Author Topic: Revision help...... (Read 11076 times)

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #15 on:** April 23, 2007, 10:57:24 PM »

OK - I would say that all you guys studying for exams right now need to maybe spend a little less time on here (or ebay), and hit the books.

We others will try and keep it real boring on here for a while while you are gone.
The forum will still be here when you return and the same old stuff will be going on.

Remember - good grades + better opportunities= better paying job = more guitars and BKPs

The thing about witing stuff down is that it commits it to memory much more than just reading it- hence the practice of writing condensed notes for certain subjects as a way of revising

indysmith · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2007, 11:02:23 PM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

The thing about witing stuff down is that it commits it to memory much more than just reading it- hence the practice of writing condensed notes for certain subjects as a way of revising

i wouldnt say that was the case for everybody...

Afghan Dave · « **Reply #17 on:** April 23, 2007, 11:09:46 PM »

Quote from: indysmith

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS
The thing about witing stuff down is that it commits it to memory much more than just reading it- hence the practice of writing condensed notes for certain subjects as a way of revising

i wouldnt say that was the case for everybody...

The best advice that I can give is to NOT try to reinvent the wheel.

Whatever method you THINK works better than making great notes is probably a dead end which you are using as a coping / distraction / avoidance mechanism.

Sadly - the advice of your tutors is CORRECT!

Make great notes and study them, again and again...

It's in the QUALITY of the notes that the personal value can be added.

Good luck and get of this goddam board and back to your books. :roll: :lol:

_tom_ · « **Reply #18 on:** April 23, 2007, 11:12:25 PM »

Quote from: FELINEGUITARS

Remember - good grades + better opportunities= better paying job = more guitars and BKPs

Thats actually motivated me a bit to try harder at revising :lol: Starting tomorrow I'll go through my book and make notes etc.. I can see myself being distracted easily but I'll give it a go :P

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2007, 09:08:10 AM »

Good luck for all of you taking exams. I thought that they would all be over when I finished uni, but noooo, I think I must have done 10 or so since then.

From the litereally hundreds of exams that I've done in the past, the best thing that I can recommend is to get your head down and do some. I know that you'll sit there thinking "God, my room needs a tidy so I'll do that first" or "I'll just have something to eat first" but just make sure that you get started on it and the rest will follow. That's the hardest bit. Take a few minutes off every hour and chill out, but make sure you start again.

As for revision methods, then I'm a big fan of past papers. They generally all follow the same format and as long as you start to understand the questions then all should start to fall into place. A good thing that I found was trying to imagine yourself in the exam answering the question, dunno why but they always seemed to get into my head better that way.

Just remember that a few weeks revision now will may effect the rest of your life. Lets say you spend the next 45 years at work, so you need to work hard and make sure that those years are doing something you enjoy. A bit of hard graft now will pay dividends so you aren't doing something you hate for the rest of your life.

Revision is a skill that you have to learn, it doesn't come naturally and you have to work on it. Tell you brain who's boss and get down to it.

Good luck guys, I remember what it was like and I don't envy you. And if you get stuck with you maths then let me know and I'll try to help (not that you should be posting on here, you should be working).

rahnooo · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2007, 10:08:43 AM »

OK here is Rahnooo's bumper guide to revision (honed over more exams than I would care to remember).

1) Revising the morning of an exam is a waste of time. Fact. You will only succeed in confusing yourself and panicing. The morning of an exam should be spent chilling and not doing any substantive revision - skim through your list of key words / ideas if you need to, but that should be it.

...which leads nicely too...

2) Index cards. I've not found a subject where revision cards weren't the best method of revising. Yes they take a while to write out, but that is the first stage of revision. Most people learn actively, which means that writing the notes down will actually help you start to remember them. Don't assume revision cards have to be those 4x6" cards either. Depending on the subject they may be A4 sheets. It's still a revision card.

3) Organise your time properly. It's not worth pulling a 4 hour solid revision stint. The formula for concentration span is age + 20 = time. Upto a maximum of about 45 minutes. Work solidly for 50 minutes (maybe an hour), then take a 15 minute break. Then repeat. Aim to do 5 hours a day revision.

4) Exercise! Is an excellent revision aide. It helps you relax, which means you're more alert and able to learn when you are revising. It also increasing oxygen supply to the brain, which is also handy. If you play sport, then do some of that. Otherwise just a 30 minute walk every day will set you in good stead.

5) Water! Drink plenty of water. It keeps your brain hydrated, which means that you learn more. Last sumer when I was taking my final round of professional exams, I was drinking upto 13 pints of tap water a day. It helps. Although obviously not immediatly before you sit a 4 hour paper of door ;)

Hope that helps.

*Rahnooo*

rahnooo · « **Reply #21 on:** April 24, 2007, 10:15:34 AM »

and because I remembered some more...

6) Past papers - if you have access to these then about two thirds of the way through your study leave would be about the right time to start attempting past papers. It's active learning again, can boost your confidence that you are learning, and also highlight areas that you need to focus on.

