Revision tips and tricks

If you are facing exams this summer, it’s time to think about revision. Do you know your Pomodoro from your 2357? What are the most effective tips and techniques? ABDO College has a detailed online revision course, starting 3 February – applications must be in by 18 January. In the meantime, here are five ideas to help you get started.

The Pomodoro method

Having trouble concentrating? The Pomodoro method is a great approach to help you stay focused. It follows a pattern of 25 minutes of studying followed by a five-minute break. Do four sets of 30 minutes in a row to earn a longer break. It works because you learn better in short bursts of intense focus and you aren’t struggling with unbroken hours of revision. This can be particularly helpful for people who are neurodivergent, with conditions such as ADHD. (It’s called Pomodoro after the tomato – the original used a kitchen timer shaped like the vegetable.)

Blurting – the TikTok favourite

Blurting is having a moment on TikTok. It’s all about testing yourself repeatedly, engaging in active recall to help you remember. Essentially you read a section of your notes, then close them and write down as much of the information as you can remember. It makes your brain work harder to retain the information you need. Find out more here.

3. Spaced repetition and 2357

Spaced repetition is a scientifically proven technique that involves reviewing information at ever-closer intervals. It boosts your memory and makes it less likely you’ll forget details. It works like a library catalogue, training your brain to find the right information when you need it.

You can start using spaced repetition straight after a lecture or tutorial. Reviewing content immediately is a much better way to get it into your long-term memory than procrastinating then cramming!

The 2357 method is a type of spaced repetition you can use to plan revision sessions as you get close to exams. Set study sessions at increasing intervals (two, three, five then seven days before an exam) to boost long-term memory by reviewing material just before you’re likely to forget it

4. The Feynman technique

Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard Feynman said the secret to his success was using his own study method. There are four simple steps to the Feynman technique:

Choose the topic you need to learn and try to remember as much as you can from your notes.
Teach someone else in simple terms. Only refer to your notes when you really need to. Pretend you are explaining the topic to a 12 year old child. The idea is that if you can communicate it so that a kid can understand it, then you know the topic really well.
Read and review your work. Address any gaps in your knowledge by returning to the source material.
Teach or pretend to teach someone else again. Use your notes less and less as you repeat the process.

Simplifying the topic over and over helps you memorise the key points and recall them during an exam.

Flashcards – tried and tested

Flashcards are a long established revision technique but there are many ways to use them. You could use images or colour coding, test yourself or create your own acronyms.

They are great for remembering small chunks of information such as definitions, facts, quotes and more.

If you prefer the digital approach to physical cards, there are lots of apps available, from Anki to Quizlet or Gizmo.