Exams are an important part of academic life for students, and with exams around the corner, it’s inevitable that students may become stressed with revision for all their subjects. Developing strong revision habits not only improves their understanding of the topics but also boosts their confidence on exam day.
In this blog, we’ll explore our top revision tips for students to help them get exam-ready and achieve great results. From creating structured plans to using innovative study tools, we’ve got you covered.
Get Exam Ready With Revision Techniques For Students
Supporting your students with effective revision strategies can make all the difference in their academic journey. Below, we’ve outlined six practical methods—tried and tested at our PGL revision weekends—that can help them retain information more effectively, build confidence, and reduce exam stress.
These techniques have been designed to create a more engaging and productive study experience, giving students the tools they need to approach their exams with a clear plan.
1. Create a revision plan
A well-organised revision plan is the foundation for revision success! Without a plan, it can become confusing knowing what you need to be focusing on, understanding your weaknesses that you may need to pay more attention to, or remembering what you have already even revised!
Creating a structure for your students will help increase their productivity as it stops time wasted trying to figure out what’s best to plan.
Creating a revision plan will allow you to
- Allocate the right amount of time for every topic
- Prevents last-minute cramming that could lead to extra stress
- Ensures all areas are covered before the exam
Our top tips to give to your students for creating a revision plan
- List all your subjects and topics, and cross off each one once you have allocated the right amount of time. This way no subject will get missed.
- Prioritise any areas that you struggle with the most. Sometimes starting with these is best as it means those areas are covered first, and not pushed back until the very end, resulting in last-minute cramming
- Set daily goals! Plan what you aim to achieve each day, such as reviewing a specific chapter or completing practice questions to hold accountability.
- Use tools to your advantage! Apps like Google Calendar, notion & other online planners help you to effectively block your time so you can maximise your revision sessions.
2. Start Early
Starting with plenty of time to spare avoids your students’ unnecessary stresses and last-minute cramming thinking you don’t have enough time to cover all topics. Starting early gives them the advantage to spread out your workload, giving them time to do other things throughout the day like sports, socialising with friends or other hobbies.
This helps cut out the negativity of revision too. After all, a day with revision as well as doing your favourite things, seems like a pretty good day compared to one filled with revision cramming!
When students start revision early, they’ll be able to:
- Have time to revisit difficult topics multiple times
- Incorporate a variety of revision methods
- Increase your confidence as the exam date approaches
How to get started
- Set up a timetable, determine how many weeks you have until your exams and divide your syllabus accordingly (this links to creating your revision plan too!)
- To understand topics before diving into the nitty gritty bits, skim through topics to understand the bigger picture before diving into the details.
- Stay consistent – even 1-2 hours a day can make a significant difference when starting your revision early.
3. Find a Revision Method That Works For Each Student
Everyone learns differently, so finding a revision method that suits your style is crucial for success. Whether your students are visual learners or prefer hands-on activities, there is always a revision technique to match each learning style!
Our top options for revision methods are:
- Revision cards/Flashcards – these are good for quick recall of terms, data, formulas etc. There are apps out there like Quizlet that offer a fun, interactive style to your flashcards!
- Mind maps – Mind maps are perfect for organising information in a visual form, whilst connecting related ideas. This is especially useful for subjects like History, Science, or English.
- Interactive tools – online quizzes and apps like Kahoot can make revision even more fun! Why not give this a go once you’ve rounded up a topic, to test yourself in a truly fun way!
- Teaching others – sometimes explaining topics to a friend or family member reinforces your understanding and knowledge of certain subjects. This will also then help you identify parts you may need to revisit in the future.
Top tip: To find out the best revision technique for students, get them to take a quiz and personalise their revision style to this!
4. Complete past papers
Encouraging your students to tackle past papers is one of the most effective ways to prepare them for exams. By practising with these, they can familiarise themselves with the format, develop their exam techniques, and identify areas that need improvement.
Past papers are important for revision sessions for the following:
- It helps students understand what questions they’ll face, allowing them to understand questions and ease the stress and panic that may come in the exam if you don’t understand a question fully.
