Mocks are just around the corner and it’s important that you start a good revision routine before GCSEs come around. One tool that can really take your revision to the next level is creating a revision timetable. Making a revision timetable will help you stay motivated, disciplined and will also help you revise in a more prepared and time-efficient manner. Here are some tips to consider when making your own revision timetable…
To start off, you could write down a list of all the subjects you need to revise for. Then, you should break down these subjects into topics that you think might appear on the exam. Most topics you learn should be the exam, but some might crop up more than others, so communicate with your teachers so you know what to expect.
Firstly, when making your revision timetable, put in all of your other commitments, like school, sports, or a part time job. Then, you’ll be able to see how much free time you have to actually revise. However, don’t dedicate all of this free time to revising, it’s important to have time to yourself to rest or do things that you enjoy, like seeing friends or family.
When you’ve planned your rest time, you can start inputting revision time. This could be before school, after school, at lunch times or at the weekend. It might be useful to prioritise revising at times when you know that you are your most productive. For example, you might work better before school. You might also want to consider where you revise. Some people might work better in a school environment, so you could schedule your revision time after-school in the library.
You should also spread your revision out, little and often may work better for you. An hour each day, as opposed to cramming it all in on a Saturday makes revision a lot less daunting and, instead, incorporates it into your daily routine.
Make sure you also schedule breaks when planning your revision. 10 minute breaks every 30-40 minutes have proven to be effective.
If you know that you struggle with your sciences, more than English, for example, prioritise revising your sciences. This isn’t to say that you should forget about revising all the topics you don’t struggle with, but prioritising the subjects or topics you find difficult will help you out. It might be useful to start with more difficult topics during your revision time. For example you might revise sciences on a Monday, or at the start of your revision block.
When making your timetable, it’s completely up to you how you choose to do it. You might want to write it out yourself, use google sheets, or use an actual calendar. Choose a way which you know will suit you best. However, what I would recommend is to make multiple physical copies so you can stick it to your wall and put one in your revision folder. This way, you’ll hopefully stick to it.
It is also useful to write out the subject and topic that you are planning to revise in each block. For example, you might dedicate 5:30pm until 6:30pm to revising maths, and this week, you might focus on algebra. It might also be helpful to plan how you will revise – will you use flashcards or will you do some practice papers? This way, when it comes to revising, you’ll just be able to crack on.
Don’t completely bulk out your revision timetable, because then it’s likely that you won’t stick to it. So, be realistic when making it. Also, be flexible. Sometimes, things come up and there will be times when you don’t stick to your timetable exactly. That’s okay. Just try your best and you will do great.
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