If you are about to take a test or you are helping your child study for an exam then you may find the following tips for exam revision useful.
Studying for an important test can be a stressful time for anyone particularly if you are unprepared, ill-advised and you have left revision late.
Exam revision should be started well before the exam. This will make it easier to absorb the information. Recall and comprehension of the study material is increased and the process is less stressful.
How past test papers can assist revision
A crucial step to preparing for a test is to give priority to study material that will be of greatest use for revision purposes. To do this you must have a good idea of the type of questions that will be asked during the exam.
You can obtain this information by talking to their teacher. Ask them what key areas will be emphasised in the test. Whether the test involves multiple choice or written answers and what reading material your child should give the greatest attention to.
As early as possible try to obtain past test papers for previous examinations. You should try and obtain past exam papers for a number of reasons.
Passing tests is not just about knowing what answer to give but also how to answer a question. Some questions will carry more points then others which usually involve more then one answer. It is important you know how points are rewarded and how examiners will mark the test.
Obtaining past exam papers will enable you to test your child against the clock. It is vital your child manages his or her time effectively during the exam. Getting every question correct but partially completing a test paper can still result in a fail.
The revision process
Revision involves 3 fundamental steps. Firstly planning and managing your time effectively. A timetable can be useful for this. Secondly focusing on what matters. Past test papers will have made it easier to concentrate on key areas most likely to be asked during the exam. Thirdly writing notes efficiently that can also be reviewed quickly before an exam.
How to use mind maps for revision
Don’t let your child get bogged down writing too many notes from books. In fact its best to avoid writing linear notes altogether. These can be monotonous, boring and difficult to recall.
The most effective notes are those that utilize colour, drawings and highlight the key topics that make it easy to locate the information that matters.
Effective note taking is crucial for learning, creativity and memory if the correct note taking is utilized. Avoid linear note taking and instead focus on Mind maps which utilize drawings colour and keywords and phrases.
Mind mapping involves the use of images, symbols and words to represent ideas and knowledge in a visual form where the central theme or topic is located at the centre of the mind map and subtopics are arranged around a central image or keyword.
Mind Maps are very effective note taking techniques due to the way that mind maps arrange and present information. Images and drawings are much easier to remember and the branches on the mind map help the mind to organize and associated related information which is crucial for recall. Also the most important information is easier to find and scan quickly making it easier to review information quickly before an exam.
You should create mind maps for each topic of the subject you are revising for. They should start off creating a mind map of knowledge that can be recalled from memory. This is knowledge that has been gained from books, notes, classroom activities and discussions. Also knowledge of the subject you have gained from outside the classroom. It is easier to build upon pre-existing knowledge
The mind is better able to recall information when images are used to represent key ideas, and associations are made between key ideas. The branches in a mind map and the images make this possible.
As they revise for the test their mind map should become more detailed with keywords, pictures, and phrases representing key ideas and points.
Reviewing the mind map every few days and trying to recall as much as possible from memory is an essential element of revision. This is because constantly recalling information is important to preserve and re-enforce knowledge in long term memory.
Reviewing before the exam
A few days or so before the exam encourage them to review their mind maps. Ask them to recall as much as possible for each key area. They should be able to scan their mind map and recall from memory related information. This will reveal any gaps in their knowledge that can be filled in by revisiting the material.
A day before the exam they should get plenty of sleep and make sure they understand the requirements for the test such as what can be brought into the exam room. Drink plenty of water as dehydration can cause tiredness and diminish concentration.
Gaining as much information as possible about a test by talking to the teacher and obtaining past test papers, combined with effective note taking will significantly increase their chances of success.
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