- It improves their time management skills. Practising a past paper under time pressure makes sure they are keeping on top of the time they will have during the exam. This will also avoid the stress that comes if they feel they’re falling behind on exam day.
- It highlights their knowledge, giving students a chance to focus on weak areas before the big day.
Try not to do past papers too close to the exam day. 2 weeks before gives your students plenty of time to go over any topics you may need to revisit to help you ace that exam!
Here’s how you can guide your students to get the most out of past papers:
- Start slow: Encourage them to initially work through questions without time constraints to focus on understanding the material.
- Simulate the exam: Once they’re comfortable, suggest timing themselves to replicate exam conditions.
- Review and learn: Have them analyse their answers, noting recurring mistakes or topics they find challenging.
Many exam boards offer free access to past papers on their websites. Make sure to use these resources and cross-reference them with your syllabus.
5. Take regular breaks
One of the most important lessons you can teach your students is the value of regular breaks during study sessions. Overloading their brains can lead to fatigue and a decline in performance. A well-timed break can improve concentration, memory retention, and overall productivity.
It’s important for students to take breaks to:
- Reduce fatigue and improve your concentration, allowing them to retain more information and also avoid getting distracted.
- Improves your memory retention, as you’re giving your brain time to reset and recharge.
- It helps to maintain a healthy balance between studying and rest, which will help reduce your stress during exam season.
Encourage them to try these techniques:
- Pomodoro technique: Study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four cycles, take a longer 15-30 minute break. Research suggests that taking pre-determined, systematic breaks during a study session has mood benefits and appears to have efficiency benefits.
- 52/17 Method: Here you work for 52 minutes and take a break for 17 minutes. This method was discovered through a study that shows the most productive people work for 52 minutes, then break for 17 minutes, where the name was coined from!
What to do during their breaks:
- In this time, it’s useful to maximise breaks in a way that will fully refresh your brain.
- Stretch out or do some class meditation to help refocus the mind and body.
- Have a snack or hydrate to refuel your body.
- Step outside for fresh air to clear your mind.
These small activities can make a big difference to their revision efficiency.
6. Remove Any Distractions
Helping your students identify and eliminate distractions is crucial for creating a focused study environment. Whether it’s their phone buzzing with notifications or a noisy workspace, distractions can hinder their concentration and productivity.
Common Distractions:
- Smartphones and social media.
- Noisy environments.
- Cluttered workspaces.
Teach your students to:
- Turn off notifications: Use apps like Forest or Focus Mode to block distractions on your phone.
- Choose a quiet space: Find a library, study room, or a quiet corner at home.
- Organise your desk: Keep only essential items like notebooks, pens, and textbooks within reach.
- Set boundaries: Inform family or friends of your study schedule to minimise interruptions.
Another tip? Encourage them to listen to calming background music or white noise to drown out ambient distractions.
By fostering these habits, you’re equipping your students with the tools they need to stay focused and maximise their study sessions.
Revision Techniques For Students FAQs
Having a solid revision plan is key to exam success, but students often have questions about how to revise effectively. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common queries to help guide them through the process and make their study time as productive as possible.
- How many hours a day should students revise?
Encourage your students to aim for 4-6 focused hours per day, ensuring they take regular breaks to maintain concentration.
- When is the best time of day to revise?
Explain that mornings and early afternoons are generally ideal, as students are more alert during these hours. However, remind them to find a time that suits their personal rhythm.
- How can students stay motivated while revising?
Set small, achievable goals for them, and encourage them to reward themselves after completing tasks. Remind them to focus on their long-term goals, like securing their desired grades or university place.
Book A Revision Weekend With PGL!
Effective revision is all about planning, consistency, and finding methods that work for you. At PGL, we offer a range of these techniques and more on our revision weekend! Offering them the ultimate, fun-filled weekend that doesn’t even make revision seem like a chore.
Our revision weekends are the perfect blend of revision and adventure activities, paired with all-inclusive, nutritious meals, to help fuel their mind and body.
Life at PGL is about adventure, fun and laughter! With fantastic group activities galore, your students will never tire of the wide range of adrenaline-fuelled activities all the way into the evening.
At PGL, we have an exceptional range of trips, locations and activities to enjoy, so get in touch today to discuss your next school trip!