Don’t Panic! Try To Rise To Your A-level Exam Challenge

Posted on Oct 29 2013 - 11:40am by Davis Miller

Exam Day

Students in general are terrified by the simple word ‘exam’. And because we live in a highly competitive world, we want to excel at everything. Hysteria is all over the place and it applies to exams as well. A-levels are a challenge for students who are eager to go into college; yet, they’re not impossible to pass. Efficient exam revisions, study guides, practical online learning techniques, and lots of sleep, are all important factors that will help students keep their calm and pass A-levels victoriously.

The Revision Process

It’s very important to perform your own revision when preparing for an exam. Don’t put your faith in revision classes because they might not bring you the outcome you’re interested in. Make a thorough revision plan and start with the subjects you’re feeling insecure about. Of course, your schedule will change, but this will provide structure to the revision process. Stop seeing it as a horrible activity; revisions can be enjoyable if you opt for the right learning strategies and use the proper tools.

Before you start revising

Are you sure you’ve chosen the right A-Levels? Don’t forget to check whether the A-Levels you selected will enable you to take the courses you’re interested in. For instance, if you want to do Physics, you will probably need A-Level Maths, as well as A-Level Physics. Familiarize yourself with the examination technique; students fail exams because simply don’t know what to do. Time management during exam revisions is of the essence.

  • Examine the syllabus: Find out exactly what you have to revise. Examination board websites contain the information you need, so don’t hesitate to check them out. This way you won’t waste precious time studying irrelevant subjects.
  • Find out more about remarking: See when you can have your paper remarked. If you think you deserve a higher grade, go for it! Keep in mind that your grade might also go down, so maybe you should discuss with a teacher beforehand.
  • Don’t buy books: the internet is your oyster, so there’s no need to buy books in order to revise efficiently for your A-levels; online notes, tests, and study guides are more than recommended because sometimes teachers can’t cover all topics in class.

How to make an exam revision session more fruitful

Make a revision schedule and stick to it, and plan compulsory revision days; you can study every Saturday from 4PM to 8PM, with regular breaks in between. Place your schedule in a place where all members of the family can see it. Additional revision notes and learning techniques:

  • Posters – Posters can be very useful, so don’t hesitate to use them. Apart from helping you revise the information, posters also allow you to read it whenever you want.
  • Mind maps – Mind maps are an efficient learning tool, since they enable you to memorize things way easier.
  • Colored paper/ink – Studies have shown that using different colors when revising helps students remember the information faster as they access multiple parts of the brain.
  • Mnemonics – it’s a very effective method to remember lists of things or names, so you should totally try it.
  • Revision cards: Buy small cards and write the most important details you want to memorize on them. Take them with you every time you go out and you’ll love the result.
  • Make a revision guide: Gather all your revision notes in a single “super” document. You’ll be able to revise the information easier and you won’t have to browse through your books again.
  • Tele revising: Use your Smartphone to text questions to your study-buddies or opt for a Skype call with all your classmates. What’s more, you can also use forums like thestudentroom.co.uk where students share their opinions, concerns, ideas and so on.

When you’re dealing with multiple exams, something might go wrong. If you haven’t revised a subject and you see it among your exam questions, don’t panic. Reflect on it cautiously as you might be able to handle it. Just remember: you devoted weeks to a thorough exam revision session, so if you can’t remember it’s because you’re nervous. Try to relax, think about your notes, and everything should go by the book.

Photo Credit: Flickr/Ben+Sam

About the Author

Davis Miller is an experienced writer with interest in small business, technology, and gadgets. He has written several high quality articles at many websites. He spends his free time in reading books and watching movies.