Revision that works.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH FIRST
What is examined What format the examination takes How long it is How marks are distributed
WHY
Effort should follow where the marks are.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Obtain past papers, where available.
WHY
They show what is actually asked, which is frequently narrower than the syllabus suggests.
WHAT TO PRODUCE
A condensed set of notes, from memory, for each topic.
WHY FROM MEMORY
Because producing them is the revision.
WHAT TO DO REPEATEDLY
Test yourself, without the material.
WHAT TO DO WITH WHAT YOU GET WRONG
Return to it, sooner and more often than what you get right.
WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO INSTEAD
Spend most time on material they already know, because it is comfortable.
WHAT TO PRACTISE
Answering questions under time pressure.
WHY
Knowing the material and producing an answer in forty minutes are different skills.
WHAT TO SCHEDULE
Spaced revision over weeks, not a concentrated period at the end.
WHAT TO PROTECT
Sleep, which affects retention more than additional hours of revision.
