So, exam season. I bet we can all think of a few things we would rather do than GCSE or A-Levels exam prep. Revising for any subject can be frustrating, as well as boring. Even if you’ve been preparing all year or just now scrambling for notes at the last minute, it’s always challenging to figure out the methods that help you retain the most information. Luckily for young achievers, there are a few things you can do when studying that will help you achieve the highest success in your upcoming exams.

Firstly, let’s talk about the difference between GCSEs and AS/A Levels. GCSEs are the exams typically taken at 15/16 years old in secondary school. A Levels are the higher form of education taken after GCSEs, at either a 6th form or college by those 17 and above. Achieving good grades in their A Levels will help students widen their university prospects. So, let’s get started.

Listing Tasks

When starting any exam prep, creating a task list is always a good step in the right direction. Begin with categories, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English, etc. and generate a list of sub-categories you need to cover within those subjects. This will ensure you cover all the topics you need to, so you don’t miss anything. Then once you’ve revised that topic, you can tick it off.

Frequent Self-Testing & Disciplined Learning

If you’re looking for a way to check your revision progress, I recommend frequent self-testing. Asking for a previous mock test from your teachers is a brilliant way to determine your strengths and weaknesses, so you can ensure you have equal knowledge in those subjects. Practicing on previous mock exams also prepares you for the style of questions that will appear on the test. Our Neon Technology-Based Platform is an excellent system to help track the strengths and weaknesses in a subject, going through the chapters and topic levels and suggesting revision topics based on data.

Brain-Based Learning  

Another revision strategy would be using and understanding the techniques of Brain-Based Learning. This approach essentially surrounds the latest scientific research about how the brain learns. A great example of brain-based learning would be The Pomodoro Method. Studying for 25 minutes and resting for 5 minutes has been scientifically proven as a successful process of absorbing information. Take a look at this video as a guide for The Pomodoro Method; it has a set timer indicating when you study and when you should rest.

Check out this video if you’re interested in learning more about Brain-Based Learning!

Study Space

Separating your relaxing space from your revision space is another vital aspect of revising. When sitting at the table, you’re in work mode, and then when you’re in bed, you can relax. Keeping that separation is essential, so you train your brain to recognise when it’s time to study and when it’s time to sleep (it also helps keep the study snack crumbs out of your covers).

5. Study Groups

Work better with group motivation? Suggest a study group to your friends or teachers. Pick one night a week, or maybe even two, and get together to focus on one subject. If you work better under teacher-guided supervision, it might be fun to bring snacks to share to keep the group going. If you prefer working at home with friends, try to avoid distractions like your phone or the TV. With Neon-Edu, you can join our online community, making friends worldwide through our social networking platform. Direct messaging and creating private study groups are only a few features we provide! Check out our Homepage for more information.

 Asking for Help

Lastly, ask your teachers if you have any struggles with exam prep. Or even ask your parents if you’d like to hire a tutor. They are there to help and have access to countless resources and Online Education Platforms created to assist students in their studies. If you’re interested in Private Tutoring, we at Neon-Edu provide Online Tutoring Services for various subjects; check out our Year 7 to GCSE and AS/A level Subscription Plan for what we have to offer

All in all, the best piece of advice about exams is to start early. Months early, not days or weeks. It’s easier to retain information when you have more time to do it than attempting to cram five subjects in the 48 hrs. before. Furthermore, it means you have time to consistently and continuously review and plan, guaranteeing the highest chance of success. We at Neon-Edu hope these tricks and tips help, and we wish you good luck in all your exams!