With exam season just around the corner, students everywhere are looking for the most effective tips for revising for university exams, so we’ve compiled a list of the best revision techniques for university exams.
Navigate this article about how to revise effectively for university exams:
When should you start revising for university exams 📚
When it comes to preparing for university exams, timing is everything. Starting your revision early, ideally several weeks to months before your exams, allows you to gradually review course material, actively engage with key concepts, and identify areas needing more of your focus. Around 1-2 months before exams, intensify your efforts by practising with past papers and structuring your study schedule. During the final 2-4 weeks, focus on consolidating your understanding, using active learning techniques, and addressing any weaknesses. As the exams draw closer, aim to complete major revision tasks at least a few days beforehand to avoid last minute university revision stress. Finally, in the days leading up to exams, prioritise self-care, trust in your preparation, and approach each exam with confidence. By following this timeline and maintaining a consistent revision routine, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle your university exams with ease.
How to revise effectively for university exams 🤓
Finding the best revision technique for you can be tricky and may take some time. Some students are visual learners and prefer to revise and learn by watching videos, whilst others find writing more helpful. Either way, we have compiled a list of the most effective university revision techniques to help you get the perfect grades!
Create a revision timetable: Firstly you need to create a revision timetable. Break down each subject into manageable chunks, between 30 – 60 minutes each, and make sure to schedule some well-deserved breaks too! Place the most challenging topics at the time of day you work best, as this will help you concentrate on the areas that you need to study more. You can download our free revision timetable 👉 here 👈
Understand the material: Dive into your notes and textbooks, but don’t stress—just focus on getting the hang of the main ideas and concepts. Reread any book chapters or notes that you’ve taken down in your lectures
Use active learning techniques: Summarise your revision notes in your own words, make colourful flashcards, or teach the material to someone else. Writing things down and speaking them out loud helps your brain to remember them
Past papers and practice exams: Practice makes perfect, right? Lots of past exam papers are readily available online for free. Give those past exam papers a go and see how you do. Once you’ve completed a few if you notice you keep getting similar questions wrong, you’ve identified an area that you need to study more!
Seek clarification: Stuck on something? No worries! Reach out to your lecturers, classmates or even Google for a helping hand. We’re all in this together!
Study groups: Two heads are better than one! Join forces with your peers and tackle those tough topics as a team. Teach your friends from other courses what you know, speaking about the topic out loud can help you retain the information! Plus, it’s a great excuse for a study snack break!
Use visual aids: Draw diagrams, use highlighters or make colourful mind maps—anything to jazz up your study sessions and make things easier to remember.
Watch videos: YouTube has tons of free video content that can help you effectively revise. Search for your topic and watch the top-performing videos. Reading through the comments may also help you learn something new
Interleaved Practice: Mix up your study sessions by alternating between different subjects or topics. Rather than focusing on one subject at a time, switch between them during your revision sessions. This technique challenges your brain to make connections between different concepts, which can enhance long-term retention and understanding
Look after yourself: Exam season is hard enough as it is, so remember to take a break and get some fresh air. Remember to take care of yourself during this busy time. Eat well, stay hydrated, and go to bed at a reasonable time. Give yourself a little pat on the back for all your hard work. You’re doing great!
Last minute university revision techniques 📝
We all know that some students love to leave revision to the last minute which can be stressful, so we’ve compiled the top 5 tips to help relieve some of that revision anxiety:
Focus on high-impact topics: Prioritise key topics likely to appear on the exam based on past papers or hints from professors
Review summaries and cheat sheets: Quickly refresh your memory with condensed notes, cheat sheets and flashcards
Practice with exam questions: As mentioned in the effective revision techniques section above, use past papers and practice questions to simulate university exam conditions and gauge your preparedness
Understand concepts: Focus on understanding underlying concepts rather than blindly memorising information for better retention
Get plenty of rest and stay calm: Easier said than done, we know, but make sure you get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and eat well. Manage stress with relaxation techniques to stay focused and alert during exam season
Downloadable revision timetable 📖
To save you time creating a university revision timetable, we’ve created one for you so all you have to do is fill it out and start revising! Download it 👉 here 👈
How to look after yourself during exam season 🧘
Whilst it is top priority to revise and study for your university exams, it is also just as important to look after yourself. Exam season is a highly stressful and anxiety-inducing experience and can be a hard time for many students, so it’s super important to find time to relax in between all the last minute cramming. You have permission to take breaks regularly, go on a walk for fresh air and to stop revising altogether if it’s all getting a bit much for you. Remember to also eat healthily, exercise and get enough sleep. Nothing is more important than your mental and physical well-being.
Video content ▶️
As we know some people prefer to watch videos rather than read, here’s a short video that summaries this blog post about how to revise effectively for university exams 👇
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