A-levels are looming closer by the day, so what are the best last-minute revision tips?
With less time comes more stress and potentially a worse performance in the exam(s). Use these 8 last-minute A-level revision tips to avoid that stress and knock it out of the park!
1. Plan your day
It might seem like a waste of time but spend 20-30 minutes planning your day. Half an hour, in the beginning, will save you a ton of time throughout the day. By creating a solid plan, you won’t be deciding on a new topic to revise once you’ve completed one. A great book to read that will help you with prioritising and planning is ‘Eat That Frog’ by Brian Tracy.
Be realistic with the time you have and schedule time for breaks and food. Always ensure you are revising effectively.
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2. Get up early and get started
Even if you’re not a morning person, getting up early will give you a few extra minutes (or hours in some cases!) to squeeze in some more revision.
The time at this stage is extremely valuable so you should make the most of every second you have available. On that same note, don’t set your alarm for 5AM. This is a surefire way to burn out early. We recommend starting at around 9AM after getting a healthy breakfast. It again comes down to being realistic, if you can get up earlier, then do so but remember, sleep is key for effective revision.
3. Turn off tech
It’s tempting to revise with your favourite series on in the background or have your phone in arms reach. As much as we’d love it to be productive, we all know tech is a hive for procrastination.
By all means, use your laptop for research, finding past papers, getting answers and all the rest. The key is to stay focused. Be strict with yourself and make revising your top priority. If you really struggle to part with your phone, ask someone else to take it whilst you revise or set limits on apps.
4. Feng Shui
We’re not saying you have to go complete zen and revise in a Japanese water garden, but you attempt to revise in a relaxing environment with minimum distractions. This might be at the library, in a quiet coffee shop or at home at your desk.
If you’re working at your desk, tidy it up so you have a fresh slate to be working from. Revising in the right environment will do wonders for your productivity and keep your mind focused on the task at hand.
5. Break it Up
Although a 6-hour revision session might seem productive, it’s often the opposite.
Break your revision up into 30-45 minute segments and work hard in those sessions. After each session, take a 5-10 minute break. Switch off and do something relaxing.
What works for me is going for a short walk or sitting in the garden. Whatever helps you feel more relaxed and calms your mind for the next intense session, do that!
6. Read your condensed notes
This stage of revision is a consolidation period so you should do exactly that.
By this stage, you should have written notes and condensed them into tiny formats. Instead of going back and reading the main syllabus or your classroom notes, you should focus on your condensed notes. If you are looking for help with your essays, we have an article on how to understand A-level essay questions.
If you haven’t already condensed your notes, then now is a great time to start. It will force you to create summaries of your knowledge and will help highlight topics you aren’t as strong at. It is also a good time to bring together your wider reading.
7. Get help if you need it
A problem shared is a problem halved. If you’re really stuck on a topic, speak with a friend in the year above who’s already been through the exam.
You can speak with your peers as well but just be aware, they may be just as stressed as you and might not welcome the distraction.
This doesn’t have to be entirely revision focused. If you are slogging away a hard day, your parents will likely be more than happy to make you a snack or cup of tea. The little things can make a big difference to your mindset when revising.
8. Eat Healthily
It’s always tempting to get a red bull and some sugary snacks to perk you up. This is almost always a bad idea as you’ll be lively for an hour or so, then you’ll crash.
It’s much more productive to eat some fruit to keep you going through the long day and drink lots of water!
When it comes to drinks, things like black tea, camomile and herbal teas are great replacements for coffee and energy drinks. They give you the right amount of caffeine, without overdoing it. Treat yourself with the junk once it’s all said and done at the end of the day.
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