Revision

Examinations and Revision

Details of external exams will be published on a child's exam timetable, which is personal to them. Pupils will be given a copy of their exam timetable during the month of March. It is important that you check this carefully upon receipt to make sure that they have been entered for all the exams that you are expecting them to take. If you have any queries, you should contact us immediately.

The start time of every exam will be shown on the personal exam timetable. It is essential that pupils arrive outside the exam room and are ready to enter 15 minutes before the start of the exam. Students who arrive late for an exam will be allowed into the exam at the school’s discretion. They may not be entitled to the full amount of time for the exam they are sitting and the awarding body may not accept their exam script.

It is very important that you make every effort to ensure your child attends all their exams. Hopefully students will be in good health throughout the exam period but, if any unforeseen circumstances arise which mean that you cannot get your child to school, it is essential that you contact the school immediately so that we can advise you of the best course of action.

If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.

Henry Ford

How to revise

Start revising early

This means months, not days before the exam. Make a timetable to plan your revision and stick to it.

Don’t spend ages making your notes look pretty

This is just wasting time. For diagrams, include all the details you need to learn, but don’t try to produce a work of art. Limit yourself to 2 or 3 colours so you don’t get carried away colouring things in.

Take short breaks

Every hour, not every 10 minutes.

Use revision guides

Your teacher will recommend the best guide out there.

Stick revision notes all around your house

So in the exam you think, “Aha, quadratic equations, they were on the fridge…”

Get yourself drinks and snacks

So you don’t make excuses to stop every 10 minutes.

Sit at a proper desk

Don’t try to revise in bed.

Don’t put it off

Sit down at your desk and get on with it.

Don’t just read your notes

You have to write things down and practise, practise, practise.

Don’t turn yourself into a revision zombie

If you do nothing else but revision you’ll turn into a zombie. It’s really important that you keep time to do things you enjoy. When you’re doing these try to relax and totally forget about revision.

Do lots of practice exam papers

This is especially important as you get close to the exams.

Read the exam timetable properly

Double-check so you don’t miss an exam and have plenty of time to prepare for it.

Find the right environment to revise

Not in front of the TV. Not listening to the radio. Music can sometimes be OK, but you need to find the right kind. It’s got to be something that’s just there in the background that you’re not thinking about at all.