Skills Centre
Study & Revision Tips
It is important for you to be fully prepared for when you sit exams. Everyone learns and retains information differently, so here are some suggested study and revision tips and techniques that can help you feel more prepared.
Here you will find some tried and tested study and revision tips, designed to help you achieve your full potential, feel ready and fully prepared for your upcoming examinations.
BE PREPARED
Get Enough Sleep. Sleep and rest are important when studying and preparing for examinations.
Stay Hydrated. Dehydration is bad for your brain – and your exam grades too! Make sure you’re drinking enough water.
Ask Questions. If you don’t understand something or a topic is not clear, talk to your tutor and if you don’t feel comfortable asking in front of everyone, why not stay after class to have a chat?
Multi-Tasking Study. Doing too many things at once doesn’t achieve more; try to concentrate on one task at a time.
Essay Questions. Before writing an essay, create an outline first. Having a prepared outline will help you to write a better structured essay.
ABMA Education Plagiarism Policy. Make sure you are familiar with the Plagiarism Policy and what is considered plagiarism. All ABMA Education policies are available on our website. (See link below)
TOP REVISION TIPS
Plan Your Study Time. When revising, try to plan to study for 30 minutes, then take a short 5-minute break. This helps your brain to retain information. Remember to time your 30-minute study time as well as your 5-minute break!
Revision Timetables. Have you thought about a revision timetable to help with your studies? Developing and following your personalised revision timetable can help. It increases your motivation and adds focus, pattern and structure to your revision.
Where do you study? Change the place you study every now and then; this can actually improve your information retention.
Command Verbs. Understanding command verbs is a vital part of your exam preparation and success. For explanations of the command verbs used, read our ‘Never have to take a re-sit again’ guide. They are always printed in bold on your exam paper to help you recognise them.
Speak It Out Loud. Did you know… you are 50% more likely to remember something if you speak it out loud instead of reading it over and over. Teaching is a good way to remember and recall key facts and it confirms you know your stuff!
Print Or Hand Write Your Notes. Research shows that studying from printed or handwritten notes helps you retain information rather than reading from a screen only.
Use Mind Maps. Create Mind Maps to help you visualise information and remember key facts and connections.
Use flashcards. Test your knowledge of key concepts, definitions, quotes and formulas by using flashcards. You can start with more detailed cards, and as you remember more, reduce them down.
Use Diagrams. Diagrams help you to visualise hard to describe information. This creates a visual memory and allows you to recall information easier.
Sitting an IT Subject? – Examiners are keen to see a learner show off their technical expertise and for them to show their computing knowledge. When answering exam questions should include wherever possible relevant computing expressions and use programming language.
Where. What. When. Make sure you know where your exams will be held, on which day and at what time. You can check with your centre coordinator if you need clarification, or check our timetable.
ON THE DAY OF AN EXAM
Plan Your Exam Day. Familiarise yourself with our guide to ‘Planning for your exams‘ to help you prepare. (See bottom of the page)
Arrive In Good Time. Arriving at least 1 hour before the start of the examination gives you lots of time to register, take a bathroom break and take a few moments to relax before your exam starts. Remember to bring your national ID card and student slip (if applicable) with you!
DO NOT Take Personal Belongings Into The Exam Room. Ensure that ALL personal belongings are left in the allocated space before taking your seat in the exam room. Any questions, speak to an invigilator.
Examination Booklet. Ensure that you check the front page of the exam booklet carefully. Check that your name and other details appear correctly. If you notice an error, let an invigilator know before you sign the front page.
If you finish early, re-read your work. If you finish your exam paper early, don’t forget to re-read your work. Remember, hard work pays off. Now is your time to show that all your hard work and study can make a difference.