make sure it is legible.

• After the exam, let it go. It’s finished, so use your time to make sure you are prepared for the next one.

• Be very careful about discussing the exam with others. Did you know that revealing the contents of an exam within 24 hours of writing it constitutes academic dishonesty and can cost you your diploma?