Taking a test
Don't panic!
Revise!
Revising for a test can be
daunting. Particularly when faced with
copious notes and the facts don't seem to be sticking. The following tips will
help make any student's revision effective.
Be healthy. Drinking water, eating
healthy snacks and having a good night's rest are all important as is working
in an area that is well lit and enables the student to sit comfortably.
Be prepared. Encourage the student to
sit down to revise prepared with paper, pens and any equipment that they will
need. Mute phones and switch off
monitors.
Working in intervals with short breaks
in between, e.g. 30 to 50 minute intervals with 10 minute breaks, is the most
effective way to retain information.
Many students learn better when they move around. Simply standing up,
provides the brain with an influx of oxygen.
Condense. Turn pages of notes into brief notes
using key words. Students can generate mind maps, focus on
keywords, using colour and pictures
makes revising more effective.
Timelines. Some subjects, such as history, are ideal for
creating timelines to remember key facts and events.
Flash cards. Briefly write the key points, use colour pens
and pictures. Create mnemonics or use existing ones. For example: BODMAS for the order of operations.
Brackets
Operations
Division
Multiplication
Addition
Subtraction
Ask a friend. Students can ask others to test them or
create the own tests and games. Use online resources to help you revise for the
test.
Practise past papers. Students can learn how to pace themselves in
a test. Use the mark schemes to mark and correct their answers, students
develop their understanding of the subject.
This is also useful for practising good test taking techniques; e.g, reading
the whole question; following
instructions; showing their working out; looking at all the choices
before answering; eliminating any answers that they know to be wrong and
checking their answers carefully. (Many
past papers can be downloaded).
When revising or taking the test,
students need to remember to relax and breathe deeply; think positively and to do their best.
