The A-Z of revision

Sep 17, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Jul 22

Whether your teen’s studying for GCSE or sixth form, they’re likely to be taking mock exams over the winter, so they’ll probably need to get on with some revision. Revision is different from studying and homework. It’s about consolidating knowledge, understanding the subject matter and learning some facts off by heart. You can’t revise for your teen, but you can help them develop a good system that works for them.

In an ideal world, your teen will do a little revision as they go along, rather than leaving it all to the last minute, but most teens don’t. That’s why the weeks leading up to exams are so important.

There’s still plenty of time to revise sensibly, without creating a sense of panic, to fill in any blanks if lessons have been missed or something hasn’t been grasped, and to create revision notes that help them learn and are useful in those crucial days ahead of exams when they need to refresh their minds.

There’s more to effective revision than you might think

Revision isn’t just about the time sitting at a desk studying textbooks. Your teen needs to plan how they’ll use their time, create revision notes, practise past papers and test their knowledge, while maintaining a healthy balance between study and play. It also includes looking after their mental and physical wellbeing by getting enough sleep, being active and eating the right things, so they feel fit enough to stay on top of everything.

A great way to get them thinking about what revision entails is to play the A-Z of revision. Sit down together and come up with a list, one for each letter of the alphabet, related to what they’ll need. Some may be physical items, such as notebooks or highlighters; others might be things they’ll do, such as making flashcards or re-reading their notes. Some letters are easier to assign than others, and where the trickier ones crop up, it’s time to get creative and think about the broader things that contribute to effective revision, such as not feeling hungry or over-tired during study times.

The final list matters less than the process of compiling it. It’s the conversations that highlight how many things can make a positive (or negative) difference to revising well, many of which aren’t instinctively linked to study. This creates an understanding that, for revision to be effective, it should be part of an overall lifestyle that balances healthy choices, rather than cramming hours of late-night swotting into the final days before exams.

If you need inspiration, here’s an A-Z we’ve created

Abbreviations: create your own abbreviations so they mean something to you
Breaks: take plenty of breaks to keep fresh
Content: think about the content of what you're studying
Distractions: avoid distractions so you stay focused on the task in hand
Environment: choose an environment that suits you, so where you're studying feels right
Flashcards: create flashcards to help learn and remember things
Goals: set plenty of small goals so you get a sense of achievement as you go along
Highlight: highlight important facts to help remember them
Internet: use the internet to help; you're not on your own
Jargon: make sure you understand jargon, and don't skip it in case it crops up in an exam question
Keep focused: which is why it's best to revise in small bursts of time
Laugh: laugh while you learn; find the fun in what you're doing
Manage: manage yourself; you know how you work best, so demand the best of yourself
Notes: make notes to summarise key points
Organise: organise yourself in small batches of time, so you know what you're doing when
Phone: turn your phone off, so there are no distractions from notifications, and look forward to catching up during a break
Quizzes: quiz yourself to check what you've learned
Repeat and review: once usually isn't enough
Set time: use a set time each day; the mind appreciates routine and regularity
Timetable: create a revision timetable so you know what you're doing when, and to spread your time evenly
Upset: don't get upset; if things don't go as you'd hoped, set it aside and start afresh later
Verify: verify information; you want to learn facts, not fiction
Wake: wake up early to get started...
relaX: ...and leave time at the end of the day to relax
You: you are the key to your future; you're doing this to create the life you want
Zzz: get enough sleep