Use these independent revision tips in preparation for your GCSEs
or A-Levels
Idea no.1
White boards.
Get yourself a cheap whiteboard and pen, time yourself to write down as much as you can about a topic. When time is up, rub it off and try again.
Idea no.2
Note cards.
A classic, simple but effective way of revising. 1 Topic per card.
Idea no.3
Voice memo.
Record yourself reading out revision notes and listen to it whenever you have a free moment.
Idea no.4
Step by step guide.
Imagine you have to explain how to answer a 4/5/12 mark question to someone who has never done it before. Make a step by step guide.
Idea no.5
Progress Tracking.
make a list of the topics you need to know and write down how confident you feel about each one once a week. You can use a colour scale, or numbers, even smiley faces.
Idea no.6
Model answers.
Ask your teacher for model essay answers. Read through them, identify when they show knowledge, or analysis or include a reference.
Idea no.7
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Music based
Create a song, rap or rhyme for a topic, story, theme.
Idea no.8
Flash Cards.
Key word on one side, definition one on the other. Test yourself.
Idea no.9
Bunting.
Cut out triangle pieces of paper, and on each one write a quote from the Bible/Torah etc, tie together and hang in your room.
Idea no.10
Shrink it down.
Make a full A4 page of notes. Now (without just making your writing smaller) use that page to make an A5 page of notes. And then a post it note.
Idea no.11
BUG the question.
BOX the command word i.e. describe, explain...
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UNDERLINE key ideas i.e. Salvation, Mitzvot
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GLANCE over the question to make sure you've understood it.
Idea no.12
Revision clock.
Break any religion or theme into 12 section or headings. Find a revision clock template online and fill in.
Idea no.13
Create a mark scheme.
Find the GCSE mark scheme on the exam board website and rewrite in your own words.
Idea no.14
Zone of relevance.
Make 3 concentric circles on paper. In the middle ring include most important info for an essay question, the next ring should be things that have some relevance, and the last ring should be things that have limited relevance
Idea no.15
Spider Diagrams
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Summarise a topic onto a page branching out into various sub-topics.
i.e. Christian practices --> Sacraments--> baptism -->believers baptism
Idea no.16
Nightmare before the exam.
Write down your nightmare questions, the ones you would HATE to get in the exam. Then get a teacher or friend to help you answer them
Idea no.17
Past papers.
simple. Ask your teacher for old exam papers to practice. Try doing them in the correct timed conditions.
