Revision help?

Question

i find it really hard to revise i get distracted really easily has anyone got any good revision sites for gcse (not bitsize) or any good tecniques so i dont get distracted so easily.

Answer 1

At work the other week, I was in a fabulous session......REVISION for year 11.

Point 1 to note: - DON'T CALL IT REVISION, that word immediately makes them think boring, not fun, hard, why, books etc etc. call it review or recall sessions. when you say review they tend to think of film/book/music reviews!!!!

Try encouraging the use of LOCI - the use of location/items, to create a story. By telling and re-telling the story, this will reinforce the connection and assist in the memory of facts.

Use mind maps to take out the 20% of information you actually need - tony buzan explains it really well. use colours and remeber to write on the lines!!!!

now you have methods, lets think about times......children tend to switch off after 20 - 40 minutes, so have 4 x 30 minute sessions, broken up by a 5 minute break (drink, bite to eat, walk around) -
30 mins review, 5 mins break,
30 mins review, 5 mins break,
30 mins review, 5 mins break,
30 mins review, 5 mins break.

go back and recap on the mind map after 10 minutes to see what they can remember and refresh their memory on the facts they're not sure of. only spend about 5 minutes on this.
1 day later do this same recap for about 5 minutes.
Carry on with these short recaps after 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month. this should maximise the ability to retain the necessary information.

The class of 30 year 11 pupils found it really helpful and enjoyed the session. It's well worth a try and I will certainly be showing my children these techniques.

Ask your school if you have access to the SAM learning websites, they have good review work. I think CGP have just started doing interactive work as well as the books.

Answer 2

I find it easier to revise working backwards and breaking it into chunks. Don't ask why - I just seem to catch more errors that way.

For example: If I'm working on a 5 paragraph essay, I'll revise just the conclusion first.
.
Take a break - then work on the 3rd main point paragraph (it's always the weakest anyway, so why not revise it first when I'm more awake)
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Take another break . . . (I like breaks!)
Work on the 2nd main point paragraph.
So on and so forth . . . till I end with the Introduction.
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I know a 5 paragraph paper is no dissertation - but it works for anything. . . just chunk it into pages or chapters (for book writers) etc.
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Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Have a look at this science revision site: http://scienceaid.co.uk

I use the Cornell method to revise, it is not easy to explain quickly, have a look at this to get the idea: http://www.clt.cornell.edu/campus/learn/LSC%20Resources/cornellsystem.pdf