Powerful and fast revision techniques to try now
In the stress-driven environment of revising GCSEs and A-levels, the traditional approach of extensive highlighting and repeated note-taking has proven less efficient. The good news is that academic performance at both GCSE and A-Level lies not in the time invested, but in the cognitive efficacy of the revision techniques you use. This post examines the fastest and most powerful revision methods derived from cognitive science and educational psychology to help with recall and application.
Funnelling:
Funnelling is a highly effective revision strategy that uses active recall and spaced repetition to condense large amounts of information down to the most critical essentials. It's named for the way you start with a broad scope of material and progressively narrow it down, like a funnel.
How to use funnelling:
1. Start by writing down everything you know about a topic, such as GCSE Cell Biology.
2. From memory, write it out again, but limit the information to fit on just one A4 page.
3. From this A4 sheet, prioritise the five most important concepts.
4. Create flashcards of these concepts from memory.
5. Now compare everything from step two to your original notes and add in anything you missed.
6. Repeat all of this from memory again.
Dual Coding:
Dual coding involves combining words with relevant visuals, such as diagrams, flowcharts, infographics, and mind maps, to create two memory pathways for the same information, which aids recall.
How to use dual coding:
Dual coding is a highly effective revision technique that harnesses the brain's ability to process and store information through two channels: verbal (words) and non-verbal (visuals/pictures). By following these steps, you can transform your notes and create strong memory pathways, making information easier to retrieve later.
1. Simplify and select content: Review your notes or textbook on a specific topic. Eliminate extra detail and identify only the core concepts, definitions, processes, or facts you need to remember.
2. Group information into small, manageable clusters. (e.g., instead of one long paragraph, divide it into three key points).
3. Choose the visual format that best represents the core concepts you've selected. The visual should be meaningful and directly relate to the information. For example, a flowchart would be good for the water cycle in Geography, a timeline would be good for History, and a mind map would be great for Biology.
4. Create the visual and label with words. For dual coding to work, the verbal and visual elements must be immediately and clearly connected.
5. Combine with retrieval practice. Cover the verbal labels/text on your diagram or chart. Try to explain the entire concept aloud, or write down the labels based solely on the visual cues. Uncover the labels and fill in any gaps with a different coloured pen.
Active Recall:
This technique involves forcing your brain to retrieve information without looking at your notes, thereby strengthening your memory and making it easier to recall.
How to use it:
1. Try blurting: After studying a topic, put your notes away and write down everything you can remember about it on a blank page. Then check your notes and fill in the gaps with a different-coloured pen.
2. Use flashcards: Write a question, term, or prompt on one side and the answer or definition on the back. Only look at the question side first and try to recall the answer.
3. Practice questions: Complete practice questions from past papers without using your notes or textbook under timed conditions.
4. Teach someone what you know: When you teach, you are performing active recall as you must retrieve the information from memory without looking at your notes. Plus, to introduce a concept successfully, you must break down complex ideas into their fundamental components and structure them logically. This is a far more effective way to strengthen neural pathways than passive re-reading.
Pomodoro timing method:
The Pomodoro Technique is an effective time-management method for revision and study. It works by using structured intervals to boost focus and prevent mental fatigue.
The technique breaks your study time into focused, timed intervals called "Pomodoros" (named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer the creator used, as pomodoro is Italian for tomato).
1. Select a specific revision task you want to work on (e.g., "create flashcards for the first chapter on photosynthesis," or "Annotate Act 2 of Macbeth").
2. Set your timer (try the Pomodoro app ) for 25 minutes.
3. Work intensely on your chosen task. If a distracting thought or another task pops into your head, quickly jot it down on a separate list, and immediately return your attention to your current task.
4. When the timer rings, you must stop working immediately and take a 5-minute break. Get away from your study area if possible.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 three more times. This completes one "set" of four pomodoros.
6. After completing your fourth Pomodoro (and the preceding short break), take a 15 to 30-minute break. Use this time to recharge before starting the cycle over again.