Revision During Exam Season

Written by Charlotte NG.

When exam season is creeping up, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by how much content there is to revise. You might sit down with good intentions, only to feel uncertain about how to revise effectively. Independent revision can be a considerable challenge, especially when staring at a textbook aimlessly - which is why having the right strategies is vital. You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘work smarter, not harder’countless times, but how do you actually make this change?  

The key lies in shifting passive study to purposeful revision. Not only does this improve long-term memory and understanding, but it also boosts confidence. An effective way to achieve this is to set clear revision goals and combine them with proven revision techniques. 

What are revision goals?

Revision goals are planned study sessions that you set in advance to manage time and prioritise the trickiest bits of content. You can adapt these goals based on your own strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. These goals work hand in hand with revision techniques that help you actively engage with the content.  

How do you set revision goals?

When setting revision goals, one of the most important factors to consider is time. After all, you don’t want to miss out on the parts of life outside of school! It’s worth asking yourself: 

  • How long can I concentrate effectively for? 
  • When do I have free time to spend studying? 

Being honest with yourself here is essential; there’s no point in setting goals you won’t stick to. Once these time slots have been identified, make your goals specific. A simple but effective format is topic + task. For example, try swapping out ‘revise chemistry’ for ‘use active recall to memorise key electrolysis equations’. It’s also essential to set a clear end time and decide what success will look like by the end of the session. 

Revision techniques to use in your goals

Having determined how to schedule revision goals, the next problem is what you can do to reach them! You might use some of these revision techniques without realising, but here are some examples to try in your revision goals: 

  • Active Recall: Quiz yourself on content without notes, then check your answers and fill in any gaps. This strengthens memory and highlights which areas need more attention. 
  • Spaced Repetition: Revisit the same information over a period of time, gradually increasing the gap between revision sessions. This combats the forgetting curve and keeps information fresh for the day of the exam. 
  • Teaching Others: choose a topic and give a ‘mini lesson’ on it to a friend or family member (they often enjoy learning something new!). Teaching encourages the organisation of ideas clearly and can reveal gaps in understanding. 
  • Exam Questions: These are essential for structuring your answers to suit the exam questions. Use individual questions for topic-based revision and full papers for final preparation and time management. Use the mark schemes to identify mistakes and topics worth reviewing again. 

Choosing the proper technique

Not all revision techniques work equally well across subjects or topics. Different types of content benefit from other strategies. For example, actively recalling the water cycle may be effective for GCSE Geography, but teaching someone about types of mass movement can lead to a deeper understanding of the topic. Remember that experimenting with the techniques will support your journey toward the best results and greater confidence.  

Final thoughts

Every student faces challenges while revising, and it’s normal to find the start of revision daunting. Often, the hardest part is simply starting. By setting clear revision goals, you can break large chunks of work into smaller, achievable tasks. This allows you to complete several focused revision sessions rather than half-finish an overwhelming topic and lose momentum. 

Even with these suggestions in place, there will still be challenges in the run-up to exams. But it’s essential to acknowledge the effort put in so far, and the support available to help you with your learning. Make the most of your teachers’ knowledge, and always know that your tutors have been in your position before and are ready to help!

Best of luck for the upcoming exam season! 

Published 01/03/2026.

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