7) Plan model answers. For essay based subjects (history, geography, english etc) it is possible to plan model answers to key essay topics. Be prepared to answer other questions that you hadn't anticipated, but preparing a model answer (i.e an essay plan) can help you organise what you've learnt and tie it all together. Plus if that essay comes up then you're well ahead. In my degree finals two of my modal answers actually came up, so I was able to spend more time writing and less time planning.

Elliot · « **Reply #22 on:** April 24, 2007, 12:35:07 PM »

I used to teach history at university - if its an essay based I can only agree with above:

1) Get 10 years of passed papers
2) Try to learn double the number of topics you need and work out the 'common' questions so there are no nasty surprises.
3) Make up a mock paper (or get a friend to do it for you so it is unseen) and then work through it (this is the hardest of them all, but it will get your memory and discipline up no end).
4) Do timed practice runs: essentially do the exams before your exams.

Oh and in the exam - if you have to answer four questions on the paper you must answer four questions or else you can't get into the good mark zone.

Good luck.

rahnooo · « **Reply #23 on:** April 24, 2007, 12:58:31 PM »

Quote from: Elliot

I used to teach history at university - if its an essay based I can only agree with above

At the risk of a thread hijack...

Elliott, where did you lecture? I did a BA in History at York, followed by an MA in Early Modern History (1450-1750), specialising in Radical Reformation history - particularly the effects of apocalypticism on the reconsideration of the role of sexuality in radical evangelism. Of course that was before I turned to the darkside and traded in the history for corporate law...

Always good to see another historian about the place though :)

/hijack

*Rahnooo*

bucketshred · « **Reply #24 on:** April 24, 2007, 02:16:36 PM »

Quote from: Afghan Dave

The best strategy I've ever found to capture and embed thoughts, ideas and knowledge is the concept of Mind mapping.

Here is a link to a bit of an initial introduction:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map

Here is a link to some software I found using a Google search but I believe it is more beneficial to get out the coloured crayons!!

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Don't be fooled into thinking you are simply drawing & f*cking about. The process is far more natural than linear writing and allows a more complete understanding of the interrelationships to emerge.

I'd say if you are new to the concept use it in conjunction with your traditional note taking / revision. With experience you will be able condense a whole course into one mind-map on one sheet of paper.

....and never forget a thing.

Good luck.

Ahhh, Tony and Barry Buzan, thats what we use at work to help us learn about the different products, sales techniques, motivational techniques, goal mapping etc.

I'm looking at two on my desk right now, both covering the topic of 'Lead the Field' by Earl Nightingale.

Andy!

Elliot · « **Reply #25 on:** April 27, 2007, 08:22:34 AM »

Rahnoo I used to teach at Cambridge (aka Fenland Polytechnic), although I wasn't a lecturer, just a PhD student. I also am an early modernist - civil war London is my thing, in fact I am editing a book on The Agreement of the People and the Levellers as we speak [er, write]. Your topic sounds pretty cool: was it English based or European?

As if by coincidence I also traded in history for law, but still find myself doing the odd thing every now and then.

rahnooo · « **Reply #26 on:** April 27, 2007, 10:21:16 AM »

Hi Elliott

good to hear that there's still the opportunity for some history while I'm living the law dream ;)

My MA thesis was looking at North German and Dutch evangelical radicalism, though some of the materials I found lead to an interesting examination of English perceptions of radicalism during the civil war. Which is what I intend to do as my PhD in a few years. So I may have to pick your brains on a few things, as the civil war period is just on the edge of my knowledge - I'm a 16th century man at heart. :)

*Rahnooo*

BloodMountain · « **Reply #27 on:** April 27, 2007, 10:32:25 PM »

right.... i have made myself only go on here after 10 oclock and made myself revise beforehand. it's not actually that bad, thanks for the help everyone!

the best advice then was "get the hell off the forum!" :lol:

i might try some mindmaps if i have time.....

thanks!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

revision :shock:

LazyNinja · « **Reply #28 on:** April 29, 2007, 11:39:47 PM »

I don't agree that revision on the exam day's morning is bad... Just do a quick check on everything.

My method of revision is to use the past papers. You probably will not be able to answer all the questions on your first go. So don't spend too much on it. But study the answer sheets carefully. See how marks are allocated and watch for key phrases or equations that they expect you to use. Even if you don't get the question right, you'll still get marks for them. Examiner's notes are interesting too coz they give you typical incorrect answers. They stick in your mind so you will remember not to do them. Just keep doing the past papers and eventually you won't need to look at the answers (hopefully). Every year, the papers are similar so chances are you'll do okay if you can answer past paper questions.

Also remember to think things in logical ways and try to relate things. It helps a lot if you can see things in context.

I can't $%&#ing stand post it notes. They make a mess on your desk and mess your mind too. Only works on subjects that you have to mindlessly memorise stuff.

But who am I to talk I was at Download fest getting drunk the day before my Further Maths A2 :lol: