Study & Revision Tips

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.

Remember it is important to get enough sleep when studying and preparing for examinations.

• Have you thought about a revision timetable to help with your studies? Developing and following your own personalised revision timetable can help. It increases your motivation and adds focus, pattern and structure to your revision.
• 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.
• Learning how to relax is a way to reduce stress and anxiety and is also a key life skill. For tips on how to relax and reduce your stress levels go to our Members Area, Skills Centre. Take a deep breath and relax…….
• Explain key points to another person. Teaching is a good way to remember and recall key facts.
• Familiarise yourself with our guide to ‘Planning for your exams‘ to help you prepare.
• When revising, study for 30 minutes, then take a short 5 minute break. Making sure you work intently for the 30 minutes. Remember to time your 30 minute study time as well as your 5 minutes break!
• Make sure you are familiar with the ABMA Education plagarism policy and what is considered plagarism. All ABMA Education policies are available on our website.
• Make sure you know where, which day and what time your exams are. Check with your centre coordinator if you need clarification or check our timetable.
• 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.
• Remember to arrive at least 40 minutes before the start of the examination and ensure that you have your ABMA Education student card, student slip (if applicable) and national ID card with you.
• Ensure that you complete the examination cover pages fully, making sure you add your name and student number to each answer sheet.
• 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.
• Did you know… you are 50% more likely to remember something if you speak it out loud instead of reading it over and over?
• Create Mind Maps to help you visualise information and help remember key facts and connections.
• Test your knowledge of key concepts, definitions, quotes and formulas by using flashcards.
• Where do you study? Change the place you study every now and then, this can actually improve your information retention.
• Make sure you recognise the command verb in the question. They are always printed in bold on your exam paper.
• Command Verbs – EXPLAIN – make a particular subject clear by describing it in detail or setting out relevant facts. TIP: It’s a good idea to pretend the person who will be marking the paper knows nothing about the subject. Don’t forget you need to provide reasoning to support ALL of the points you are making in the answer.
• Command Verbs – COMPARE AND CONTRAST – identify similarities and differences. TIP: You should provide a reason for each point, not just list them within the answer. This will show the marker you have good knowledge of the subject.
• IT Qualifications – Examiner’s are keen to see a learner show off their technical expertise and for them to show their computing knowledge. REMEMBER: When answering exam questions should include where ever possible relevant computing expressions and use programming language.
• ABMA Education issues student cards to our learners with their full name and uinique student number on, these MUST be taken exams to gain entry into the examination room.
• Research shows that studying from printed or hand written notes helps you retain information rather then reading from a screen only. Make hand written notes or print out your notes to help you study.
• Can you multi-task? Doing too many things at once doesn’t achieve more, you just create bad study habits. It is best to concentrate on one thing at a time.
• Stay hydrated, dehydration is bad for your brain – and your exam grades too! Make sure you drink enough water.
• Make sure you ask questions if you don’t understand. If you don’t feel comfortable asking in front of everyone, talk to the teacher after class, it’s so important to make sure you understand fully.
• Diagrams help you to visualise hard to describe information. This creates a visual memory for you to recall.
• Writing an essay? Before writing an essay or paper, create an outline first. Having an outline will make it possible for you to write better structured essays.