6 Revision Hacks That Every Student Needs To Know

We’ve all been there. Deadlines or exams are looming, and we send ourselves in a frenzy of nerves and worry. We pull all-nighters, and try everything we can to devour the textbooks. Here’s the truth: cramming will never work. Trying to force yourself to remember thick chunks of writing just isn’t going to happen!

We don’t want you to bomb your exams, so we’ve pulled together some of the best revision hacks out there. ​

​Trust us, these really work. And there are no all-night library sessions in site. We can’t promise it will get rid of all the nerves, but it will make your revision period easier.

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1. Speak out loud and teach your subject
When we read notes in our head, it’s not always easy to keep it in. Our brains respond much better when we read out loud. Try verbalising all your notes, and you’ll find that you capture the core concepts better. Even better, try teaching the notes to others. Get a group of students together, and teach the subject matter to each other. If that sounds a little scary, try teaching it to your teddy bears! (Sounds crazy, but it really works).

2. Walk before an exam
You can’t always get rid of those butterflies, but walking is the best way to calm the nerves. Give yourself plenty of fresh air, and breathe in deeply. Remember, the brain needs plenty of oxygen to function at full capacity. Walking will also help clear your mind of the noise and stress surrounding you. Studies have shown that walking for 20 minutes before an exam will improve results.

3. Use apps
You’re probably doing all you can to stay away from your phone to revise! But, try downloading some revision apps, and your smartphone becomes a handy tool. Take a look at the best revision apps, and see which one will work best for you. Some help you create flashcards, while others will create multiple-answer quizzes to test you. Now you’ve got a good reason to be on your phone!

​4. Mental associations
One of the best memory tricks is mental association. Get creative, and make connections between tricky topics and simple memorable things. You can use a mnemonic device to help you remember a string of words. (Like ‘Every Good Boy Deserves Food’ for the musical notes on the treble clef.) Figure out what works for you, and use it.

5. Draw diagrams
Studies show that our brains respond better to pictures and images than large blocks of text. If you’re having trouble with a particular topic, break it down, and create a diagram. Your brain will store that information much more effectively.

6. Take breaks and get some sleep!
Last of all, forget the all-nighters. They’re doing you no good at all. Take lots of regular breaks, and get some sleep. Your brain needs to switch off, recharge, and re-energize. Give it time to do that, and wake up relaxed for your exam.
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Good luck out there guys! With these tricks under your belt, you’ll fly through.

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by IC Contributors