The R Word (REVISION!)

Throughout the beginning of the year (before Easter), no matter how challenging the workload seems to be, I always count my blessings that I do not have to revise. Yes, the bane of every student’s life is admittedly that awkward period between the end of lectures/tutorials and the examination. During this time, as a student, you are left to your own devices to actually make sure you have understood everything that you have been taught over the year as well as remember it all.

Both fortunately and unfortunately, the Midsummer Examination Timetable was released yesterday, thus revealing the exact dates when I will have to take my four exams. They all fall at the end of May and the beginning of June giving me nearly 8 weeks!

I am the first to put my hands up and confess that revision, particularly revising law, is not for the faint-hearted. There are various legal principles, academic commentary and of course CASES to be memorised and analysed as well as mastering that crucial exam technique.

Nonetheless, optimism has to reign free and I know that all of us who have exams this year can succeed!

Thus, I was thinking, as I did in a post during the Winter Break, I would share my revision tips with you all:

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Top Tip #1: PLAN

• My first tip, is to make a list of every subject that you are studying.
•  After you have done this, note down every topic or module that needs covering for that particular subject.
•  By doing this you cannot deny that you are completely aware of everything that needs covering.

Top Tip #2:  REALISTIC TIMETABLE 

• After you have completed #1, you should be able to make a timetable.
• Make sure you know what the dates are for your exams so you can plan properly what you will need to cover for each day.
• Be realistic when you make your timetable – don’t plan to learn half a subject’s worth of work when you know it will really take four days – as you will be preparing yourself for more stress and not success! (Apologies for my rubbish rhyme.)

Top Tip #3: UNDERSTAND

• Something I can say I was occasionally guilty of, was to memorise lots of information but not really understand what on earth I was reciting.
• It may sound silly but I know I am not the only one, so make sure you actually understand the topic properly.
• Make sure, especially for humanities subjects, to understand the issue that the topic or module is focusing on.
• This will honestly make revision much easier because you will be interacting  more  with the subject that you are studying!

Top Tip #4: PRACTICE EXAM PAPERS

• Again, to some people, completing loads of past papers is an absolute no-brainer!
• However, I think we can all admit that we have, at times, focused too much on the content of the subject and neglected to apply what we have learnt by answering those practice questions.
• Therefore, try to do as many past papers as possible as it will allow you to get used to the type of questions they may ask and, over time, will be the best way to improve your answers!

Top Tip #5: SENSIBLE BREAKS

• Students, often suffer many (often extreme) types of insanity during the revision period. Amongst other things, this is often the product of taking no breaks or too many breaks.

Those who take no breaks are on the path to becoming a STUDENT ZOMBIE.

• These students are those who tend to eat, sleep, breathe and truly live for revision.
• At the time it may seem to be the answer – but it isn’t.
• You are almost definitely on the road to burning yourself out and you need to survive – till the last exam at least!
• So the cure for you is to allow yourself time out, regularly, to do something completely non-exam related to RELAX!

Those who have been particularly indulgent on breaks are walking on a thin line on becoming a SEVERELY STRESSED STUDENT.

• These students are those who have passed the normal levels of stress that students experience and can also lead you too burn out!
• SSS’s tend to have breaks every 5 to 10 minutes and are, in plain terms, avoiding revision.
• To these students, I would say that we can all be guilty of exhibiting the dreaded symptoms of procrastination … Making 10 cups of coffee in one hour and needing to go to a stationary shop for more highlighters are my favourite excuses BUT this is 100% NOT the answer where you are not helping yourself at all.

To combat these horrible effects of procrastination, I try to put the examination into perspective. Completing the exam and doing the best you can will help you in the long run. And what is four weeks of (yes I admit it) boring revision, when you will probably have at least 3 and half months of summer to do whatever you want?

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I hope my guide is of some help! 🙂 Please let me know whether you found it useful or if there is anything you would like to add in the comment box below.

Good luck with revision – we can do this!

Zara 🙂