Be realistic: It's worth thinking before you go into the exam what exactly you are trying to achieve. What grade are you hoping to attain? This way you go in there knowing it doesn't matter how anyone else does - you have your goal and that is what you should keep in mind.
Full answers: Unless you write the full answer down the examiner will not know that you know the answer. He/she is not telepathic and can only go by what you've written down. You will not get marks for writing a lot, or having pretty handwriting.
"Write your workings out very clearly or make notes next to them"
No repetition: Don't repeat the question, the examiner will already know what it is and you don't need to waste valuable time and energy rewriting it (you won't get extra marks).
Complete answers: Ask yourself have you answered every part of the question? It will be worth a certain amount of marks and if you only answer part of it you will only get the marks dedicated to that part of the question, no matter how fabulously well you answer it.
Show workings out: If you're doing a maths exam that involves calculations either write your workings out very clearly or make notes next to them so your teacher can work out what you've done. Even if you've lost the plot half the way through and the answer is wrong, if the teacher can see what you were trying to do you will get some marks.
Clear handwriting: Write clearly in black ink. Don't decide to suddenly get creative and draw squiggles, pictures or graffiti. It annoys examiners!
Good Revision Habits
- Drawing up a revision timetable
- Using a variety of different revision techniques
- Systematically reducing your notes until they consist of keywords
- Learning a range of material relating to a particular topic so that you are able to be flexible in your answers
- Knowing that half the battle with revision is starting, therefore use a variety of approaches to starting revision that are effective
- Knowing that 'little and often' is the key to effective revision
- Listening to soothing background music
- Systematically learning material thoroughly
- Learning all topics well
- Concentrating on the topic you are revising
Knowing the link between effort and attainment- Completing your coursework before it is time to start revising
- Revising for all subjects equally
- Discussing your revision with parents, teachers and friends
- Using any opportunity to revise e.g. an unexpected absence by your teacher
Bad Revision Habits
- Leaving revision until the last minute
- Reading through notes repeatedly
- Having a stock of excuses as to why you did not revise 'tonight'
- Thinking that reading through material the day before the exam counts as revision
- Writing out model answers on a topic in full and attempting to learn these off by heart
- Revising too much and putting yourself off
- Starting to panic
- Putting off revision
- Learning only the first topics well
- Being easily distracted
- Constantly re-writing notes in full
- Using revision time as a chance to catch up with your coursework
- Revising only your favourite subjects
- Not discussing your revision with anyone
- Setting aside specific time for revision that you rarely keep to
