IBAT College's Revision Tips

• It is all about Time Management! To start, you must make out a clear attainable revision plan. The best place to start is to make a list of all the topics that you need to cover. Make note of your school & homework hours and then factor in regular slots of time for covering these topics.

• It is important to be realistic when making out your revision plan as over-ambitious targets will not be beneficial to you in the long run.

• In order for revision to be productive, it must be done at regular intervals. Short spells every day tend to be better than one long spell at the end of the week. Shorter spells of revision prove to be very successful for retaining the information you have just learned! Use revision checklists to keep an eye on exactly what you have covered.

• Use past exam papers as a useful reference guide on how to tackle each of the topics. Remember not to cherry pick the topics that you are going to revise on the basis that they “might” come up. Bright students have often been caught out using this method of study. Cover a sufficient amount of topics so that you will have enough choice on the day of the exam.

• Tackle the topics that you find the hardest first! This will give you a real boost once you have learned it and you know that your revision plan will only get easier going forward!

• Test yourself! Once you have revised a topic, close your books, put away your notes and brainstorm the important points that you have learned. This is a very useful exercise as it is a good indication of just how much you know about the topic. It gives you a good opportunity to fill in those gaps of knowledge!

• It is extremely important to factor in exercise to your study plan! Not only does exercise boost your overall health & fitness but it also improves your mental well-being. Look into joining a school team in a sport you are interested in or simply go for a twenty-minute brisk walk every day. It will really help!

• Remember - once you create your revision plan, you now have to be strict with yourself and stick to it!

• Treat yourself when you have successfully completed a topic! Implementing a “treat system” will encourage you to do the work and stick to your plan!

• Start your revision early! The worst thing you can do is leave all your revision to the last minute as this will definitely create unnecessary stress for you. If you start your revision early, you will feel less under pressure coming up to the exam and will be more productive! Start as you mean to go on!

Beating the Student Stress!

Here are a few simple tips from IBAT COLLEGE to help you manage your stress levels!

• Time Management! Learn to manage your time effectively and plan ahead! Use a notebook or calendar to plan just what exactly it is you need to get covered. Once you master this skill, it will stand to you for the rest of your life.

• Prioritise! Once you have planned out what you need to get done, you need to prioritise what is the most important thing to do first. Making out a list is an effective way to prioritise but make sure your list is realistic. Setting unrealistic goals to be achieved can make you even more stressed down the line.

• Sleep! This is absolutely vital to helping you manage your stress levels. Students often miss out vital sleep because they are busy keeping up with revision timetables, however lack of sleep can often put a good student at a disadvantage. Some students find it useful to have a power nap when they get home from school in order to rest and re-energise. It is also best to also aim for 7-8 hours of sleep a night. A regular sleep pattern really is one of the keys for managing stress.

• Healthy Diet! Although we all feel the need to be kind to ourselves are splurge on sugary foods every now and then, be careful not to become addicted! It is important to keep your diet balanced with a healthy intake of vegetables, fruit, meat and fish. Healthy snacks also include nuts, rice cakes. A healthy diet will also help maintain a regular sleeping pattern!

• Relaxation! Not only is study obviously important to succeed in your exams but so is resting! Anything that doesn’t require too much brain power can be relaxing i.e. cinema, sport etc. Remember to factor in relaxation time into your timetables!

• Remember relaxation techniques! The most simple and effective relaxation technique is deep breathing. Close your eyes, inhale through your nose filling first your diaphragm and then your lungs, then exhale. Counting the amount of breaths you’re taking will also give your mind something to focus on other than the stress you may be feeling. Meditation and Yoga are great ways of relaxing.

• Smile! Did you know it takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 to smile? Smiling is a natural stress reliever so it’s definitely worth considering!