Most students rely on passive study methods particularly when they first start learning how to revise. This is because these techniques such as making pretty notes and highlighting revision guides feel like an easier method.
You don’t have to avoid passive revision methods completely. Some of these techniques, such as reading notes and copying material, can be useful for certain aspects of studying, but they may not be the most effective methods for retaining and applying information in an exam. They can be helpful when reviewing content for the first time but are time consuming and largely ineffective when it comes to revising content for GCSE and A-level exams.
Let’s explore some active study strategies you can consider to better shape your study techniques:
Summarisation
Condense the material into concise summaries using your own words. This process compels you to engage with and comprehend the content thoroughly. After each lesson or at the conclusion of a topic, create a summary sheet covering the key points outlined in your exam specifications. These summaries will prove valuable when you revisit your studies.
Flashcards
Develop flashcards featuring questions on one side and corresponding answers on the other. Use these flashcards for self-testing and retrieval practice. You can choose between traditional paper flashcards or digital versions using resources like Quizlet and Anki.
Practice Problems
For subjects such as mathematics and science, it is imperative to tackle practice problems and apply concepts to exam questions. Past paper questions serve as an excellent resource for assessing your comprehension. Timing yourself during exam practice, especially when preparing for mock exams or final assessments, is crucial. Simulate exam conditions at home and assess your work. This not only helps you gauge your revision progress but also familiarises you with mark schemes, highlighting recurring key topics, essential terms, and alerting you to any common mistakes.
Teach Someone
Explaining concepts to someone, even if it’s an imaginary audience, can deepen your understanding and reinforce your knowledge. Consider scheduling group study sessions with friends, as this collaborative approach facilitates resource sharing and enables you to solidify your comprehension by addressing your peers’ questions.
Self-Quizzing
Regularly quiz yourself on the material to evaluate your recall and comprehension. Creating a set of questions for self-assessment at the end of each lesson is a helpful practice. You can later review these questions when preparing for end-of-block tests.
Mind Maps and Concept Maps
Construct visual representations that illustrate the relationships between various concepts to enhance your understanding. These maps serve as valuable summary tools at the end of each topic and can be a useful resource for quick review before mock exams and end-of-block tests.
Here are some reasons why passive techniques like these may have limitations:
Limited Engagement
Passive techniques often involve minimal interaction with the material. When you read or copy notes, you’re primarily taking in information without actively engaging with it. Active learning, on the other hand, encourages your brain to process and manipulate the information, which can lead to better understanding and retention. This is important for GCSEs and A-levels as often questions don’t just require you to recall information but an application of knowledge in order to access the top grades.
Shallow Processing
Passive techniques tend to promote shallow processing of information, meaning you’re less likely to deeply understand and integrate concepts into your existing knowledge. Active techniques, such as summarising, explaining, or teaching the material to someone else, encourage deeper processing and critical thinking.
Lack of Retrieval Practice
Effective revision often involves practising recall, which passive techniques like note-reading or copying don’t emphasise. Retrieval practice, where you actively try to remember and apply what you’ve learned, is a powerful method for strengthening memory and preparing for exams.
Limited Adaptability
Passive techniques may not help you adapt to the diverse types of questions and problems you might encounter in an exam. Active learning methods can better prepare you for a variety of question formats and problem-solving.
Remember, a balanced approach that combines both passive and active techniques can be highly effective. Passive methods are a suitable starting point for acquainting yourself with the material, but active techniques should be integrated to achieve a deeper understanding, retention, and readiness for exams.
