passive vs active revision
active revision is much more effective than passive revision so it’s really important to know how to do it right!
passive revision
passive revision involves activities such as reading notes and copying materials. this is the foundation of your revision, but should mainly be completed before you start proper revision. in an ideal world this would be done as you go along during the year e.g. file away your notes in the right place at the end of every day
active revision
active revision is mainly about using and organising material
start by reading and understanding the material
then reduce it to a smaller amount of material in note form
review it again
and then reduce it again, perhaps to a list of bullet points
be careful you this doesn’t become repetitive and boring because then you will be back to passive learning. switch up your methods frequently to keep it interesting
things to keep in mind while actively revising:
look for underlying themes or principles
think about links between ideas
organise points into arguments (i.e. for and against)
create diagrams that represent a topic
think about how the solution to one problem can help you solve another
methods
get someone to test you
mindmaps
look cover write check
condense your notes
mnemonics
essay plans
flashcards
past papers