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Revision....how dull! The thought of re-learning the last few months of work or as it will be in future the last 2 years of work can not only fill us with dread and anxiety and seem like a mountain to climb, but also it can seem the most boring of tasks. However, revision is essential in order to be able to say the right things in your exam and it doesn't have to be dull. Below are some handy hints for revision that will help you to revise effectively. 

Firstly...the Science

To revise well, it is worth thinking about what type of learner you are. You may have heard your teachers using this information about learning styles, or a variation of it.  Are you a visual, auditory or Kinaesthetic learner? It is worth trying to adapt your revision style to whatever type of learner you are as you will receive and retain the information far better. You can take a VAK test here to find out what kind of learner you are. This is a test from an American website, which means that they split visual up into two separate parts called visual and reading/writing, which gives the test a different name VARK, but the process is still the same. You can complete the test online and then once finished you will get your scores. 

Revision Tips:

1.) How about putting music to a historic event/s? You can either use a favorite traditional song, or your favorite song at the moment. Look at this example from Youtube about the Battle of Hastings to give you the idea.  

2.) How about fact Dominoes? Create a grid and then put lots of names, events, dates and facts down in each square that are connected with the topic/s that you are revising. Then cut them up. Play fact dominoes with a friend/s. Each time you lay a domino down, it must have a link to the previous one and you must explain the link. The first person to get rid of all of their dominoes is the winner. 

3.) Downloads: Why not download podcasts on your revision topics and listen to them on your phone or computer? You can do this whilst on your journey to school. It is amazing how much you will retain even if you are not really thinking about it or feeling as if you are trying too hard. 

4.) Post-it notes: If you are able, why not try writing a series of one/two word prompts out on post-it notes and sticking them around your room/house. Every time you look at them, you will have to remember what they mean. 

5.) Writing notes: Try writing out your notes into a single shorter summery on each topic. You may want to do this as a mind map or diagram if you are a visual learner. 

6.) Arrangements: Try arranging objects in your room to demonstrate aspects of what you are studying. Keep those visual representations in your head to help you remember. 

7.) Mnemonics: Try to think of a saying to help you remember the order of things: For example an easy way to remember the colours of the rainbow is:

Richard =red
Of = orange
York = yellow
Gave = green
Battle = blue
In = indigo
Vain = violet

8.) Games: Try some of the following games to help you revise. Attached below you will find examples of revision games such as Blockbusters, A Question of Sport and Who Wants to be a Millionaire adapted for use with specific history topics. Why not have a go at these and then use the template to have a go at creating your own for other topics you are studying. You can share them with friends and try each-others'.

Remember that revision will only be effective if you are engaged with it. You can site with a bunch of books for hours without  retaining much at all if you are not in the mood or let your mind wander. Try to keep your revision to short bursts and start early!