Revision

Understand How Your Memory Works
Some of us are better at remembering things than others. However, here is a trick that should help... If you learn something new, in general it will already start fading in your mind after a few hours (unless it is particularly exciting). However, if you revise it again in the next four hours, it will take about 24 hours before it starts to fade. Revise it in the 24 hour period and it will last for four days, then one and a half weeks, then one month, and so on. By setting out your revision schedule to make the most of this (learn something, revise it again after a few hours, revise it again in the next couple of days, and so on) you will be using the way your memory works to your advantage!

Put aside specific hours in the day for revision
If you set aside the hours in the day you are going to revise, and let everyone else know what these are, you can make sure you are not disturbed. You can then get into a //'revision pattern'// - where your mind expects to be revising and is therefore more receptive to the material.

Try not to revise more than two subjects a day
Don't feel that you need to revise a whole topic in one go. As well as keeping a fresh head, going back the next day to finish revising the topic will renew your knowledge and hopefully help you //retain the information for longer.//

Eat Properly
While you are using up energy revising it is important to eat properly so that your body and your mind are fit and ready for the exams

Fish, eggs and milk are high in protein which is used by your brain. But you will need energy as well. Nuts and bananas are good sources for this (chocolate is another good source of energy, but the effects of eating a bar of chocolate lasts for far less than eating, for instance, a banana).

One big mistake that some students make is to think that if they read through their notes, this will be enough to get them through the exams. This is not so. There's a big difference between **knowing** facts and **recognising** them.
 * Here are some useful hints on how to revise:**
 * Make a timeline of events and put it up in your bedroom.
 * Make a list of events, cut them up and then try to put them in to chronological order and date them.
 * For remembering personalities, try writing a 'This Is Your Life' script for them.
 * Use flow charts and spider diagrams.
 * Try to reduce your notes to one side of paper for each topic.

No matter how much you know, it isn't going to help if you cannot write under pressure. In most A level papers you will be required to answer a document question and write three essays, all in the space of 3 hours. It is, therefore, very important that you practise writing to a time limit. Give yourself 40 minutes to write essays at home. This gives you an extra 5 minutes to check through your work. The more of these that you do, the more confident you will feel about writing under pressure, and to time limits. Also, practise writing essay plans. Try doing some of these once you have finished revising a topic. It's a good idea to get hold of as many past papers from your teacher as possible, so that you have a good idea of the types of questions you will be set, and you will become more familiar with the layout of the paper.