If you are revising
for exams at the moment, you may find that no matter how hard you study or how
many hours you spend revising, the information just isn’t sticking. If that is how it is for you, you need to try
something different. Here are some tips
to make your study more effective:
1. Set
yourself revision goals for each day and plan your work to achieve them. Make sure you include some rest times every
40-50 minutes.
2. Rewards yourself
for study goals achieved for example call to a friend or have 10 minutes on a
favourite game.
3.
Make it easy to do your revision by keeping your
study area tidy and well-ordered. Keep
books and notes for different subjects separate and easy to find.
4.
Make it hard for things to distract you. Keep your mobile phone on silent, turn off
Facebook, Twitter etc. Leave your
computer games in a different room
5. Understand
how you prefer to take on and remember information. Some people take in
information most easily through images and pictures, some through sound and
some through physical experiences. If you are someone who can picture
things easily, mind maps will be a useful revision tool (see How to Mind Map by Tony Buzan). If pictures
don’t work so well for you, try recording your revision notes and listening
back to them or just saying them out loud. If you are someone who learns
by doing or experiencing things, try walking while reading your notes or
tracing key words in the air with your finger.
6. Exercise
first thing in the morning to increase your brain power. Exercise
increases levels of hormones that are important to neurotransmitters and
generates new brain cells. Study the subject you find most difficult immediately
after exercise for the best effect.
7. Have some
peppermint or rosemary essential oil in your revision room. Both scents
have been shown to stimulate the brain. If you find it helpful, you can
put some on a tissue to take into the exam room.
8. Baroque
music is frequently used by trainers as background music to aid
learning. You can try playing Bach, Handel or Vivaldi while you are
studying.
9. Have a
laugh! The Von Restorff Effect predicts that material that is outstanding
in some way is easier to remember. That distinctiveness can come in the
form of humour or by making something bizarre or funny. So if you are
having trouble remembering something see if you can put it into a joke or
cartoon or make a humorous mnemonic for it.
10. Drink
plenty of water – you can’t think straight when you are dehydrated.
Good Luck!
