What is the best way to revise before exams?

What Is the Best Way to Revise Before Exams?

Alright, so here’s the situation: exams are coming. Your heart’s beating a little faster. You’re staring at a mountain of notes wondering,

“Where do I even start?”
“Did I even learn this before?”
“Why does the mitochondria keep coming back!?”

Revision—everyone says you need to do it. But no one really explains how to do it in a way that doesn’t feel like pure chaos. You might’ve tried rereading everything, highlighting until your hand cramped, or watching YouTube videos at 2 AM hoping it’ll magically click.

The truth? Most people don’t revise efficiently. Not because they’re bad at studying—but because they’re never taught how to revise in a way that actually helps their brain remember anything.

So, let’s fix that. No fluff. Just real, useful strategies to help you walk into that exam room with your brain actually ready.

🎯 First: What Is Revision, Actually?

Let’s clear this up.

Revision ≠ re-reading your textbook from cover to cover and praying for the best.
Revision = actively recalling, organizing, and reinforcing what you’ve already learned.

The best revision helps your brain:

• Retrieve the info (pull it out from memory)
• Strengthen the connections (make it stick better)
• Spot gaps (so you can fill them before the test)

So let’s talk about how to do that in the smartest, most brain-friendly way possible.

🧠 Step 1: Use Active Recall

If I had to give you one method and one method only, it would be this.

Active recall is basically quizzing yourself.
Instead of just reading notes, you test yourself on them.

Examples:

• Read a section → close your notes → write down everything you remember
• Use flashcards (make them or use Quizlet)
• Answer past paper questions without looking at your notes
• Teach the topic out loud (even if it’s to your wall or your cat)

Why it works: You’re training your brain to pull info out, not just take it in. And that’s exactly what exams make you do.

🔁 Step 2: Do Spaced Repetition

Don’t cram. Seriously. It doesn’t work long-term.
Instead, spread your revision out over time.

Spaced repetition = review material several times over increasing intervals.

Example:

• Day 1: Learn it
• Day 2: Review it
• Day 4: Review again
• Day 7: Quick recap
• Day 14: Final check

Apps like Anki do this automatically, but you can totally use a notebook or calendar too. This helps move things into your long-term memory, which is where exam answers live.

📋 Step 3: Make a Revision Plan (and Keep It Real)

Don’t just wing it. Sit down and look at:

• How many days/weeks you have left
• How many subjects/topics you need to cover
• What your weakest areas are

Then spread your revision across your schedule.

✅ Mix hard + easy topics each day
✅ Schedule shorter sessions (25–50 minutes max)
✅ Always leave buffer time for review and emergencies

Don’t try to revise everything every day. That’s a straight path to burnout and breakdown.

🗂 Step 4: Use Visuals, Mind Maps & Diagrams

Your brain loves visuals.

Instead of writing pages of boring notes, try:

• Making mind maps
• Drawing process diagrams
• Creating comparison charts
• Color-coding your notes by topic or importance

It’s not about making it pretty (though that helps); it’s about helping your brain see connections and simplify complex info.

🎙 Step 5: Teach It (Even If No One’s Listening)

This one is criminally underrated.

If you can teach something clearly, you really understand it.

Try this:

• Pretend you’re giving a 2-minute lesson
• Use your own words—no reading from notes
• Record yourself if you want and listen back

You’ll immediately notice what you understand and what still feels fuzzy.

✍️ Step 6: Practice With Past Papers

This is the closest thing to the real deal.

Get old exam questions. Time yourself. Write full answers like it’s the real test.

This helps you:

• Learn how to apply what you know
• Spot question patterns
• Improve time management
• Get comfortable under pressure

Even if it’s not perfect, it’s practice. And every time you try, your confidence grows.

🛑 Step 7: Avoid Passive Traps

These feel productive but don’t help much:
🚫 Rereading notes endlessly
🚫 Highlighting everything
🚫 Watching tons of videos without testing yourself
🚫 Making pretty notes and never using them

If you’re not testing, recalling, or applying—you’re not truly revising. Be honest with yourself. Passive study feels comfy, but it doesn’t prepare you for the exam battlefield.

🧃 Step 8: Take Care of Yourself

Your brain needs fuel, rest, and movement to function at full power.

✅ Sleep at least 7–8 hours
✅ Eat real food (not just snacks and caffeine)
✅ Drink water
✅ Take breaks
✅ Move your body—walk, stretch, whatever

The best revision happens when your brain feels safe and supported.

💡 Bonus Tips

• Make a revision playlist (lo-fi beats, classical, anything non-distracting)
• Use whiteboards for quick visual review
• Pair up with a friend for quick-fire Q&A battles
• Review your mistakes often—they teach the most

Final Thoughts

There’s no one “perfect” way to revise—but there is a smart way:
✅ Active recall
✅ Spaced repetition
✅ Practice under pressure
✅ Break it into chunks
✅ Track your wins

Start small. Focus on understanding, not just memorizing.
And most importantly—believe you can do it. Confidence doesn’t come from feeling ready. It comes from showing up again and again, even when you’re not sure.

You’ve got this. Revision doesn’t have to suck. It can actually feel good when it works—and it will.

Related Articles from EdgyThoughts.com:
Is VR the Future of Classroom Learning?
https://edgythoughts.com/is-vr-the-future-of-classroom-learning/

Why Emotional Intelligence Is Finally Being Taught in Schools
https://edgythoughts.com/are-schools-teaching-emotional-intelligence-now/

External Resource:
Explore more about effective studying techniques:
Study skills – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Study_skills