How to Cram Revision

If you’re wondering how to cram revision, you’re not alone. The problem is that it can be really difficult to find time to revise. Here’s some advice. First, avoid talking to others about what you’ve been studying. Also, try not to stay up too late revising.

Do’s and don’ts

It is not a good idea to leave revision until the last minute. Instead, students should make time for revision throughout the year. This will give them more time to practice and test their knowledge. The best way to revise is to continuously learn and practise.

Make sure you have a clear plan of what you need to revise. Try using a diary or digital app to help you plan your revision sessions. Though making a revision plan may seem time-consuming, it will save you hours of planning and revising. Plan out your revision timetable, including lesson notes and relevant readings. Also, remember to take breaks. It’s best to spread your revision sessions over several days rather than trying to revise five hours in one day.

Cramming revision can lead to low retention of the information you read. This is why you should try to understand the material you read thoroughly before attempting it. Also, try to stay away from caffeine and energy drinks. Not only are they bad for you, but they can also keep you awake longer than you’d like. Remember that cramming revision reduces your chances of retaining the information and is a waste of time.

Cramming is a common practice among students. However, it is a poor revision strategy and can lead to increased levels of stress. Not only does this increase the amount of time spent studying, it also decreases your sleep, affects your judgement, and hinders concentration.

The key to successful cramming revision is prior organisation. You need to make an informed decision on what you need to learn and stick to it. For example, you can study different topics from different areas, or you can study specific subjects in depth. The important thing is that you stick to your decision and don’t try to cram everything into a few hours.

Do’s and don’ts of cramming revision

If you’re cramming for an exam, here are some tips to help you succeed. First, don’t cram in too much information. Rather, use your revision time to test your knowledge. You can do this by reading old exam questions and writing answers in the form of a list. Secondly, cramming is often indicative of insufficient study or a lack of lectures. It’s therefore important to identify where you’re lacking in knowledge and focus on these gaps to revise properly.

Remember that studying for exams is a long process, and cramming for an exam can lead to fragile memories. Instead, try to spread your practice time across several days so that you build up a more reliable memory base for the exam. K Anders Ericsson, an authority on expertise, argues that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert.

Lastly, don’t cram too much – although it can help you memorise a lot of information, it’s essential to focus on the key ideas in your study material. This means concentrating on key people, dates, equations, and vocab words. By focusing on these, you’ll be better able to remember the important points and forget the rest.

Getting adequate sleep is an important part of revising. Lack of sleep, especially during exam times, can impair memory and concentration. This can affect the quality of your memory, judgement, and mood. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’ll have trouble concentrating, remembering your notes, and will feel exhausted.

Using a revision diary or planner is a good way to ensure that you get the most out of each session. While it takes a little time to plan, it will save you hours of revision. The plan should contain relevant readings, lesson notes, and breaks.

Avoid talking to other people about what you’ve studied

It is common for people to discuss what they’ve studied with friends and family during revision. Although this practice can feel satisfying, it can also damage your memory. You will be better off spacing out your practice to build stronger and more useful memories for the examination. According to K Anders Ericsson, a world renowned expert in expertise, it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve expert levels of skill.

Keeping your revision schedule flexible is also important. Try to find a few hours to do revision every day. During this time, try to do several subjects a day. You should also try to find the best revision method for you. Some people learn best by themselves, while others prefer to study in a group setting with a friend.

Avoid staying up all night to revise

Staying up late to revise can be a stressful experience. It can make you feel like you can’t focus, or worse, you may fall asleep while revising. You can avoid this if you keep a few tips in mind. Choosing a good place to study, a desk with a nice view, and the right amount of light all help. It’s also important not to cram too much caffeine into your system, as it can cause high blood pressure.

Avoid cramming recurring topics

Despite the fact that cramming can help you to gain the knowledge you need, there are some things you can do to avoid cramming recurring topics into your revision. Firstly, you must avoid reading academic textbooks which are dense and do not allow you to read them quickly. Instead, you should try and find revision books with short summaries of topics. These revision books will be easier to skim through and will not overwhelm you with information. Another advantage of these books is that they will often include notes from previous exams. This will help you to commit information to memory.

Another way to avoid cramming is to write down recurring topics in your own words and summarize them in your notes. The main point of taking notes is to understand the content and remember key points. During class, you should also pay close attention to the introduction and summary of the class. You should also note down key questions, which you can use in your revision.